Synopsis
The Island is the million-copy No.1 bestseller and winner of Richard & Judy's Summer Read 2006 from Victoria Hislop. From the thirties to the present day, it is a tale of four generations rent by war, illicit love, violence and leprosy.
A beautiful 10th anniversary paperback edition that includes a new essay by Victoria Hislop on the impact of this million-copy bestseller.
This was not the start of a short trip to deliver supplies. It was the beginning of a one-way journey to start a new life. Life on a leper colony. Life on Spinalonga.
Fifty years later, making a life-changing journey of her own, Alexis Fielding feels the pull of the abandoned island. A distant shadow off the coast of Crete, she knows it holds the secrets to her mother's past, buried for so long but surely not forgotten . . .
Publisher information
- Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
- ISBN: 9780755309511
- Number of pages: 496
- Dimensions: 197 x 129 x 32 mm
- Weight: 340g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Haven't stopped talking about it!
Absolutely loved it. Couldn't put it down toward the end, brilliant story and beautifully written. Wonderful book, definitely one I'd recommend.
Couldn't put it down!
It's a book that will stay with you, long after you finish reading it.
The Island
My favourite book! After lending it out to a friend I had to buy it again simply because I hated the thought of not having it. Now we both own a fantastic ... READ MORE
Brilliant read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it just made me want to visit Crete.
The Island
This book had me enthralled to the final page. Beautifully written and interesting, based on true leper colony. The story and characters guide you into the... READ MORE
AMAZING!
WOW! I just cannot put into words my thoughts and feelings about this incredible book!
I would recommend it to everyone! I think it is such a broad and lo... READ MORE
The Island
This is the best book I have read in the last 5 years, since I first read Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. I was bought it as a gift, and did not exp... READ MORE
An easy but worthy read.
The blurb does not give this book justice, it surprisingly has little focus on Alexis. It is an interesting retelling of actual historical events from a hu... READ MORE
Could be so much better.
This is a novel written by a journalist and it shows. It is well written and is completely absorbing in it's decription of history and character of the lep... READ MORE
Wonderful Job
As a Greek, I am going to rate Hislop's effort with 5 stars, the colours, the images I got everything reminds of stories I've heard about life in the villa... READ MORE
The Island
Although it has been quite some time since I read this book, I still reflect on the story it tells.It was a particularly vivid read for me as I had been t... READ MORE
Excellent read!
This book has been sensitively and beautifully written. The story is told through narrative by Fortini, who shares the history of her family's entwined pas... READ MORE
Fantastic
An absolutely fantastic book and so well written. I read it on holiday and couldn't put it down. It was wonderful and so heartfelt it really make me cry at... READ MORE
gripping story
I was held by the story of lives woven together - and torn apart - by leprosy. The descriptions were vibrant and detailed. It was hard to put it down. A mu... READ MORE
Very interesting story.
I really enjoyed this book. The author paints a picture.
I thought I knew about leprosy and it's affects. Having read this book I now know so much more and... READ MORE
Worthy of a read!
I was told about this book by my teenage daughter, she said it was a must read. She was right! I was drawn into the book, believable characters, interestin... READ MORE
The Island
I have seen The Island in bookshops countless times in the 3+ years since it was published but have never picked it up thinking it didn't look like my kind... READ MORE
A really good book!
One of my favourites
Fantastic. This book is such an excellent story that I found it hard to put down. The characters are all interesting and I felt such a connection to them, ... READ MORE
The Island
could not put ths book down,read it ,you will not be disapointed.
The Island
I found this book to be one of the best I have read in a long time. Gripping to the end, poignant and witty, a love story wrapped in a tale of family hist... READ MORE
The Island
Beautiful from the first word to the last one. What I would give to be as talented as Victoria Heslop. I felt the creatian sun beating down on me while I... READ MORE
The Island
Excellent. Didn't want to put this book down - very moving.
The Island
I read this whilst on holiday and could not put it down! I would highly recommend this to anyone. Keeps you gripped the whole way through a proper page tur... READ MORE
The Island
Such a beautiful and captivating storyThe background to this story is so well researched that you feel as if it is a truthful account of events surrounding... READ MORE
The Island
It was a little hard for me to get into the book at first but when I did...WOW! This is an amazing book and she is by far one of my favourite authors. Her ... READ MORE
The Island
This book is excellent, I couldn't put it down. Victoria Hislop has a way of writing that you feel you're in the story. Definiately one to read!
A love story but a bit more too
Essentially a story of 2 sisters - Maria good and Anna bad, but with leprosy and the leper colony based on The Island to make this a very interesting read.
The Island
I loved this book. It took me a long time between buying it and actually picking it up to read, always thinking there was something better, but this actual... READ MORE
The Island
One of the most beautiful and heart wrenching books I have ever read. This book explores so many avenues of the heart, from shame, rejection, first love, ... READ MORE
The Island
I found this book deeply moving and not what I would have assumed the Island to be like.I have been to Spinalonga and found the Island in its state of ruin... READ MORE
The Island
'The Island' is deceptively plainly-written, and at first seems too easy of a read to be a novel with depth. However, spanning decades and revealing a hidd... READ MORE
The Island
I did struggle to get into this book at first, but I have to say it is FANTASTIC. One of the best books I have ever read. The main story is just so grippin... READ MORE
The Island
Fantastic book, a wonderful story and very informative too. I now want to visit Crete and the island of Spinalonga.
Missed first time around
An easy summer read. Enjoyed this before going on to her next book. The authenticity of her writing makes for good reading.
A brilliant look into those affected by leprosy, but let down in its ending
This novel follows three generations of the same family, exploring their difficult times and their celebrations, and portraying how their lives are so intr... READ MORE
Loved it
I really loved this book. I was engaged from start to finish and found the like-able characters really like-able, and the hate-able characters really hate-... READ MORE
A gripping narrative
What a wonderful book. It works on so many levels and is such a compelling story. One of those books you simply don't want to put down.
Beautiful
This is such a wonderful book - with characters that you’ll miss when you finish. I don’t read much fiction but I read this book and didn’t want to put i... READ MORE
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