Strictly Victoria!
Victoria and Τηλέμαχος Φάτσης dance the Quickstep on Star TV’s “Dancing with the Stars”
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.”
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
The Knossos Project
After almost a century of activity, the BSA Knossos Research Centre needs urgent renovation and updating to meet the needs of 21st-century researchers. In close collaboration with the Greek authorities, the BSA has developed an ambitious plan: the Knossos 2025 Project will transform the Knossos Research Centre by providing world-class facilities for future generations of researchers, ensuring the best possible storage and conservation conditions for the precious archaeological materials, and attracting new academic and local audiences. We are delighted to announce best-selling author Victoria Hislop as the Knossos 2025 Patron.
When the Project is completed:
- scholars will enjoy state-of-the-art facilities for 21st-century archaeology, including laboratory space for ceramic analysis and bioarchaeological research.
- the Research Centre’s internationally renowned study collection – officially known as the ‘Knossos Stratigraphical Museum’, informally ‘the Strat’ – will have a new mezzanine floor offering over 700m² of study and storage space for researchers complementing the existing ground floor store.
- refurbished storerooms for architectural, ceramic and bioarchaeological finds will ensure the proper preservation of Knossos’ material remains.
- the collections will be digitised and become available online to researchers.
- the Knossos Research Centre will offer a rich programme of workshops, lectures, performances and other outreach events engaging scholars, visitors and the local community more directly with Knossos’ 9,000-year history.
The Knossos 2025 Project offers a unique and exciting opportunity to support archaeological research at Knossos well into the 21st century. The cost of the overall project is estimated at £2 million.
For more information aboutmteh Knossos Project, please visit their website.
Recent News
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Victoria Hislop
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"If you love superb storytelling and enjoy a strong sense of place then this book should be top of your list!" ★★★★★ reader review
You can now download it for only 99p in Kindle for the month of May. To get your copy, head over to tinyurl.com/2p9br8mb.
Fabulous book, as are all of Victorias books!
Loved this book so much ❤️
Loved this book, fascinating story. ❤️
Loved this book!!!! I'm looking to buy it again as it was lost in a fire 😢
Dare I say , my favourite of Victoria Hislop’s books !
Love this book
Loved this book.
One of my favorites
My favourite of Victoria Hislop’s ♥️. Couldn’t put it down!
My favorite ❤️
Loved this
“This was a city where pavements still shimmered in November and where snow was never more than a fantasy. People strolled down the promenade every day of the year, contemplated a swim in the sea and sought shade under the palms.”
Fall in love with Cyprus in Victoria’s short story THE PINE TREE, from THE LAST DANCE AND OTHER STORIES.
Whenever I go to an airport and hope to find a Victoria Hislop book to read it's always sold out ..!!...
Will be in Cyprus in 3 weeks time 🌅 really looking forward to it, 2yr delay for our 25th, silver wedding anniversary 💞💞
Loved these stories
In THE ISLAND young Maria regularly collects honey from her hives on the thyme-covered hillside overlooking the village. It yielded such intense sweetness that for several years she had no need to buy even one gram of sugar. Have you experienced the joys of Cretan thyme honey?
Yes with a cretan breakfast rusk and raisins bliss .. and then poured into a bowl of sheep's yoghurt and curds!
Yes and it’s a unique taste lovely 😊 honey 🍯
Υes.. My husband is a Beeman as a hoby.. So I enjoy the best honey of Krete..
No but I will soon with any luck 🤞x
Yes, delicious.💙
Oui c est très bon
Yes, honney from Hora Sfakion... From Pavlos production 💙 Ναι, μέλη από το Hora Sfakion, τόσο νόστιμο 💙
Victoria has said that her greatest inspiration “comes from visiting unfamiliar foreign cities, sitting in cafés and wondering what goes on in the lives of the people there – and eavesdropping.” Where are the places you could happily while away the hours like this?
Anywhere where people are going past, doing their thing!
Yes, cafes and bars, people watching.
The harbour in Molyvos (Lesvos)
Anywhere in Greece 🇬🇷 😍
Grèce et Italie 💙
Plakias Crete.
Massouri Beach (Kalymnos) And the balck Beach (santorini)
Elounda but you know this already Victoria 😍😍😍😍
London and Limassol in Cyprus
Absolutely gorgeous!!!
Kilini, Peloponesos
Thessaloniki & Agios Nikolaos
Corfu town 😊💗💯
Around Rou in Corfu
Thassos Island 🇬🇷
Chania
Any Greek village square....
Hersonissos Old Town
Florence.
Warm sun. Gently lapping sea. Cold drinks brought straight to your sun lounger. Prawn saganaki for lunch at the taverna. How could we not to imagine ourselves on a Greek island this summer! Victoria says that, “Every little Greek island is a world of its own.” Which part of Greece is your absolute favourite for whiling away the summer hours?
Crete, such a vibrant island with a cultural identity and crystal clear waters! A dreamy destination which offers tranquility and fun!! Crete is a great example of Greek 'philoxenia'🛫🇬🇷🏖🍉🍇🥑🍊🎊☀️
It would be difficult to single out just one favourite Greek destination, but I have to say, hand on heart, & it's always in my head & heart, Crete!!! Just longing to step down off the plane onto Cretan land again in September! 🙂 <3
Molyvos (Lesvos) is one of my favourite islands, staying on the harbour. Hopefully ALL restrictions lifted this summer so I can return.
I love Crete, but my home in spirit and heart, is Thessaloniki
Crete. Absolutely beautiful and the people are so kind and welcoming.
I love the Pelion peninsula- quite beautiful and so unspoilt.
Just love Crete .
Off to Crete in August ...we've previously been to Zante ....we need to do many more Greek islands before I decide x
We love Zante and Kefalonia. Small friendly islands somewhere to totally chill out with cocktails and sunsets 💙🤍💙
I love Santorini ❤
Crete for me. Love Chania & Rethmenon. I love your books. I just get lost in them💙🇬🇷
Has to be Crete. We first went there after I read The Island and been every year since, apart from the two lockdown years of course! Now due to go in five weeks, can’t wait! 🥰
I’ve just googled that dish and it sounds rather lovely so I think we’ll give it a go 😋😀. I must confess I’m absolutely terrified of flying so sadly, I don’t suppose I shall ever get to a Greek island 😢
Samos was my favourite for a totally chilled break, also love Kefalonia but we are off to Rhodes next month (originally planned for 2020) can’t wait as really miss the Greek Islands!
South East Crete, Ithica, Stoupa,Thasoss,Keffalonia all beautiful islands,we were lucky enough to live in SE Crete for 3 years and it's just a fabulous way of life......
I have so many but paxos is one of my favourite places , so relaxing ….. 😊
I’ve been to many Greek Islands. Kefalonia is my happy place!
Hard to pick. Crete is my favourite. But I have fond memories of Symi. And Kefalonia, and Zante, and Ithaca, too many love them all.
Elounda is our favourite on Crete but also love Kassiopi on Corfu both lovely Greek villages.❤
Kassiopi Corfu for me my heaven on earth
Too many to mention. Ios was my first island I landed on in 1980. Samos, Thassos, Skiathos, Halki, Lindos in Rhodes & Elounda in Crete. Also not forgetting Petra in Lesvos & Perissa in Santorini. Love them all ❤️
Crete! We honeymooned in Agios Nikolous, and visited Spinalonga. We are holidaying in Elounda this September and look forwards to exploring some more ☺️❤️
Oh my gosh what a question, I've loved all that I've visited so far but the last holiday I went on before the pandemic was a little village called kremasti in Rhodes, it has certainly stuck with me. So many people I have spoken to recently have never been to Greece, I'm always so shocked to hear this.
Crete, Lefkada, Corfu, Kefalonia ...hard to choose one whilst every one offers something unique. This year Thassos to be discovered. My least liked are Zakynthos and to the surprise of many Santorini.
Whilst we love crete . We are off to pefkos rhodes this year. Every welcome is special with in greece . Hopefully to visit and finally meet relatives on the athens peninsula soon ..
Victoria's captivating and enthralling novel THE THREAD will sweep you up and hold you in its grasp until the very last page . . .
You can now download it for only 99p in Kindle for the month of May. To get your copy, head over to tinyurl.com/2p9br8mb.
Love this book. Victoria Hislop has a very good writing
I love this book
This is the first of your books I have read Victoria and I loved it and learnt a lot of the history and the war, fire and earthquakes and love lost and found.
Superb book
As always with Victoria's books, a guaranteed good read, which carries you right into the story! 🙂
I love this book!
Julie Holman have you read this one
