«At last - a beach book with a heart... Meticulous research into Cretan culture...packed with family sagas, doomed love affairs, devastating secrets... She also forces us to reflect on illness, both the nasty, narrow-mindedness of the healthy and the spirit of survival in the so-called "unclean". Her message seems as relevant today as it would have been a century ago»

Observer

«'This is a vivid, moving and absorbing tale, with its sensitive, realistic engagement with all the consequences of, and stigma attached to leprosy, elevating it beyond holiday literature'»

<i>Observer</i>

«'War, tragedy and passion unfurl against a Mediterranean backdrop in this engrossing debut novel' You magazine»

You magazine

«'Gently gripping tale'»

<i>Scotsman on Sunday</i>

«'Brings dignity and tenderness to her novel'»

<i>Telegraph</i>

«'A promising debut' Grazia magazine»

Grazia

«'The story of life on Spinalonga, the lepers' island, is gripping and carries real emotional impact. Victoria Hislop...brings dignity and tenderness to her novel about lives blighted by leprosy' Telegraph»

Telegraph

«'A page-turning tale that reminds us that love and life continue in even the most extraordinary of circumstances' Sunday Express»

Sunday Express

«'Adding depth and colour to the story is the description of Cretan life... in particular, the vividly detailed account of life on Spinalonga... It is one of the achievements of this thoughtful novel that it presents the lives of the island's inhabitants with such empathy. The result is a fascinating work that combines a moving love story witha plea for more understanding about this most cruel of diseases'»

<i>The Times</i>

«'Hislop's deep research, imagination and patent love of Crete creates a convincing portrait of times on the island... A moving and absorbing holiday read'»

<i>Evening Standard</i>

«'Passionately engaged with its subject...the author has meticulously researched her fascinating background and medical facts'»

<i>The Sunday Times</i>

«A moving and atmospheric tale»

The Scotsman

«'Wonderful descriptions, strong characters and an intimate portrait of island existence'»

<i>Woman & Home</i>

«'A page-turning tale...reminds us that love and life continue in even the most extraordinary of circumstances'»

<i>Sunday Express</i>

«Hislop's deep research, imagination and patent love of Crete creates a convincing portrait of times on the island. She writes evocatively of the minutiae of traditional life... She...manages to milk the dramatic potential of each unexpected twist and broken engagement, of the ruined and resurrected lives of her characters... A moving and absorbing holiday read that pulls at the heart strings»

Evening Standard

«'A heartrending tale of love, loss and passion'»

<i> Good Book Guide

«'A beautiful tale of enduring love and unthinking prejudice'»

<i>Express

«'A must-have on every intelligent holiday-maker's beach towel'»

<i>Books Quarterly</i>