Summary of The IslandÂ
Alexis Fielding, a 25-year-old Englishwoman, travels to Crete to visit the village of Plaka, where her mother grew up. The village faces the deserted island of Spinalonga, which once served as one of the last leper colonies in Europe. During her visit, Alexis meets an old acquaintance of her mother and uncovers the tragic stories of her grandmother and great-aunt, including their dramatic love stories.
Reasons to read The Island
“The Island” may not be considered highbrow literature, but it is certainly an entertaining and interesting summer read, especially when visiting Crete. The novel was a bestseller in the UK and was adapted into the 26-episode Greek television series “To Nisi”, the most expensive Greek TV series ever produced. Victoria Hislop, a popular British author (see also “The Sunrise“), was awarded honorary Greek citizenship in 2020 for promoting modern Greek history and culture. “The Island” won several awards, including Newcomer of the Year at the 2007 British Book Awards.
Setting: Crete (Greece)
Book set in Greece: Crete (Plaka, Lasithi) and Spinalonga (an island off the coast of Crete)
Original title: The Island
Year of publication: 2005
Nr of pages: 480
