Lepra offers free educational resources for “Maria’s Island”
Lepra (@lepra) are really excited to be working with Victoria Hislop, Gill Smith and Walker Books on a free educational resource based on the children’s book, Maria’s Island.
Maria’s Island is a compelling story for #KS2 and #KS3 students which follows a family impacted by leprosy, a disease which is often misunderstood. The book examines the challenges they face and how they overcome them.
If your school is looking for a charity to support, then the educational resources, created by Walker Books, can be used for free in class or assembly, alongside a video presentation about how your school can fundraise for Lepra.
Reunify The Marbles
Victoria hislop joined protestors, including six members of parliament, at the British Museum in London on Sunday to call for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles with Greece as international support grows for a resolution to the decades-long cultural row.
The protest was organized by the advocacy group British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM) and marked the 13th anniversary of the inauguration of the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
Activists unfurled Greek flags and a banner reading “Reunify the Marbles!” inside the museum, while English author and honorary Greek citizen Victoria Hislop presented a cake with the numbers “1” and “3.” The 5th-century BCE statues have been held in the British institutions since 1816, after they were removed from the facade of the Acropolis under the direction of Scottish nobleman Lord Elgin.
A dramatic and moving story set in the same world as the international bestseller The Island from the celebrated novelist Victoria Hislop.
The absorbing story of the Cretan village of Plaka and the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga – Greece’s former leprosy colony – is told to us by Maria Petrakis, one of the children in the original version of The Island. She tells us of the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring the themes of stigma, shame and the treatment of those who are different, which are as relevant for children as adults. Gill Smith’s rich, full-colour illustrations will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape and Mediterranean seascape.
“The idea came out of a conversation with some school teachers in Crete.” said Victoria “They commented that there were so many themes in the story that were as relevant to children as to adults but felt that the original novel was a little too grown-up for many of them. I realised that much of the book is actually about children and their experiences of stigma and loss, so this has been a wonderful experience for me, to look at things through their eyes. Writing for children requires a whole different set of skills and I hope they will enjoy reading it.”
Buy Maria’s Island : Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Foyles | WH Smith | Amazon
Praise for Maria’s Island
The tale is narrated by Maria, one of the children in Hislop’s novel The Island, from which this engrossing yarn is skillfully adapted for younger readers.
― The Daily Telegraph
Sometimes poignant but never upsetting, this book highlights the strength of love, friendship and resilience over adversity. Complemented wonderfully by Gill Smith’s beautiful illustrations, this is an ideal book for older early readers who are ready explore more complex themes associated such as coping with adversity and having respect for others who may be different from themselves.
– Gazette Herald Books of the Month
I picked this book up as soon as it arrived and couldn’t put it down. My favourite things were the Greek setting and the history in the story, and I loved that the character was called Anna – best name ever! I didn’t know much about this story before I read it and enjoyed finding out about the adventures. I would recommend it to my friends. I liked the illustrations too.
— Anna, Age 11 ― Toppsta
“…a powerful story about love, stigma and hope.”
– Mini Travellers
Recent News
“I was unashamedly a swot”
Read More
The Knossos Project
Read More
Strictly Victoria
Read More
Victoria on Facebook
From Victoria’s Greek phrasebook: Elpida. This is the Greek word for ‘hope’. Something that Victoria’s characters – from Maria in THE ISLAND and Katerina in THE THREAD, to the Özhan and Georgiou families in THE SUNRISE – have held on to with both hands. Which of Victoria’s books have you found the most captivating and why?
The Island captivated me, so much so we booked Elounda for our Hineymoon 10 years ago and visited the island. I was very moved after ready the book and could imagine how people lived after reading your words Victoria Hislop, thank you for being such an amazing writer x
The Thread - I stayed in Thessaloniki on placement & could visualise it all , also when in Athens I visited a Smyrna exhibition in the Benaki Museum - many many Yia Yias there whose history included Smyrna x
I've not read the sunrise yet.... but I love Victoria Hislops books... each one is beautiful...
The Thread was the first of Victoria’s books that I read and I was completely hooked. I had never been much of a ‘book reader’ since being forced to read so many books at the same time when I was at school (a very long time ago). I’ve really enjoyed reading these books now and lots of others too, most of them with a Greek theme or setting.❤️🇬🇷
Couldn’t put The Thread down when I started reading it but I found The Sunrise even more moving.
Those Who Are Loved - this novel inspired me to take up for further research into Greek history and culture.
I agree The Island will always be my favorite we watch the Dvds over and over again x
Loved reading all three.x
So hard to tell! The island and the sunrise👍👍👍
Loved them all and so looking forward to visiting Spinalonga 😊😊
Those who are Loved, was my favourite and should be compulsory reading for all Greeks of the diaspora.
The Return and the Thread. History made gripping in both.
The Island and I visited Spinalonga last year. Wow I loved how Victoria brought it all to life
J ai lu l île des oubliés quand j étais en Crète La dernière danse m a donnée envie d aller visiter Grenade, ce que nous avons fait et nous retournerons en Crète et à Grenade pour retrouver la magie et la lumière de ces deux endroits
Je viens de vous découvrir, pour le moment, j'en ai lu deux "L'ile des oubliés" et "Cette nuit -là" et j'ai aimé les deux puisqu'ils parlent des mêmes personnages (J'aime beaucoup Maria) 💞💞
Gostei de todos, mas o Regresso é o meu preferido. Só porque conheço Granada, mas são todos muito interessantes. Adoro esta escritora.
That instant when Cupid’s arrow hits two strangers is sometimes referred to as ‘un coup de foudre’ (a bolt of lightning). In Victoria’s short story, THE LAST DANCE, Agapi and Theodoris experience love at first sight or ‘keravnovolos erotas’ in Greek – literally meaning ‘lightning-thrower love’. Do you believe in keravnovolos erotas?
Excellent stories.
I believe . Met and married in 3 months.. Still together after 52 years
Definitely....
I must read this. Xx
I'm waiting in dutch 😁
A new release?
Qd seront ils traduit en français...
Perché non si traducono in italiano i tutti i libri di Victoria? Non riesco a capirlo sono bellissimi ma io riesco a leggere solo quelli tradotti in italiano.
If you are after a book set in Athens Victoria suggests EURYDICE STREET by Sofka Zinovieff. Victoria says, “She writes in a warm and often amusing way about a chaotic city, noticing the strange habits and traditions that locals take for granted, but outsiders are surprised and bemused by.”
Do you read books that are set in the places you love to travel to?
It sounds an interesting book. One that I shall look out for.. thank you. I think someone should write a book on the weird and wonderful traditions we have in the UK ( I’m sure they must have). My granddaughter has lived most of her 28 years in the US. She’s now come to live in England and is totally amused and bemused at our everyday sayings, as well as many of our place names. I’ll never forget one of my favourite books was “notes from a small Island”. By Bill Bryson. Victoria Hislop is still my all time favourite though.
Yes. Before going on holiday, I try to find a novel set in that location, or somewhere nearby, to read whilst away. (I don’t always get it right. I only read The Thread shortly after returning from the Thessaloniki area when I realised where it was predominantly set).
Yes. Any suggestions for Crete ?
Yes, absolutely!
Yes sure do ☺️😘☺️
On page 105 Yanis Varoufakis is mopping the floor in only a pair of cycling trousers. Now that's a nice image!!!
I literally bought it today- here in Athens!
Yes.
Agree
Yes 🙂
C est en anglais...pas traduction en français ?
i
I love books about Greece, preferably novels that are a bit truthful. Always lying on the beach and reading, as long as I'm not lying and looking at the ladies 🙂
Yes 😌
my prize book has still not arrived
Here’s Stelios Mainas (Giorgis) and Katerina Lehou (Eleni) on the set of Το Νησί, the television adaptation of Victoria’s brilliant novel, THE ISLAND. Leave a ❤️ if you have read THE ISLAND or ONE AUGUST NIGHT or have watched Το Νησί.
This needs to come on netflix or similar
I have read the books and watched the Greek TV dvds during COVID... Made it all so real
Loved every one of your books they all take pride of place on my bookcase.❤
Just reading the books for the 10tg time 😂 I would love to watch this in the UK!
♥️ I have read both books and love them they are amongst my favourites and will read again Fabulous ❤️
💗 I love all your books that I have read. . My son has just bought me Those Who are loved for Mother's Day. Xx
I have done both and they were both Amazing!!!!!!!!
I have the box set, and I've read the book. Love it ❤️
Loved The Island ❤️
❤ I have read the book The Island in Dutch. I loved it very much.
Loved this series 👌🏽❤️
Love these series and their acting
❤️❤️❤️ all three! And Maria’s story
❤️ - have read it twice but think I need to go back and read it again
Loved The Island. One of my favourite books. ❤️
❤Read the book & then watched the Greek tv adaptation , the actors were amazing!! Its not often the tv series is as good as the book but this was spectacular!! They should show it on Netflix!!! 🤩
❤️read both
Read and seen the serie from the island. And been there also read all of your books
Love this!❤️
❤️❤️ I have read both, would love to watch as well!
I’d love to get the DVD‘s. But where?!?
Such great stories. Hope we can see these amazing looking adaptations in the uk.
Will it be available in Australia?
❤️ read them both and loved them. Will it be shown in the UK?
I adore both the novel and the TV series!!!!
When Alexis meets Stephanos, the taverna owner in THE ISLAND, he presents her with a platter of Greek meze with stuffed zucchini flowers. Hands up if you can’t wait for that time when you will next be sitting in a taverna, with a soft Meltemi wind and the sun glinting off the water?
Again, where can I see" The island" film in English please
Oh my goodness just looks amazing out of this world. I still loved sitting in this Taverna across from Spinalonga x
Beautiful and so many memories
Kefalonia in May I hope 🙏 Went to Peloponnese last year and found a few of your books in my hotel ..most I had read but I found one that had escaped me . You capture Greece so well 😍
Looking on the right... the same tavern 🤔💙
Most definitely! Bring on the sun ☀️
Its a nice warm day here now on Lefkas...just a shame no shoreside tavernas are open yet....
Definitely ❤️❤️
Julie Morgan!!!! 15 years later!!🤣🤣🤷♀️xx
🙋♀️Can't wait to eat chicken in Epidavros at Vasiliki, she has the best chicken...
July for me x
Crete in June💕
🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 3 week to go before visiting Crete for the first time. I’m already sad at the thought of leaving 😞
🇬🇷💙
Dave Arliss
🙋♀️
🙋♀️
🙌
💙🇬🇷
🖐🖐
Not long til Corfu 🌞
Lefkada 2nd June
If you are interested in writing, Victoria says: “It’s hard when you are in full flow to leave it all behind when you shut your laptop for the evening. Your characters are still with you, more real than the friends or family that you are sitting with at a table – however, I would urge any young writer not to sit down at that table and talk about what they are writing. My recommendation is to keep the idea close and save all the story-telling energy for the page.”
So pretty 💕
Sublim kooool
