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
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Victoria says: "Patra is a city that represents the extremes of Greece and the underlying chaos of it all, contrasts of beauty and ugliness, the sublime and the mundane, an endless source of surprise and fascination.” Have you had a chance to visit Patra?
Hi victoria , I hope you are thinking about writing a book and including Patras xxxx
Absolutely gorgeous!!!
Oh yes, a number of times….Climbed all those steps and visited the Roman Odeon. The gateway to the mainland from our home on Kefalonia.
No unfortunately, but you have made me want to ! Thanks
Não conheço a Grécia, talvez numas próximas férias. Mas a Vitória ainda não conhece o meu país Portugal e a nossa história, quem sabe se viesse visita-ló arranjaria um bom tema para um livro. 😃
Victoria Hislop please book in french
Acabei de ler o seu livro “ Uma Noite de Agosto” continuação do livro a “ Ilha”. Adorei. Parabéns. 👏
Patras is gorgeous , visit the aghios claus factory , where they make the mavros Daphne wine xxx
Victoria says: "In Greece, there is something for everyone. From the noise and chaos of Athens to the calm water of Galaxidi – and, of course, absolutely everything in between."
Which are your favourite spots?
I❤️Pylos and Corfu the most.
And thanks to Victoria’s “The Island” I’ve been to Spinalonga, Crete, twice.
Impossible to pick up one - so many lovely spots and different from each other! From the busy beautiful streets of Thessaloniki and Athens to the endless beaches near Parga, all the charming islands - Rhodes, Lefkada, Zakinthos, Amouliani. The Island - Crete, my favorite Vai Beach. Spinalonga of course. Picturesque Meteora and so many more. Love this country! Definitely kissed by God!
Thessaloniki is my second home being USA born as were parents but grandparents were born in Greece.
Kreta (Platanias and Rethymnon)and Rhodos is Wonderful pleases......We love Greece!!!!💖💝💞
I love Athens and the atmosphere there. Its a beautiful city.
Naxos and the smaller Cyclades.
Alykanas in Zakynthos has my heart but love every place in Greece I've seen so far, plenty more to visit ❤️
Peraia, 15 minutes from the Thessaloniki airport. My yiayia and pappous had a summer home there that my parents inherited so I spend my summers with my family there too. I was actually christened and married in Agia Sophia in Thessaloniki.
I love the sea passage from the Ionian to the canal. Especially Galaxhidi, but also Navpactos and Trizonia. (Who could forget the fabulous “yacht club” at Trizonia?!)
Paros Agina corfu and I love Athen😍😍
The fireflies of Corfu: last week of May, first week of June. I visited Corfu for 5 consecutive years just to see the fireflies. Every night as the sun sets I’d be sat alone at an olive grove watching this Beautiful spectacle. The fireflies blew me away.
I spent 6 months as an au pair for a family that had an apartment in Athens but they spent the summer in their house outside Lygourio near Epidaurus. They had theatrical connections and one of the national theatre members was a friend who stayed with us. He talked to me about the ancient plays that were performed in the ancient theatre. People came from everywhere to watch them during the festival. Whole families on tractor trailers to those in a Rolls Royce from Athens. It was an experience I will never forget
Every 10 years I fall in love with a different area in Greece....presently it's Paros....but Athens will forever be my favorite city!!♥️
Cape Sounion, staring at the Aegean Sea from above ❤️
When we went to Rhodes a few years ago we went to Symi on the ferry. Beautiful place, well worth a visit.
Mine is Lipsi, in the Dodecanese, a little laid back but beautiful island
Kos for my first meeting of Greek friendliness then Hanioti for 30 wonderful holidays.
So many lovely places; Afytos in Halkidiki, Skiathos, Santorini….
Delphi, Athens
Aegina...an island I have been lucky enough to call home for 33years..❤️🇬🇷❤️🇬🇷
I have so many favourites weve visited so many islands. For serenity and beauty Ios. But the list is endless all islands are so very different but all so beautiful.
Kos so far but visiting Lesvos twice next year.
Athens ❤️. I have been very lucky to have grown up in the chaos of Athens!
We fell in love with the small but perfect lsland of Kea..
Victoria says: "Each year I spend a few months in Athens. I have an apartment in Kato Patissia, an area that makes my friends furrow their brows – think East London before gentrification – but it’s just a half-hour stroll from the city centre.
The streets are all named after islands (Patmos, Nissyros and so on) and are dense with fine examples of Neo-Classical, Art Deco and Bauhaus architecture. Many have fallen into disrepair but I think that only adds to their charm."
I agree - Athens, even in her degenerative areas, retains great charm. The graffiti and abandoned buildings, in amongst the reclaimed and modern sites are unique. I wrote a reflective piece about a stroll through Athens whilst the economic decline of the late 2000’s was at its peak. There’s a little bit of hope around every corner.
Bauhaus? Art Deco yes but Bauhaus I’m not sure about that. I too love Greece & have visited Athens for a week. Athens in places sadly is a very, very dark place in some areas. A city of dramatic opposites in terms of have & have nothing. The comparison between Athens & pre gentrification London isn’t something I recognise… at all.
I love Greece🥰 I have visited Athen, Hydra, Samos and Poros. I love your books Victoria.
Beautiful photo of a city that was once my home 😍
Very beautiful architecture in that area , full of charm and history and so close to the very heart of the city ... i would imitate you if I could !
How wonderful ! I bet you get the best tavernas there too
Love Athens
Love this. The same I found in Thessaloniki, so many amazing example of architectural splendour, made even more beautiful by the ravages of time and various stages of decay
We were there last September to October - I loved Athens and it’s metro ❤️❤️😘
Love Athens went there for our 25th wedding anniversary, use to sit on our hotels roof garden with a glass of wine and watch the light show on the ruins of the city . Went on trip to Delphi which I loved.
Athens is magical!
Do you have plans for another novel in the near future, please? I have withdrawal symptoms!
Do you write/research when you are there Victoria?
Helen L Lianos
Victoria, I'm glad you found time to read the book I passed to you at the Hellenic Centre a few years ago. It looks like something might really happen at last to reunite the Marbles.
Those old run down buildings is one of the things that keeps drawing me back to Athens over and over again. If only they could speak to us...
Wish you would write about the Turks and Greeks that had to leave homes and friends after the war
A big thank you to bookcrush_gr for sharing your gorgeous Greek edition and thoughts on Ο γυρισμός [The Return] . . .
The only one I haven’t read. X
Back in 2013 I picked The Return up at the airport on my way to Spain (without having read the synopsis). I was actually going to Granada and Cordoba so my jaw dropped on the plane when I read what the book was about! Absolutely enhanced my trip. Amazing book!!
I love your books very much, but I regret that none have been published in Germany in recent years. Why and how is this possible? Greetings 💞💞💞
You are an incredible writer, Victoria!💜
Love you books, but I'd really really love to see the island in English... Please please 🙏
Got excited and thought it was a new book coming out for a moment x
Loved this book ❤️❤️
Captivating!!! A journey to Spain and the flamenco culture! I loved it as much as i did with the rest of her books ❤️❤️❤️
Recebi o seu último livro de prenda “ Uma noite de Agosto” . Já li e tenho todos os seus livros. Muito bons. 👏
Such a great book🌞
This book was my first introduction to Ms Hislops books and after that I couldn't wait for each next one that appeared. This and The Thread were my favourites.
Looking forward to it!
Is there a French édition?
Please en french 😁😁😁
Ηταν το Πρώτο βιβλίο της αγαπημένης Victoria Hislop και εντυπωσίαστηκα απο την ωραία περιγραφή ΄Είχα την τύχη μετά απο λιγο διάστημα να ξεναγηθώ στην ΓΡΑΝΑΔΑ και ήταν σαν να διάβαζα ξανά, νοερά, το Βιβλίο.
💙🔝
Vaso Soulis
kooool happy week end
Maria’s moving tale of how her fate was bound to the Cretan island of Spinalonga is full of friendship and family, courage and hope, and is beautifully illustrated throughout by Gill Smith.
Victoria’s MARIA'S ISLAND is a retelling of THE ISLAND for children. Find out more at booklink.walker.co.uk/marias-island-pb/
I bought it for myself, great book . Also love The Island. X
Great work
I bought it for my young Grandaughter she wouldn't let me read it to her, so read it myself & thoroughly enjoyed it! I've read the other ones about Spinalonga, which we've visited many times, just Love ❤️ the place.
Awesome‼️
My daughters favourite book 😊
Such a nice book. I'm reading it in Greek. Difficult but not too difficult 🤣
On peut le trouver en français !!!
Magnifique merci 🙏
Did you like to write as a child? Victoria says: "I think we all did - writing poetry and stories were all in a day's work up until we were about 15 - and then it all came to an end! It's as if from that moment the teachers said STOP and we began to be self-conscious and we literally did stop."
Apparently (thank God for that!) not all of us stop. Some people continue to write and they continue to give the rest of us food for thought!! Thank you so much!
Absolutely amazing
