Emma's Biblio Treasures

Published September 24th, 2026 by Headline
Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Beloved, bestselling author Victoria Hislop explores the chaos unleashed on Greek families during the post-war era in this page-turning new novel that will delight fans who cherish The Island and The Figurine.

Greece, 1946. In the power vacuum remaining after the Second World War, a brutal civil war erupts between rival left- and right-wing factions. The conflict spirals as the country pays a bitter price in human lives and fighting soon erupts in the mountains, turning villages into battlefields and pulling ordinary women and children into the fray.

When the government soldiers come to Kalopetra, Fotini is nursing her newborn second child. She urges her daughter, Iliana, to hide with the older children as she and the other women are herded into trucks. Weeks later, soldiers return for the children . . . but they are not to be reunited with their mothers, a wholly different fate awaits them.

Fotini finds herself transported to a prison on the island of Chios, where she befriends Markella, whose little son, Nikos, is wise beyond his years. After months of imprisonment, when Fotini and Markella find themselves separated from one another – and from Nikos – Fotini vows to hunt not only for her own child but for Markella’s too.

The Wine-Dark Sea tells of families flung apart across continents and of a strong, determined mother who resolves not to let war destroy hers.

Victoria Hislop is at the height of her storytelling powers in this compelling and thought-provoking new novel, which offers insight into a little-known chapter of Greek history.

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MY REVIEW:

As World War II ends, a new battle is beginning in Greece. A civil war that will rage for decades and tear families apart. Nowhere is safe, not even the small mountain village where Fotini lives with her daughter, Iliana, and newborn son. When the government soldiers come, Fotini encourages Iliana to hide with the other children as she and the other women are herded into trucks and taken away. Fotini is transported to a prison on the island of Chios, where she befriends Markella and her son, Nikos, a strange but wise boy. Meanwhile, weeks after their mothers were taken, trucks had returned to the village for the children. But they aren’t being reunited with their mothers. Instead, they face a long and arduous journey to a different fate. We then follow the characters as they are torn apart and try to come back together in this epic story of family, friendship, survival, war and hope.

The Wine-Dark Sea is a powerful, moving and thought-provoking story. With skillful storytelling and rich historic detail, Victoria Hislop brings this little-known chapter in Greek history vividly to life. Hislop’s meticulous research is evident on every page, bringing the characters and story to life in vivid detail. And she held me tight by the heartstrings, making me feel every emotion alongside the characters as I turned the pages and I was an emotional wreck by the end.

I loved how Hislop showcased the dichotomy of people’s experiences during the conflict. The best example of this was through Iliana and Fontin’s experiences immediately after being taken from their village. After her arduous journey, Iliana finds herself in a utopia where she has knowledge, food, equality and a life she enjoys. Meanwhile, Fotini is imprisoned without enough food, is surrounded by dying women and just wants to go back to her old life.

The captivating and memorable characters were a joy to read. I particularly loved reading feisty Iliana and wise Nikos. My mother’s heart went out to Fotini and Markella, who had a wonderful friendship that lasted through the years. And it was so fun to see a cameo from some of the characters from The Island. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Headline for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Hislop studied English Literature at Oxford University and afterwards worked in book publishing, PR and journalism. During her time as a journalist, she wrote on education and travel for national newspapers and magazines and was sent on assignments around the world.

Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, Victoria wrote The Island in 2005.  She was named Newcomer of the Year at the British Book Awards and the novel became an international bestseller, translated into 40 languages, with over 6 million copies sold worldwide.  It was turned into a 26-part Greek TV series which achieved record ratings for Greece.

Her affection for the Mediterranean then took her to Spain, and in The Return she wrote about the painful secrets of its civil war.

In her third novel, The Thread, Victoria returned to Greece to tell the extraordinary and turbulent tale of Thessaloniki and its people across the 20^th century. Published in 2011 to widespread acclaim, it confirmed her reputation as an inspirational storyteller and was shortlisted for a British Book Award.  The Thread is currently in development with a Greek TV production company, Heretic.

The Sunrise, set in Cyprus and published in 2014, was followed by Cartes Postales from Greece, which is her first work of fully colour-illustrated fiction and was also short-listed for the British Book Awards fiction title of the year.  It was adapted into a twelve-part drama for ERT1 in 2021.

Those Who Are Loved, published in 2019, tells the story of Greece’s traumatic period of occupation and civil war during the 20^th century.

In 2020, came the sequel to The Island, One August Night, and Victoria was executive producer on the adaptation for Greek state television.

Victoria’s first book for children, Maria’s Island (listed by Waterstones as one of the best children’s books of the year) was also published in 2020 – and is an adaptation of The Island for a younger audience.

Her latest novel, The Figurine, was a number 1 bestseller in paperback  A central theme is the looting of archaeological treasures and the meaning of “home”.

Most of Victoria’s novels have hit the number one position in the UK charts, but have also been bestsellers in Greece, China, France, Israel and Norway.  She has won several literary awards in France.

As well as studying the Greek language (it is her ultimate ambition to read everything and anything without the presence of a dictionary by her side), she spends her spare time reading, swimming, boxing, playing tennis and, these days, dancing (having been a contestant in Greece’s version of “Strictly” in 2021).

She is an ambassador for Lepra, a UK charity that raises money to treat the estimated three million leprosy sufferers worldwide, and is also an avid supporter of the National Literacy Trust which promotes reading in the UK.  Victoria is Patron of Knossos 2025 which has raised funds to renew the British School of Athens research centre in Crete and she has recently been appointed Vice-President of the BSA.

In 2019, Victoria was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Sheffield, and in 2020 she was given Honorary Citizenship by the Greek President for her promotion of Greece. She is a member of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM)

In 2024 Victoria became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature

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