Blog Tour - Those Who Are Loved by VIctoria Hislop

Today I am very pleased to be taking part in Random Things and Headline's Blog Tour to celebrate the publication of Victoria Hislop's latest novel, Those Who Are Loved.

The gripping new novel by Sunday Times Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship, all of which left deep scars.

Athens 1941. After decades of political uncertainty, Greece is polarised between Right- and Left-wing views when the Germans invade.
Fifteen-year-old Themis comes from a family divided by these political differences. The Nazi occupation deepens the fault-lines between those she loves just as it reduces Greece to destitution. She watches friends die in the ensuing famine and is moved to commit acts of resistance.

In the civil war that follows the end of the occupation, Themis joins the Communist army, where she experiences the extremes of love and hatred and the paradoxes presented by a war in which Greek fights Greek.

Eventually imprisoned on the infamous islands of exile, Makronisos and then Trikeri, Themis encounters another prisoner whose life will entwine with her own in ways neither can foresee. And finds she must weigh her principles against her desire to escape and live.

As she looks back on her life, Themis realises how tightly the personal and political can become entangled. While some wounds heal, others deepen.

This powerful new novel from Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop sheds light on the complexity and trauma of Greece's past and weaves it into the epic tale of an ordinary woman compelled to live an extraordinary life.

I was first introduced to Victoria Hislop when her very popular novel, The Island, was chosen to be part of Richard and Judy's Book Club as part of their Channel 4 chat show. I have subsequently read every one of Victoria's books and I loved every single one and Those Who Are Loved is the latest one in a fantastic list of novels.

Those Who Are Loved is a fantastic read. It transports the reader to 1941 Athens and the book is set alongside the backdrop of German occupancy, the Civil War and the military dictatorship. It was a very difficult time in Greece but  one which has led to a very interesting and poignant tale told in Victoria's brilliant storytelling style. 

Throughout the story it is clearly evident that Victoria has carried out extensive research and this has all added many layers to the story, with the characters having complex backgrounds and the backdrop and scenery all enabling the reader to picture the scene and be part of village life. 

One of the main strands within the book is the family, and this is the heart of the book. Those Who Are Loved is a brilliant family saga and it is a great piece of writing which enables the reader to experience life within a war and to live through political unrest and the effects they have on the whole family.

Thank you to Headline and Random Things for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.