Those Who Are Loved

Readalong

15 Aug

Those Who Are Loved

Victoria Hislop

512 pages

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.

Instagram Highlights, #ThoseWhoAreLovedReadalong

“This book blew me away, I knew very little about Greece's history throughout the occupation and through Victoria Hislop, I got to experience the ups and downs on one family. A very emotive and important book.”

— Char McCallum / @nobooksgiven, Campaign manager

By purchasing with our Bookshop.org affiliate links, you’re helping to support the High Street and local independent bookshops.