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The Captive Sun
Calliope Adham – young, strong-willed, and recently widowed – is schoolmistress in the village of Molyvos when Hitler's army invades Greece in 1941. Well read and linguistically gifted, she is promptly recruited by the Germans, who force her to act as their liaison officer. It is the beginning of a personal and national saga that will last well over thirty years.
Calliope's wartime duties bring her into close contact with Lieutenant Lorenz Umbreit, the Wehrmacht officer in command of her village. Their improbable friendship blossoms despite Calliope's clandestine work for the Resistance, in a fishing village seething with dread and suspicion.
Amid privation and death, the villagers' hostility finally erupts, but the bond between Calliope Adham and Lorenz Umbreit survives the Occupation, taking unforeseeable turns. Their complex, defiant relationship continues through several tumultuous decades, as Greece is ravaged by civil war, oppressed by military dictatorship, and finally liberated in the mid 1970s.
A bestseller in Greece, The Captive Sun is a haunting, sumptuous novel, weaving the private and the historic into a vivid tapestry of Greek island life. At once informative and spellbinding, it chronicles the story of an extraordinary woman and her lifelong struggle against social and political tyranny.
Calliope's wartime duties bring her into close contact with Lieutenant Lorenz Umbreit, the Wehrmacht officer in command of her village. Their improbable friendship blossoms despite Calliope's clandestine work for the Resistance, in a fishing village seething with dread and suspicion.
Amid privation and death, the villagers' hostility finally erupts, but the bond between Calliope Adham and Lorenz Umbreit survives the Occupation, taking unforeseeable turns. Their complex, defiant relationship continues through several tumultuous decades, as Greece is ravaged by civil war, oppressed by military dictatorship, and finally liberated in the mid 1970s.
A bestseller in Greece, The Captive Sun is a haunting, sumptuous novel, weaving the private and the historic into a vivid tapestry of Greek island life. At once informative and spellbinding, it chronicles the story of an extraordinary woman and her lifelong struggle against social and political tyranny.
480 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Irena Karafilly
12 books26 followersIrena Karafilly is an award-winning Montreal writer, poet, and aphorist. She is the author of several acclaimed books and of numerous stories, poems, and articles, which have been published in both literary and consumer magazines, as well as in various North American newspapers, including the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. Her short stories have been anthologized and broadcast, winning literary prizes such as the National Magazine Award and the CBC Literary Award.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 6, 2013
The word "epic" is thrown around so frequently these days that I was a bit dubious when I saw "The Captive Sun" described as such in a review. However, in this case, it most definitely applies -- and in its true sense. The book depicts the life of Calliope, a remarkable Greek woman who lived through the German Occupation, Greek civil war, dictatorship, and finally liberation.
Calliope is an exceptional woman in every sense: intelligent, idealistic, and beautiful. From the start, she refuses to conform to the norms of her small society, and continues to stand up for her rights during each eventful turn of the book's plot. Right before the Occupation, she finds herself widowed, leaving her free to fall in love with a cultured German officer. However, her feelings for him do not stop her from carrying out work for the local Resistance. Eventually, the war ends, but this does not signal peace for either Calliope or her country, and we continue to follow her down some unexpected paths, including several unusual love affairs, until the book (too soon!) reaches its bittersweet conclusion.
I found myself taken not only with Calliope, her journey and growth, but also with the magical Greek island world which the author spins for us. As an added bonus: I learnt all the Greek history I should have known, but didn't. In short: a great read!
Calliope is an exceptional woman in every sense: intelligent, idealistic, and beautiful. From the start, she refuses to conform to the norms of her small society, and continues to stand up for her rights during each eventful turn of the book's plot. Right before the Occupation, she finds herself widowed, leaving her free to fall in love with a cultured German officer. However, her feelings for him do not stop her from carrying out work for the local Resistance. Eventually, the war ends, but this does not signal peace for either Calliope or her country, and we continue to follow her down some unexpected paths, including several unusual love affairs, until the book (too soon!) reaches its bittersweet conclusion.
I found myself taken not only with Calliope, her journey and growth, but also with the magical Greek island world which the author spins for us. As an added bonus: I learnt all the Greek history I should have known, but didn't. In short: a great read!
February 21, 2013
Joint book discussion over at the blog: http://australianbookshelf.wordpress....
March 30, 2017
I loved this book! I knew nothing of Greek history or culture but can only aspire to be as strong and formidable as this Greek heroine. I think I might read it again
January 9, 2023
3/5 stars. Would recommend for a slow beach holiday type of read. Writing style is decent but in some parts of the book I wished the author elaborated more and in others I wished she condensed 10 pages to 1 page. Story was a little long winded, but I’ve definitely added the location setting of the book to my travel bucket list.
March 8, 2021
This is a fabulous book. I lived in Greece during the seventies so can totally relate. I know it’s fiction but it could be real as it’s so well researched and written.
December 27, 2012
When you hear the words ‘war’ and ‘resistance’ together, what images do they evoke? Do you think of resistance or underground movements in occupied countries during World War II? Do you think of people or weapon smuggling, covert operations, hiding soldiers or resistance sympathisers, disinformation, codes, or more? I only know what comes from books, so all of these images fit for me; in reality, my idea is likely somewhat Hollywood-esque. The Captive Sun, by Irena Karafilly, examines the impact of both these words on one character, Calliope Adham; as it turns out, the words have a multi-layered relevance for this intriguing and unusual character.
Young, headstrong and recently widowed, Calliope is a schoolmistress in the Greek village of Molyvos when the Germans arrive in 1941. As they set about occupying the small village, the Germans soon realise they need someone to act as a liaison officer – an intermediary between them and the villagers; with an adequate command of the German language, Calliope is ordered to take on the role. It’s not an easy role and her thoughts on this reveal a lot about her character: She found it as difficult to mediate between the Germans and the Greeks as she did between her own conflicted selves. What a telling sentence – and so easy to miss.
Calliope’s wartime duties bring her into close contact with Lieutenant Lorenz Umbreit; before long their shared interest in literature sparks an unlikely and lasting friendship. And yet, while their friendship deepens and her role as liaison officer expands, Calliope is also doing her part in the Greek resistance. Her dual roles are fraught with tension; her friendship with Umbreit endangers her as much as her resistance efforts. However, their bond survives the Occupation and several tumultuous decades in which Greece is ravaged by civil war, oppressed by military dictatorship, and finally liberated in the mid ‘70s.
The Captive Sun has so much to recommend it. The research is impressive, the writing masterful, the plot line intricate and challenging; what Karafilly has delivered is a brilliant character-driven work. It’s one of the best novels I’ve read this year. Aside from an interesting and complex lesson in Greek politics and history, the novel tells the story of an extraordinary woman – it is Calliope and her ‘conflicting selves’ that makes this novel the page-turner it is. Karafilly says on her website: “Nothing will make a story more memorable than an interesting character”. I might (will) forget the history lesson, but Calliope will be far less easy to forget.
Calliope's character is summed up by her mother, Mirto, early on: “We shouldn’t have pushed you to marry. You were not born to be a wife and mother.” So what was Calliope born to be? Calliope, the reader finds, is a non-conforming woman who wages war (privately and publicly) on convention and societal expectation. She resists what society thinks she is born to be (a wife and mother) in a myriad of ways – from her friendship with Umbreit and her sexual relationships with a number of men over her lifetime (all the while resisting marriage), to wearing trousers and standing up for women’s and civil rights. She's both a woman of her time and a woman ahead of her time. The political wars came and went, but as the following quote shows, Calliope’s inner war was lifelong:
Was Heraclitus right, then, saying character was destiny? If so, was her reluctance to acquiesce and conform, her inability to curry favour with the likes of Tsouras, responsible for her latest predicament? She remembered reading Stendhal, asking herself whether it was possible to live in society and still be true to oneself, without hypocrisy, without the need for perpetual compromise?
The Captive Sun is also notable for its examination of women’s issues. Poignant and heartbreaking, the novel delves into issues that remain as complicated and prevalent as ever the world over – domestic violence, incest, rape. As time goes by, Calliope (through social work) continues her war on tradition and calls on women to speak out against crimes against their gender. Most are not as strong as she; it’s a sad realisation for her. Sadder still, is the knowledge that little has changed, despite the best efforts of many dedicated women.
I loved this book – it comes with a high recommendation from me. I believe Calliope has something to say to women everywhere (her name means ‘Beautiful voice’) – for me, it was simple: “Be true to yourself”. What will it be for you?
Available from good bookstores and Pan Macmillan Australia. This copy was courtesy of Pan Macmillan.
Young, headstrong and recently widowed, Calliope is a schoolmistress in the Greek village of Molyvos when the Germans arrive in 1941. As they set about occupying the small village, the Germans soon realise they need someone to act as a liaison officer – an intermediary between them and the villagers; with an adequate command of the German language, Calliope is ordered to take on the role. It’s not an easy role and her thoughts on this reveal a lot about her character: She found it as difficult to mediate between the Germans and the Greeks as she did between her own conflicted selves. What a telling sentence – and so easy to miss.
Calliope’s wartime duties bring her into close contact with Lieutenant Lorenz Umbreit; before long their shared interest in literature sparks an unlikely and lasting friendship. And yet, while their friendship deepens and her role as liaison officer expands, Calliope is also doing her part in the Greek resistance. Her dual roles are fraught with tension; her friendship with Umbreit endangers her as much as her resistance efforts. However, their bond survives the Occupation and several tumultuous decades in which Greece is ravaged by civil war, oppressed by military dictatorship, and finally liberated in the mid ‘70s.
The Captive Sun has so much to recommend it. The research is impressive, the writing masterful, the plot line intricate and challenging; what Karafilly has delivered is a brilliant character-driven work. It’s one of the best novels I’ve read this year. Aside from an interesting and complex lesson in Greek politics and history, the novel tells the story of an extraordinary woman – it is Calliope and her ‘conflicting selves’ that makes this novel the page-turner it is. Karafilly says on her website: “Nothing will make a story more memorable than an interesting character”. I might (will) forget the history lesson, but Calliope will be far less easy to forget.
Calliope's character is summed up by her mother, Mirto, early on: “We shouldn’t have pushed you to marry. You were not born to be a wife and mother.” So what was Calliope born to be? Calliope, the reader finds, is a non-conforming woman who wages war (privately and publicly) on convention and societal expectation. She resists what society thinks she is born to be (a wife and mother) in a myriad of ways – from her friendship with Umbreit and her sexual relationships with a number of men over her lifetime (all the while resisting marriage), to wearing trousers and standing up for women’s and civil rights. She's both a woman of her time and a woman ahead of her time. The political wars came and went, but as the following quote shows, Calliope’s inner war was lifelong:
Was Heraclitus right, then, saying character was destiny? If so, was her reluctance to acquiesce and conform, her inability to curry favour with the likes of Tsouras, responsible for her latest predicament? She remembered reading Stendhal, asking herself whether it was possible to live in society and still be true to oneself, without hypocrisy, without the need for perpetual compromise?
The Captive Sun is also notable for its examination of women’s issues. Poignant and heartbreaking, the novel delves into issues that remain as complicated and prevalent as ever the world over – domestic violence, incest, rape. As time goes by, Calliope (through social work) continues her war on tradition and calls on women to speak out against crimes against their gender. Most are not as strong as she; it’s a sad realisation for her. Sadder still, is the knowledge that little has changed, despite the best efforts of many dedicated women.
I loved this book – it comes with a high recommendation from me. I believe Calliope has something to say to women everywhere (her name means ‘Beautiful voice’) – for me, it was simple: “Be true to yourself”. What will it be for you?
Available from good bookstores and Pan Macmillan Australia. This copy was courtesy of Pan Macmillan.
February 1, 2013
This is an engagingly terrific novel which I enjoyed immensely and when I got to the end I was sorry the journey was over! I was easily swept into the vividly painful world of WWII Greece with the action spanning the ensuing decades of political instability to just after the fall of the military junta in 1974.
One thing I want to make clear from the very beginning though. This is not my beloved De Bernieres' wonderful novel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin!! The quicker the comparison is dropped by the reader the better- otherwise this fine novel risks living in the shadow of Captain Corelli and that would be unfair as this is a great novel for different reasons. Karafilly's work needs to be considered in its own right- and once I warmed to it and stopped the comparison ( as many readers might do unwittingly) I was able to enjoy "The Captive Sun" for what it has to offer. And it does offer the reader so much!
Calliope is a heroine you grow to love and understand (even though she struggles to understand herself at times!). Bright, impetuous, feisty but always well-intentioned- she is a woman ahead of her time. She struggles to conform to the claustrophobic and stifling village expectations of her day where women had a predetermined path they were expected to follow. Her gutsiness and determination to do things her way along with her internal struggle to work out what she really wants from life makes this an engaging read. Calliope is real - warts and all- a pioneer for the feminist movement.
Karafilly's historical background excellently illustrates the turbulent history suffered by the Greeks for the majority of the 20th century. The novel unmistakably acknowledges that this nation was pushed from pillar to post, callously and unfairly by both foreign invaders and then in turn by its own citizens who turned on each other in a bitter civil war. Karafilly explores themes such as loyalty, loss, migration, injustice, forgiveness and the human spirit that fights to rebuild. Humorous at times, insightful, dramatic and REAL, I became absorbed and could not put it down.
Even though the novel shows mainly a Greek perspective, the author avoids bias and includes some balance in revealing the universality of aggression in world history. When Calliope attacks Umbreit for German aggression towards the Greeks he responds,
“As for your Alexander the Great….when he went about founding his polis all over the map, do you suppose he did so waving an olive branch? Is that how he succeeded in building his mighty empire?” A telling comment indeed.
Finally, an observation on the title. The English version of this novel carries the title "The Captive Sun" ( from the character Pericles Antoniou’s poem appearing just before the prologue) This title is appropriate in alluding to the many years of war and lack of political freedom that was denied to the Greeks for many of the decades oulined in the novel. It also refers to Calliope’s eclipsed dreams and how often happiness kept eluding her.
The Greek edition of this novel however was published with a different title which when translated reads "A Contrary Muse" (again, taken from the character Pericles Antoniou’s poem collection which he dedicates to Calliope) and very appropriate for Calliope’s character and struggle throughout the novel.
These titles had me thinking. Why one and not the other? Which one is better and why?
What do other readers think?
Anyway, read it for yourself. It is lovely and rewarding. And remember not to compare it to the beautiful Captain Corelli’s Mandolin because it deserves a chance to shine for its own merits. Enjoy!
One thing I want to make clear from the very beginning though. This is not my beloved De Bernieres' wonderful novel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin!! The quicker the comparison is dropped by the reader the better- otherwise this fine novel risks living in the shadow of Captain Corelli and that would be unfair as this is a great novel for different reasons. Karafilly's work needs to be considered in its own right- and once I warmed to it and stopped the comparison ( as many readers might do unwittingly) I was able to enjoy "The Captive Sun" for what it has to offer. And it does offer the reader so much!
Calliope is a heroine you grow to love and understand (even though she struggles to understand herself at times!). Bright, impetuous, feisty but always well-intentioned- she is a woman ahead of her time. She struggles to conform to the claustrophobic and stifling village expectations of her day where women had a predetermined path they were expected to follow. Her gutsiness and determination to do things her way along with her internal struggle to work out what she really wants from life makes this an engaging read. Calliope is real - warts and all- a pioneer for the feminist movement.
Karafilly's historical background excellently illustrates the turbulent history suffered by the Greeks for the majority of the 20th century. The novel unmistakably acknowledges that this nation was pushed from pillar to post, callously and unfairly by both foreign invaders and then in turn by its own citizens who turned on each other in a bitter civil war. Karafilly explores themes such as loyalty, loss, migration, injustice, forgiveness and the human spirit that fights to rebuild. Humorous at times, insightful, dramatic and REAL, I became absorbed and could not put it down.
Even though the novel shows mainly a Greek perspective, the author avoids bias and includes some balance in revealing the universality of aggression in world history. When Calliope attacks Umbreit for German aggression towards the Greeks he responds,
“As for your Alexander the Great….when he went about founding his polis all over the map, do you suppose he did so waving an olive branch? Is that how he succeeded in building his mighty empire?” A telling comment indeed.
Finally, an observation on the title. The English version of this novel carries the title "The Captive Sun" ( from the character Pericles Antoniou’s poem appearing just before the prologue) This title is appropriate in alluding to the many years of war and lack of political freedom that was denied to the Greeks for many of the decades oulined in the novel. It also refers to Calliope’s eclipsed dreams and how often happiness kept eluding her.
The Greek edition of this novel however was published with a different title which when translated reads "A Contrary Muse" (again, taken from the character Pericles Antoniou’s poem collection which he dedicates to Calliope) and very appropriate for Calliope’s character and struggle throughout the novel.
These titles had me thinking. Why one and not the other? Which one is better and why?
What do other readers think?
Anyway, read it for yourself. It is lovely and rewarding. And remember not to compare it to the beautiful Captain Corelli’s Mandolin because it deserves a chance to shine for its own merits. Enjoy!
January 16, 2013
I was sitting in a room full of people listening to all the Christmas releases being announced when up pops this little one with a quick blurb about WW2 in Greece - sounds right up my alley (and even had as much whispered to me by a coworker). Add to this the long and adoring sentence which Louis de Bernieres had written about it - could this book be any more me? Not really so I jumped at the chance to read it. Initially all I could think was that this was an inferior rehash of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, except that the lovable (and presumably spunky) "oppressor" in charge is German, not Italian. *Only minor spoiler ahead* As it turns out, while it does share quite a lot with Corelli's, it does push further than that too, following the Resistance and the Civil War in Greece.
Something that did irritate me was just how much was covered in chapters. Whole sections would be divided into this year-this year and between chapters/sections, months or years could have passed without much mention. I found it interrupted the flow of the book as a whole as I had to keep relocating my mind to the appropriate place, time, characters and political setting. Irena could also get a wee bit descriptive, often where a simpler explanation would do. I kept getting myself thoroughly muddled with all the village characters as her descriptions went something along the lines of (and this is me being too lazy to look up an actual passage, I will approximate her writing instead)'Peter smiled holding the hand of his daughter Susan, whose aunt looked on happily. The local postman, who married Peter's mother, was sure it would be a great day.' What?! What a tangled web she weaves.
All in all, I did enjoy it but I still feel more heart-felt love for and a defiant need to make everyone read Captain Corelli's over this.
Something that did irritate me was just how much was covered in chapters. Whole sections would be divided into this year-this year and between chapters/sections, months or years could have passed without much mention. I found it interrupted the flow of the book as a whole as I had to keep relocating my mind to the appropriate place, time, characters and political setting. Irena could also get a wee bit descriptive, often where a simpler explanation would do. I kept getting myself thoroughly muddled with all the village characters as her descriptions went something along the lines of (and this is me being too lazy to look up an actual passage, I will approximate her writing instead)'Peter smiled holding the hand of his daughter Susan, whose aunt looked on happily. The local postman, who married Peter's mother, was sure it would be a great day.' What?! What a tangled web she weaves.
All in all, I did enjoy it but I still feel more heart-felt love for and a defiant need to make everyone read Captain Corelli's over this.
February 11, 2013
Read my discussion with Lauren from Australian Bookshelf.
The first part of the discussion is here:
http://australianbookshelf.wordpress....
and the second part
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013...
The first part of the discussion is here:
http://australianbookshelf.wordpress....
and the second part
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013...
April 6, 2016
I so wanted to enjoy this book. It's set in a charming village, Molyvos, in Greece. It has a strong female protagonist. It covers a great sweep of 20th Century Greek history. It should have been wonderful. But the writing feels pedestrian and the characters didn't get off the page well enough. Still, if you're interested in the time and the place, it's probably worth a read.
March 23, 2013
Good historical information. Boring novel.
July 13, 2013
Good history of Greece
February 27, 2014
Skilfully written, engrossing, confronting, with a strong female lead.
June 28, 2014
Recommended by Barbara
Read this book in Townsville
Read this book in Townsville
April 1, 2016
2.5/5
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews