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Hearts of Stone
The fierce courage of the men and women of the Greek Resistance is brought to vivid life in Sunday Times bestseller Simon Scarrow's powerful new novel of World War II.
1938. A perfect summer on the Greek island of Lefkas for three young people untroubled by the simmering politics of Europe. Peter, visiting from Germany while his father leads an archaeological dig, has become close friends with locals Andreas and Eleni. As the world slides towards conflict and Peter is forced to leave, they swear to meet again.
1942: Andreas and Eleni have joined the partisan forces resisting the German invasion. Peter has returned - now a dangerously well-informed enemy intelligence officer. A friendship formed in peace will turn into a desperate battle between enemies sworn to sacrifice everything for the countries that they love...
1938. A perfect summer on the Greek island of Lefkas for three young people untroubled by the simmering politics of Europe. Peter, visiting from Germany while his father leads an archaeological dig, has become close friends with locals Andreas and Eleni. As the world slides towards conflict and Peter is forced to leave, they swear to meet again.
1942: Andreas and Eleni have joined the partisan forces resisting the German invasion. Peter has returned - now a dangerously well-informed enemy intelligence officer. A friendship formed in peace will turn into a desperate battle between enemies sworn to sacrifice everything for the countries that they love...
527 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2015
153 people are currently reading
1023 people want to read
About the author
Simon Scarrow
172 books2,165 followersSimon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria, and now living in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia, and, after working at the Inland Revenue, went into teaching as a lecturer at City College, Norwich.
He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.
Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.
He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.
Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
October 8, 2023
Simon Sacrrow no defrauda. Ficción histórica de corte bélico, que se mueve a ritmo de thriller. No es perfecta, pero cumple y se lee bien.
Dice la sinopsis:
938. El verano es perfecto en Léucade. El joven Peter Muller, de visita en la isla griega junto a su padre por una expedición arqueológica, ha fraguado una estrecha amistad con los lugareños Andreas y Eleni. Los tres jóvenes, atrapados por la política y la guerra que se cuece a fuego lento en Europa, se verán obligados a separarse. Peter y su padre deberán volver a Alemania, pero juran volver a reunirse en el futuro. 1943: La guerra ha llegado a Grecia y las fuerzas fascistas han ocupado la isla. Andreas y Eleni se han unido a las fuerzas partisanas que resisten a la invasión alemana y Peter, por su parte, ha vuelto como oficial de inteligencia de las fuerzas enemigas, peligrosamente bien informadas. Una amistad nacida en tiempos de paz durante la guerra se convierte en una desesperada batalla entre enemigos acérrimos que deben sacrificarlo todo por los países que aman.
Mis impresiones.
Simon Scarrow nos ofrece en este libro la historia de tres amigos, un alemán y dos griegos, cuya amistad se ve truncada por el estallido de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. La trama se desarrolla en dos líneas temporales. La primera, desde 1938 a 1943, transcurre mayormente en la isla de Léucade. Andreas, Eleni y Peter son los protagonistas. La segunda, en Londres y 2013, Anna y Dieter, los nietos de Eleni y Peter respectivamente intentan desentrañar lo qué ocurrió entonces. En ambos planos el ritmo es ágil, se lee sin sentir.
La trama del pasado es más potente que la del presente. Vamos a conocer a los protagonistas en 1938, tres adolescentes a punto de entrar en la edad adulta, en los albores de una guerra. Tras su comienzo, vivimos la invasión de Grecia por los italianos, la posterior retirada de estos en 1943 y la llegada de los nazis que tomaron el relevo. Contiene bastante acción enmarcada en el conflicto bélico. No incluye (y se agradece), la descripción de los horrores y torturas propias de los nazis, pero sí que hay una escena tremenda de las que te llegan al alma.
La trama del presente es más floja. Cumple su función, permite que la novela avance sin tener que detallar todo los transcurrido entre 1938 y 1943 y nos sitúa dos generaciones después. Scarrow sabe plasmar el cómo los que vivieron ese horror, quedaron marcados por él de por vida. Nos muestra la incapacidad de Eleni para olvidar, su rechazo hacia Dieter, de una generación que nada tuvo que ver con la guerra y hace que lo entendamos.
Los personajes están bien trazados, especialmente Andreas y Eleni. Peter tiene menos presencia, ya que no entrará nuevamente en escena hasta 1943, cuando el rumbo de la guerra había cambiado; un Peter, que intenta retomar su relación con sus amigos griegos y sus familias, cosa que estos rechazan al ser él parte de las tropas invasoras.
La ambientación en Léucade está muy trabajada. Se nota la labor de documentación bien introducida e integrada con la trama sin abrumar con datos al lector.
El final es correcto. Deja todo cerrado. Sin embargo, me deja con la sensación de que ha faltado un poco más de desarrollo.
En conclusión. Una novela de ficción histórica ambientada en la isla griega de Léucade en la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Se mueve a ritmo de thriller y engancha. Recomendable.
Dice la sinopsis:
938. El verano es perfecto en Léucade. El joven Peter Muller, de visita en la isla griega junto a su padre por una expedición arqueológica, ha fraguado una estrecha amistad con los lugareños Andreas y Eleni. Los tres jóvenes, atrapados por la política y la guerra que se cuece a fuego lento en Europa, se verán obligados a separarse. Peter y su padre deberán volver a Alemania, pero juran volver a reunirse en el futuro. 1943: La guerra ha llegado a Grecia y las fuerzas fascistas han ocupado la isla. Andreas y Eleni se han unido a las fuerzas partisanas que resisten a la invasión alemana y Peter, por su parte, ha vuelto como oficial de inteligencia de las fuerzas enemigas, peligrosamente bien informadas. Una amistad nacida en tiempos de paz durante la guerra se convierte en una desesperada batalla entre enemigos acérrimos que deben sacrificarlo todo por los países que aman.
Mis impresiones.
Simon Scarrow nos ofrece en este libro la historia de tres amigos, un alemán y dos griegos, cuya amistad se ve truncada por el estallido de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. La trama se desarrolla en dos líneas temporales. La primera, desde 1938 a 1943, transcurre mayormente en la isla de Léucade. Andreas, Eleni y Peter son los protagonistas. La segunda, en Londres y 2013, Anna y Dieter, los nietos de Eleni y Peter respectivamente intentan desentrañar lo qué ocurrió entonces. En ambos planos el ritmo es ágil, se lee sin sentir.
La trama del pasado es más potente que la del presente. Vamos a conocer a los protagonistas en 1938, tres adolescentes a punto de entrar en la edad adulta, en los albores de una guerra. Tras su comienzo, vivimos la invasión de Grecia por los italianos, la posterior retirada de estos en 1943 y la llegada de los nazis que tomaron el relevo. Contiene bastante acción enmarcada en el conflicto bélico. No incluye (y se agradece), la descripción de los horrores y torturas propias de los nazis, pero sí que hay una escena tremenda de las que te llegan al alma.
La trama del presente es más floja. Cumple su función, permite que la novela avance sin tener que detallar todo los transcurrido entre 1938 y 1943 y nos sitúa dos generaciones después. Scarrow sabe plasmar el cómo los que vivieron ese horror, quedaron marcados por él de por vida. Nos muestra la incapacidad de Eleni para olvidar, su rechazo hacia Dieter, de una generación que nada tuvo que ver con la guerra y hace que lo entendamos.
Los personajes están bien trazados, especialmente Andreas y Eleni. Peter tiene menos presencia, ya que no entrará nuevamente en escena hasta 1943, cuando el rumbo de la guerra había cambiado; un Peter, que intenta retomar su relación con sus amigos griegos y sus familias, cosa que estos rechazan al ser él parte de las tropas invasoras.
La ambientación en Léucade está muy trabajada. Se nota la labor de documentación bien introducida e integrada con la trama sin abrumar con datos al lector.
El final es correcto. Deja todo cerrado. Sin embargo, me deja con la sensación de que ha faltado un poco más de desarrollo.
En conclusión. Una novela de ficción histórica ambientada en la isla griega de Léucade en la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Se mueve a ritmo de thriller y engancha. Recomendable.
June 24, 2015
A very moving story of friendship, love and loyalty.
Simon Scarrow has produced an exceptional work moving from the present day to the past and back again as Anna a history teacher pieces together the story of her grandmothers life prior and during World War 2 on the Greek island of Lefkas.
Anyone who reads my reviews will know that I’m a stickler for accuracy in historical fiction and the author has really done his work here. The submarine and the missions involved in the story are real and one aspect I particularly liked was the mention of the little known Marlin submachine gun, which was only really used by partisans in occupied Europe. There’s even a brief bibliography of the author’s sources at the back.
However, the book is not all about guns and ships, there’s a powerful emotional pull, and as the story unfolds the author creates some very credible characters that you really care about. Some may think some aspects of the book are overlong, but the sum of the parts creates an exciting finale where the pre-war relationships ignite a fierce confrontation as the characters are torn between loyalty to their nation or their friends.
If this is good example of Scarrow’s work then I will definitely be looking into his other books.
Simon Scarrow has produced an exceptional work moving from the present day to the past and back again as Anna a history teacher pieces together the story of her grandmothers life prior and during World War 2 on the Greek island of Lefkas.
Anyone who reads my reviews will know that I’m a stickler for accuracy in historical fiction and the author has really done his work here. The submarine and the missions involved in the story are real and one aspect I particularly liked was the mention of the little known Marlin submachine gun, which was only really used by partisans in occupied Europe. There’s even a brief bibliography of the author’s sources at the back.
However, the book is not all about guns and ships, there’s a powerful emotional pull, and as the story unfolds the author creates some very credible characters that you really care about. Some may think some aspects of the book are overlong, but the sum of the parts creates an exciting finale where the pre-war relationships ignite a fierce confrontation as the characters are torn between loyalty to their nation or their friends.
If this is good example of Scarrow’s work then I will definitely be looking into his other books.
May 12, 2020
The book starts with one of the most hilariously useless military maps in history. It’s of Greece (blank apart from Athens, Thessaloniki, and Lefkas, the only place you ever visit) with big lines coming from the top indicating the German invasion. Gosh, you mean the Germans didn’t invade from the south? How odd.
But apart from that amusing mishap the book’s beginning is very strong. We’re fed the story through a traditional framing device: a modern-day woman is told it by her grandmother, who we also see as a younger woman. This sort of frame has been done to death and the book is clever enough to provide a certain amount of urgency to the quest. Dieter Muller is the grandson of Peter Muller, who helped his father excavate the island and later served in the German occupying force. He knows that something was found on that expedition and is writing his PhD thesis on it, for which reason he contacts Anna Thesskoudis whose grandmother Eleni was a local who helped with the excavation and later lived through the war. Anna’s curiosity is piqued, and she views this as an opportunity to learn more about her grandmother. The archaeology stuff is a rather more interesting hook than you usually expect from such a story and it provides a certain sense of mystery about the whole thing.
In truth, while the frame was what drew me in it gradually became more of an impediment than a draw. The main plot is carried out through a number of POV characters who could not possibly provide their POV. Most notable are Andreas Katarides and Peter Muller, both of whom we’re told early on are dead yet provide the vast majority of narration. Andreas was the real surprise. He’s really the lead character but I had him pegged at the beginning as a side character who dies early on to provide motivation for the other characters. Eleni herself narrates almost nothing and it hardly feels like her story. In short, the framing device never quite lines up with the questions being asked or answered.
The parts of the book set during World War 2 are less bound by such issues and feel far less artificial. I was very impressed at the way we see life on a Greek island before and during the Italian/German occupation. There’s hardly a trace of Greek (or German) in their use of language, but oh my do they sound Greek in their way of viewing the world. Feuds abound but everyone is friendly as the devil otherwise. As our main 1940s lead is a Greek officer he’s somewhat less fractious and more disciplined than the rest. But he’s the obvious exception and everyone treats him as such. About the only bit I felt was off was the lack of religion. Greeks are cocooned in religion. I won’t say they come off as atheistic or anything, but they mention it less than any of my Greek friends.
But there’s no getting around the fact that these chapters are rather jagged and provide what feels like a narrow view of life and death on the island. I have yet to read any of Scarrow’s other books, but I believe they’re similar to Bernard Cornwell’s in that they follow a narrowly-focused story over a limited period of time. Scarrow (and Cornwell) seems to struggle with telling a story that includes long passages of time. Each section (and the clunky pacing would have been helped dramatically if the book was divided into sections) follows one story over the course of a few days and often only a few hours. This is why the framing device is necessary to give us an impressionistic update between isolated scenes.
I enjoyed aspects of this book and the way it shed light on a little seen theater of World War 2. But I also felt that it often shot itself in the foot with the way it was organized and structured. Framing devices are often awkward, but we can get over that if we’re not constantly reminded of the frame. When your “narrator” gets surprisingly angry at the mere mention of a name and her granddaughter asks why, it feels unnatural to have her then narrate her entire wartime experience without mention of the individual in question. He seriously doesn’t reappear in the narrative until almost the end of the book, which in narrative terms is several WEEKS after the narration has begun. This is a problem given the way the situation is presented. If you can ignore that you’re left with a perfectly serviceable WW2 story in an interesting warzone.
But apart from that amusing mishap the book’s beginning is very strong. We’re fed the story through a traditional framing device: a modern-day woman is told it by her grandmother, who we also see as a younger woman. This sort of frame has been done to death and the book is clever enough to provide a certain amount of urgency to the quest. Dieter Muller is the grandson of Peter Muller, who helped his father excavate the island and later served in the German occupying force. He knows that something was found on that expedition and is writing his PhD thesis on it, for which reason he contacts Anna Thesskoudis whose grandmother Eleni was a local who helped with the excavation and later lived through the war. Anna’s curiosity is piqued, and she views this as an opportunity to learn more about her grandmother. The archaeology stuff is a rather more interesting hook than you usually expect from such a story and it provides a certain sense of mystery about the whole thing.
In truth, while the frame was what drew me in it gradually became more of an impediment than a draw. The main plot is carried out through a number of POV characters who could not possibly provide their POV. Most notable are Andreas Katarides and Peter Muller, both of whom we’re told early on are dead yet provide the vast majority of narration. Andreas was the real surprise. He’s really the lead character but I had him pegged at the beginning as a side character who dies early on to provide motivation for the other characters. Eleni herself narrates almost nothing and it hardly feels like her story. In short, the framing device never quite lines up with the questions being asked or answered.
The parts of the book set during World War 2 are less bound by such issues and feel far less artificial. I was very impressed at the way we see life on a Greek island before and during the Italian/German occupation. There’s hardly a trace of Greek (or German) in their use of language, but oh my do they sound Greek in their way of viewing the world. Feuds abound but everyone is friendly as the devil otherwise. As our main 1940s lead is a Greek officer he’s somewhat less fractious and more disciplined than the rest. But he’s the obvious exception and everyone treats him as such. About the only bit I felt was off was the lack of religion. Greeks are cocooned in religion. I won’t say they come off as atheistic or anything, but they mention it less than any of my Greek friends.
But there’s no getting around the fact that these chapters are rather jagged and provide what feels like a narrow view of life and death on the island. I have yet to read any of Scarrow’s other books, but I believe they’re similar to Bernard Cornwell’s in that they follow a narrowly-focused story over a limited period of time. Scarrow (and Cornwell) seems to struggle with telling a story that includes long passages of time. Each section (and the clunky pacing would have been helped dramatically if the book was divided into sections) follows one story over the course of a few days and often only a few hours. This is why the framing device is necessary to give us an impressionistic update between isolated scenes.
I enjoyed aspects of this book and the way it shed light on a little seen theater of World War 2. But I also felt that it often shot itself in the foot with the way it was organized and structured. Framing devices are often awkward, but we can get over that if we’re not constantly reminded of the frame. When your “narrator” gets surprisingly angry at the mere mention of a name and her granddaughter asks why, it feels unnatural to have her then narrate her entire wartime experience without mention of the individual in question. He seriously doesn’t reappear in the narrative until almost the end of the book, which in narrative terms is several WEEKS after the narration has begun. This is a problem given the way the situation is presented. If you can ignore that you’re left with a perfectly serviceable WW2 story in an interesting warzone.
June 12, 2019
novel based on one of the greek island in the late 1930's and during the war and also in modern day Uk as a story of friendship. loyalty and of conflict of interests between greeks and germans friends.
felt though the ending seemed a bit rushed but overall did enjoy the book.
felt though the ending seemed a bit rushed but overall did enjoy the book.
November 19, 2024
Ο Simon Scarrow είναι ένας εξαιρετικά ταλαντούχος συγγραφέας, ο οποίος έχει τη μοναδική ικανότητα, με ό,τι θέμα κι αν καταπιαστεί, να το κάνει ολότελα δικό του, πραγματοποιώντας την απαραίτητη έρευνα προκειμένου να προχωρήσει στην δημιουργία μιας δικής του ιστορίας που όμως, θα σέβεται την πραγματική Ιστορία. Το "Καρδιά από πέτρα" είναι από τα πλέον χαρακτηριστικά παράδειγμα και πρέπει να ομολογήσω πως αν και ως είδος δεν είναι και πολύ του γούστου μου, κατάφερε να με συγκινήσει. Και όχι μόνο αυτό! Κατάφερε να διατηρήσει αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον μου, από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος, αλλά και να με κάνει να παραδεχτώ πως ο συγγραφέας, σε αντίθεση με άλλους κατά καιρούς, δεν εκμεταλλεύτηκε την Ιστορία του τόπου μου κακοποιώντας την, αλλά την αντιμετώπισε με τον πρέποντα σεβασμό.
Η ιστορία μας ξεκινάει στη Λευκάδα του 1938, όπου ο Πέτερ, ο Αντρέας και η Ελένη, αναπτύσσουν μεταξύ τους μια βαθιά, δυνατή φιλία. Ο πρώτος συνοδεύει τον πατέρα του που είναι αρχαιολόγος, ενώ οι άλλοι δύο είναι μόνιμοι κάτοικοι του νησιού. Με το ξέσπασμα του Β' Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, ο Πέτερ αναγκάζεται να φύγει, αλλά οι τρεις νέοι δίνουν την υπόσχεση πως οι δρόμοι τους θ' ανταμώσουν και πάλι. Και πράγματι, πέντε χρόνια αργότερα, το 1943, ο Αντρέας και η Ελένη θα συναντήσουν και πάλι τον Πέτερ, ο οποίος επιστρέφει στο νησί, μόνο που το χάσμα που τους χωρίζει πλέον είναι τεράστιο. Εκείνοι έχουν ταχτεί στο πλευρό των ανταρτών, ενώ ο εκείνος είναι πλέον αξιωματικός τον μυστικών υπηρεσιών των Γερμανών, κάτι που δεν τον καθιστά άξιο εμπιστοσύνης, αποτελώντας θανάσιμο κίνδυνο για εκείνους. Στο σήμερα, η Άννα, εγγονή της Ελένης, συναντά έναν απόγονο του Πέτερ που θέλει να έρθει σε επαφή με την γιαγιά της, κάτι που η ίδια δεν επιθυμείς, αλλά που θα την οδηγήσει στο ν' αφηγηθεί στην Άννα μια ιστορία τρομακτικά αληθινή, και βαθιά σπαρακτική, που σημάδεψε και άλλαξε τη ζωή της για πάντα.
Αυτό που πρέπει να προσέξει ένας συγγραφέας σε ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα, είναι το να παντρέψει την Ιστορία με την μυθοπλασία με τέτοιο τρόπο όπου το αποτέλεσμα να φαντάζει ρεαλιστικό και κατά συνέπεια, η ιστορία που αφηγείται, να γίνεται πιστευτή από τους αναγνώστες. Ο Scarrow το πετυχαίνει αυτό, στον απόλυτο θα λέγαμε βαθμό, ζωντανεύοντας την φρίκη του Β' Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, συνδυάζοντάς την με την ευαισθησία μιας προσωπικής αφήγησης που αποδεικνύει πόσο δυνατή είναι η έννοια της φιλίας, αλλά και σε τι τέλμα μπορεί αυτή να βρεθεί φτάνοντας στο κομβικό εκείνο σημείο όπου δεν έχεις επιλογές και όμως, πρέπει να τις κάνεις. Όσον αφορά το ιστορικό σκέλος της ιστορίας, ο συγγραφέας κάνει κάτι ακόμα που ξεχωρίζει το βιβλίο του απ�� άλλα. Όχι, δεν είναι το ότι την τοποθετεί σε ένα ελληνικό νησί, αλλά ότι κάνει αναφορές σε γεγονότα που δεν είναι ιδιαίτερα γνωστά, ή έστω, δεν είναι γνωστά στο ευρύ κοινό. Αυτό προσφέρει στον αναγνώστ�� επιπλέον γνώσεις, αλλά και του ανακινεί το ενδιαφέρον γύρω από ένα κομμάτι της Ιστορίας για το οποίο πίστευε πως γνώριζε σχεδόν τα πάντα.
Η αφήγηση μοιράζεται ανάμεσα στο παρελθόν και στο παρόν, με το πρώτο να έχει σαφέστατα μεγαλύτερη δυναμική, ενώ το δεύτερο μπορεί να μπερδέψει λιγάκι τον αναγνώστη, αφού ναι μεν η Ελένη εξιστορείται τι έχει συμβεί, ωστόσο, δεν μιλάει για την δική της ιστορία, αλλά για του Ανδρέα. Δεν θέλω να πω περισσότερα, αλλά στο τέλος, να ξέρετε πως όποια απορία έχετε κατά την διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης, θα σας λυθεί στο τέλος. Το παρελθόν καταλαμβάνει δύο διαφορετικές περιόδους, τις οποίες χωρίζει μία πενταετία αλλά και δεκάδες συμβάντα που σημαδεύουν τις ζωές των ηρώων μας για πάντα. Στιγμές μικρές και μεγάλες, στιγμές ευτυχισμένες παρά τη δίνη του πολέμου που ισοπεδώνει τα πάντα γύρω του, μα ακόμα περισσότερες εκείνες της δυστυχίας και του πόνου, από εκείνες που σε αλλάζουν και σε κάνουν να μην είσαι πια ο ίδιος. Σκηνές που αποδίδονται από τον συγγραφέα με μια παραστατικότητα που ζωντανεύει μπροστά στα μάτια μας, τόπους, ανθρώπους και καταστάσεις.
Ένα βιβλίο η ιστορία του οποίου αναγκάζει ανθρώπους που αγαπιούνται βαθιά, να διχαστούν ανάμεσα στο καθήκον και την πίστη τους στην πατρίδα τους, με την αγάπη και την αφοσίωση που νιώθουν για τους φίλους τους. Μια μυθιστορηματική αφήγηση, μιας απ' τις πιο μελανές σελίδες της σύγχρονης Ιστορίας, μέσα στα χρόνια εξέλιξης της οποίας, ζωές καταστράφηκαν, ιδανικά ποδοπατήθηκαν, ευθύνες μοιράστηκαν με τον πιο άδικο τρόπο και τελικά, κανείς δεν έμεινε ίδιος μετά απ' όλα όσα βίωσε, ούτε έζησε τη ζωή που ονειρευόταν ή που του άξιζε στην πραγματικότητα να ζήσει. Με πένα περιγραφική και γλαφυρή, που ξέρει όμως ν' αποφύγει τις περιττές περιγραφές πραγμάτων ή καταστάσεων που δεν εξυπηρετούν τη ροή ή την απόδοση της πλοκής, ο Scarrow εστιάζει περισσότερο στην απεικόνιση της ιστορικής αλήθειας, που την κεντάει με βελονιές αληθινών συναισθημάτων και ευαισθησίας που μονάχα οι ανθρώπινες σχέσεις μπορούν να προσφέρουν, αλλά και να χαράξουν βαθιά μέσα μας.
Η ιστορία μας ξεκινάει στη Λευκάδα του 1938, όπου ο Πέτερ, ο Αντρέας και η Ελένη, αναπτύσσουν μεταξύ τους μια βαθιά, δυνατή φιλία. Ο πρώτος συνοδεύει τον πατέρα του που είναι αρχαιολόγος, ενώ οι άλλοι δύο είναι μόνιμοι κάτοικοι του νησιού. Με το ξέσπασμα του Β' Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, ο Πέτερ αναγκάζεται να φύγει, αλλά οι τρεις νέοι δίνουν την υπόσχεση πως οι δρόμοι τους θ' ανταμώσουν και πάλι. Και πράγματι, πέντε χρόνια αργότερα, το 1943, ο Αντρέας και η Ελένη θα συναντήσουν και πάλι τον Πέτερ, ο οποίος επιστρέφει στο νησί, μόνο που το χάσμα που τους χωρίζει πλέον είναι τεράστιο. Εκείνοι έχουν ταχτεί στο πλευρό των ανταρτών, ενώ ο εκείνος είναι πλέον αξιωματικός τον μυστικών υπηρεσιών των Γερμανών, κάτι που δεν τον καθιστά άξιο εμπιστοσύνης, αποτελώντας θανάσιμο κίνδυνο για εκείνους. Στο σήμερα, η Άννα, εγγονή της Ελένης, συναντά έναν απόγονο του Πέτερ που θέλει να έρθει σε επαφή με την γιαγιά της, κάτι που η ίδια δεν επιθυμείς, αλλά που θα την οδηγήσει στο ν' αφηγηθεί στην Άννα μια ιστορία τρομακτικά αληθινή, και βαθιά σπαρακτική, που σημάδεψε και άλλαξε τη ζωή της για πάντα.
Αυτό που πρέπει να προσέξει ένας συγγραφέας σε ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα, είναι το να παντρέψει την Ιστορία με την μυθοπλασία με τέτοιο τρόπο όπου το αποτέλεσμα να φαντάζει ρεαλιστικό και κατά συνέπεια, η ιστορία που αφηγείται, να γίνεται πιστευτή από τους αναγνώστες. Ο Scarrow το πετυχαίνει αυτό, στον απόλυτο θα λέγαμε βαθμό, ζωντανεύοντας την φρίκη του Β' Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, συνδυάζοντάς την με την ευαισθησία μιας προσωπικής αφήγησης που αποδεικνύει πόσο δυνατή είναι η έννοια της φιλίας, αλλά και σε τι τέλμα μπορεί αυτή να βρεθεί φτάνοντας στο κομβικό εκείνο σημείο όπου δεν έχεις επιλογές και όμως, πρέπει να τις κάνεις. Όσον αφορά το ιστορικό σκέλος της ιστορίας, ο συγγραφέας κάνει κάτι ακόμα που ξεχωρίζει το βιβλίο του απ�� άλλα. Όχι, δεν είναι το ότι την τοποθετεί σε ένα ελληνικό νησί, αλλά ότι κάνει αναφορές σε γεγονότα που δεν είναι ιδιαίτερα γνωστά, ή έστω, δεν είναι γνωστά στο ευρύ κοινό. Αυτό προσφέρει στον αναγνώστ�� επιπλέον γνώσεις, αλλά και του ανακινεί το ενδιαφέρον γύρω από ένα κομμάτι της Ιστορίας για το οποίο πίστευε πως γνώριζε σχεδόν τα πάντα.
Η αφήγηση μοιράζεται ανάμεσα στο παρελθόν και στο παρόν, με το πρώτο να έχει σαφέστατα μεγαλύτερη δυναμική, ενώ το δεύτερο μπορεί να μπερδέψει λιγάκι τον αναγνώστη, αφού ναι μεν η Ελένη εξιστορείται τι έχει συμβεί, ωστόσο, δεν μιλάει για την δική της ιστορία, αλλά για του Ανδρέα. Δεν θέλω να πω περισσότερα, αλλά στο τέλος, να ξέρετε πως όποια απορία έχετε κατά την διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης, θα σας λυθεί στο τέλος. Το παρελθόν καταλαμβάνει δύο διαφορετικές περιόδους, τις οποίες χωρίζει μία πενταετία αλλά και δεκάδες συμβάντα που σημαδεύουν τις ζωές των ηρώων μας για πάντα. Στιγμές μικρές και μεγάλες, στιγμές ευτυχισμένες παρά τη δίνη του πολέμου που ισοπεδώνει τα πάντα γύρω του, μα ακόμα περισσότερες εκείνες της δυστυχίας και του πόνου, από εκείνες που σε αλλάζουν και σε κάνουν να μην είσαι πια ο ίδιος. Σκηνές που αποδίδονται από τον συγγραφέα με μια παραστατικότητα που ζωντανεύει μπροστά στα μάτια μας, τόπους, ανθρώπους και καταστάσεις.
Ένα βιβλίο η ιστορία του οποίου αναγκάζει ανθρώπους που αγαπιούνται βαθιά, να διχαστούν ανάμεσα στο καθήκον και την πίστη τους στην πατρίδα τους, με την αγάπη και την αφοσίωση που νιώθουν για τους φίλους τους. Μια μυθιστορηματική αφήγηση, μιας απ' τις πιο μελανές σελίδες της σύγχρονης Ιστορίας, μέσα στα χρόνια εξέλιξης της οποίας, ζωές καταστράφηκαν, ιδανικά ποδοπατήθηκαν, ευθύνες μοιράστηκαν με τον πιο άδικο τρόπο και τελικά, κανείς δεν έμεινε ίδιος μετά απ' όλα όσα βίωσε, ούτε έζησε τη ζωή που ονειρευόταν ή που του άξιζε στην πραγματικότητα να ζήσει. Με πένα περιγραφική και γλαφυρή, που ξέρει όμως ν' αποφύγει τις περιττές περιγραφές πραγμάτων ή καταστάσεων που δεν εξυπηρετούν τη ροή ή την απόδοση της πλοκής, ο Scarrow εστιάζει περισσότερο στην απεικόνιση της ιστορικής αλήθειας, που την κεντάει με βελονιές αληθινών συναισθημάτων και ευαισθησίας που μονάχα οι ανθρώπινες σχέσεις μπορούν να προσφέρουν, αλλά και να χαράξουν βαθιά μέσα μας.
December 29, 2018
This stand alone novel by Simon Scarrow is a great novel about the Greek Resistance on the Island of Lefkas in Greece during WW II as well as its aftermath that's situated years later in England.
The storytelling of this tale is absolutely wonderful and all the characters come really vividly to life, because of the feelings and emotions of the people involved, which are love as well as hate and forgiveness as well as unforgiveness, are incredibly well pictured within this historical story.
The main characters between 1938 and 1943 are Peter Muller, son of Dr Karl Muller, who's head of an archaeological group on Lefkas, and two local children Andreas Katarides and Eleni Thesskoudis.
In 1938 they form a close friendship until Peter is forced to go home due to political conflicts in Europe that will eventually lead to the further outbreak of WW II.
But in 1943 this friendship has turned into a bitter hateful battle between the Greek Partisans Resistance, which include Andreas and Eleni, and the German occupier with Peter in their midst as a German intelligence officer.
The eventual outcome of this War and the casualties that will fall within the Resistance movement on Lefkas will leave a permanent scar on the lives of the people involved, especially so on Eleni Thesskoudis.
This story tells us exactly where there have been love and friendship once, these can turn into hatred due to circumstances beyond our control, and that hatred will turn into a believe of never forgive and forget, iow into Hearts of Stone.
Really recommended, for Hearts of Stone deserves "Words of Praise"!
The storytelling of this tale is absolutely wonderful and all the characters come really vividly to life, because of the feelings and emotions of the people involved, which are love as well as hate and forgiveness as well as unforgiveness, are incredibly well pictured within this historical story.
The main characters between 1938 and 1943 are Peter Muller, son of Dr Karl Muller, who's head of an archaeological group on Lefkas, and two local children Andreas Katarides and Eleni Thesskoudis.
In 1938 they form a close friendship until Peter is forced to go home due to political conflicts in Europe that will eventually lead to the further outbreak of WW II.
But in 1943 this friendship has turned into a bitter hateful battle between the Greek Partisans Resistance, which include Andreas and Eleni, and the German occupier with Peter in their midst as a German intelligence officer.
The eventual outcome of this War and the casualties that will fall within the Resistance movement on Lefkas will leave a permanent scar on the lives of the people involved, especially so on Eleni Thesskoudis.
This story tells us exactly where there have been love and friendship once, these can turn into hatred due to circumstances beyond our control, and that hatred will turn into a believe of never forgive and forget, iow into Hearts of Stone.
Really recommended, for Hearts of Stone deserves "Words of Praise"!
April 5, 2017
Μια πολύ συγκινητική ιστορία φιλίας, αγάπης και αφοσίωσης. Μια ιστορία που ξεκινάει το 1938 στη Λευκάδα, όπου γίνονται φίλοι τρεις νέοι, ο Αντρέας, η Ελένη και ο Πέτερ και με το ξέσπασμα του Β΄Παγκοσμίου πολέμου, οι δρόμοι τους χωρίζουν ενώ υπόσχονται ότι θα ξανασυναντηθούν στο μέλλον. Το 1943 η Ελένη με τον Αντρέα, ξανασυναντούν τον Πέτερ, όμως η σχέση μεταξύ τους δεν είναι πια ίδια αφού πολεμούν σε αντίπαλα στρατόπεδα και ανάμεσα τους ανάβει μια άγρια αντιπαράθεση και οι ήρωες μας είναι διχασμένοι μεταξύ της πίστης τους στην πατρίδα και στην φιλία τους.
January 4, 2017
Nádherný příběh ♥
Miluju Andrease...
Tahle knížka se mě hodně dotkla..
Miluju Andrease...
Tahle knížka se mě hodně dotkla..
April 30, 2017
Muito bom!
A escrita é fantástica que nos leva 100% para dentro da história que até esquecemos da realidade, as personagens são cativantes, as descrições são cinematográficas e as emoções são intensas, é de devorar desde as primeiras às ultimas páginas!!
É mais um livro sobre a 2ª Guerra Mundial, mas desta vez tem-se a Grécia como pano de fundo. Desconhecia que a Grécia também fora cruelmente pisada e torturada como outros países...
O livro é sobre a guerra, mas é acima de tudo sobre os três amigos da adolescência: os dois gregos Eleni e Andreas e o alemão Peter. Temos a actualidade, a neta da Eleni e o neto do Peter que se vão encontrar (através do facebook) e a Eleni está com 90 anos. Que aconteceu durante este tempo na Grecia?! É a própria Eleni, uma idosa já muito frágil, que irá revelar as suas memórias à sua neta, estas memórias que a avó mantivera enterradas e silenciadas dentro de si durante muito tempo. O neto do Peter encontrou os pertencentes do seu avô e juntando com a história da Eleni, torna uma história incrível, emocionante e chocante!
Adorei! Fabuloso!
"Viu como Eleni comia atabalhoadamente com dedos trémulos e recurvos. Era difícil de acreditar que aquela mulher frágil e de cabelo grisalho tinha sido uma combatente da resistência grega. Anna sentiu uma pontada de mágoa ao ver como um espírito tão grandioso podia ser devastado daquela forma com o passar do tempo."
January 20, 2018
4,5 estrelas.
É difícil explicar o quanto eu gostei deste livro. É um relato (ficcional) intenso sobre uma amizade que começou de uma forma tão pura e inocente e que foi engolida pelo inferno da guerra.
O plot ocorre durante a segunda guerra mundial e é sobre 3 amigos de nacionalidades diferentes. Eleni e Andreas são gregos e Peter alemão. Isto antes da guerra começar. Imaginam o que é nações obrigarem melhores amigos tornarem-se inimigos? Lutar uns contra os outros?
A escrita é muito boa, entramos na história de maneira fácil e o escritor conseguiu transparecer todos os sentimentos de amor, sacrifício, determinação, traição, ódio,... de uma maneira tão real. É extraordinário quando por momentos nós é que estamos ali na história, a lutar pelos nossos.
Se eu acho que este livro é para todos? Talvez não. O autor não se foca só nesta amizade, dá relatos intensos e detalhados de guerra (desde submarinos, aviões e armas), panoramas militares e políticos. Por isso, se ler sobre isso já não é muito a vossa praia, talvez não seja a melhor leitura que possam fazer. Pessoalmente adorei todos estes pormenores e com certeza vou ler mais deste escritor.
É difícil explicar o quanto eu gostei deste livro. É um relato (ficcional) intenso sobre uma amizade que começou de uma forma tão pura e inocente e que foi engolida pelo inferno da guerra.
O plot ocorre durante a segunda guerra mundial e é sobre 3 amigos de nacionalidades diferentes. Eleni e Andreas são gregos e Peter alemão. Isto antes da guerra começar. Imaginam o que é nações obrigarem melhores amigos tornarem-se inimigos? Lutar uns contra os outros?
A escrita é muito boa, entramos na história de maneira fácil e o escritor conseguiu transparecer todos os sentimentos de amor, sacrifício, determinação, traição, ódio,... de uma maneira tão real. É extraordinário quando por momentos nós é que estamos ali na história, a lutar pelos nossos.
Se eu acho que este livro é para todos? Talvez não. O autor não se foca só nesta amizade, dá relatos intensos e detalhados de guerra (desde submarinos, aviões e armas), panoramas militares e políticos. Por isso, se ler sobre isso já não é muito a vossa praia, talvez não seja a melhor leitura que possam fazer. Pessoalmente adorei todos estes pormenores e com certeza vou ler mais deste escritor.
March 22, 2017
Toto bylo prostě úžasné!! <3
Srdcervoucí příběh z druhé světové války, která řádila jako všude jinde i v Řecku. Sledujeme život tří přátel, ze kterých válka udělá možná nepřátelé a možná hrdiny...
Za mě povinnost každého milovníka beletrie z druhé světové války!! <3
Srdcervoucí příběh z druhé světové války, která řádila jako všude jinde i v Řecku. Sledujeme život tří přátel, ze kterých válka udělá možná nepřátelé a možná hrdiny...
Za mě povinnost každého milovníka beletrie z druhé světové války!! <3
October 21, 2018
Leitura mediana, que tinha potencial para muito mais...
Depois desenvolvo... em breve, espero.
Depois desenvolvo... em breve, espero.
August 27, 2015
The story is told in the present and in the past.
In 1938 three teens meet and enjoy life. Eleni, Andreas and Peter.
In the present Anna meets an descendant of Peter who wants to meet her grandmother Eleni. Not something Eleni wants, but instead she tells her story to Anna. Though I must say, it was not really Eleni's story we get, it is Andreas' story. Quite the shame, cos yes his story is good, but Eleni's would have been so different.
Ok, back to the past. The war starts. Italians and later Germans invade Greece. Andreas goes off to fight. Eleni stays at home, and Peter who knows Greek and the island will later be sent there. They will all meet again. And we all know that wont be pretty.
It's war. There is hate. There is struggle. They all want to fight for their country, even if their country is not always making the right choices.
But there is more. Peter was on the island with his father who was an archaeologist. And later Germans come back to find that which was not found, or was it? And to take it.
I do not think I have read a book set in Greece during WWII before. I liked the mix of war and the hunt for that which was hidden. It was also sad to see how the anger still lingered on. Still, more of Elenis' story would have been nice, but that would have made the book too big. Not to mention to see how Peter fared before he came there.
In 1938 three teens meet and enjoy life. Eleni, Andreas and Peter.
In the present Anna meets an descendant of Peter who wants to meet her grandmother Eleni. Not something Eleni wants, but instead she tells her story to Anna. Though I must say, it was not really Eleni's story we get, it is Andreas' story. Quite the shame, cos yes his story is good, but Eleni's would have been so different.
Ok, back to the past. The war starts. Italians and later Germans invade Greece. Andreas goes off to fight. Eleni stays at home, and Peter who knows Greek and the island will later be sent there. They will all meet again. And we all know that wont be pretty.
It's war. There is hate. There is struggle. They all want to fight for their country, even if their country is not always making the right choices.
But there is more. Peter was on the island with his father who was an archaeologist. And later Germans come back to find that which was not found, or was it? And to take it.
I do not think I have read a book set in Greece during WWII before. I liked the mix of war and the hunt for that which was hidden. It was also sad to see how the anger still lingered on. Still, more of Elenis' story would have been nice, but that would have made the book too big. Not to mention to see how Peter fared before he came there.
November 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this story, easy to follow and read even the unfamiliar names that are strange to the english language. It brings to your attention that other than your own country being involved with the atrocities of war, other countries suffered too, just as much in their corner of the world. Definitely one to be recommended.
June 12, 2017
A superior second world war book based around the Greek resistance on the idyllic Ionian island of Lefkas. It is a story about love, friendship, war, and treachery and brilliantly portrays how the Nazi regime attempted to subjugate all those who opposed it's so called Reich doctrine. I enjoyed the authors style of storytelling by introducing us to an aged Eleni Thesskoudis and through her eyes revealing the courage and sacrifice of the Greek resistance as first the Italians and then the Germans attempted to crush all opposition to its vision of a new world order..."Perhaps war was the real face of humanity, and peace was little more than a pretence of what human nature could be."...."They were lying in wait to slaughter their enemy, or be killed in turn. Against that reality what did their feelings matter? Feelings had no place in this setting, this moment." This is the second Simon Scarrow book I have recently read and it certainly does not disappoint.
August 19, 2021
Este é o segundo livro do autor, tendo sido o primeiro o Britannia. Este é totalmente diferente no contexto e mantém o mesmo nível de qualidade e relevo histórico.
A história está dividida em diferentes momentos, sendo uns em 2013 e outros em 1943, passando por alguns em 1938, antes da Segunda Guerra. Todos os momentos estão entrelaçados e todos os acontecimentos convergem para os mesmos aspetos, mostrando assim a genialidade do autor.
Todas as personagens estão extremamente bem criadas e são muito reais. É possível sentir todas as suas emoções e seguir os seus pensamentos e ações. Gostei muito de todas elas, em especial do trio de amigos que se veem numa termenda confusão e conflito, com a sua amizade posta em risco da forma mais cruel e sórdida que poderia haver.
A nível do enredo, é de referir a perfeita sincronia com o passado e presente, bem como o suspense que está sempre no ar, que paira em todas as páginas, permitindo ao leitor andar sempre a tentar levantar um pouquinho do véu de mistério da história. Toda a tensão entre amor, amizade, dever e guerra consegue formar um nó de grande emoção e tensão, que faz com que o leitor esteja constantemente a sofrer pelas personagens. Existe grande drama, ação, aventura, amor e amizade, e tudo o que a estes aspetos está inerente.
O contexto histórico está muito bem elaborado. O autor criou aqui, mais uma vez, um cenário muito bem contextualizado, com dados importantes e cruciais. Não é tão comum ler sobre a Segunda Guerra noutros países que não "os principais" (ou pelo menos eu não conhecia este lado da guerra). Inglaterra, Alemanha, França, Estados Unidos, Japão, Rússia... mas tendo a Grécia como pano de fundo, ainda não tinha lido nada.
Os livros tendo como contexto a Segunda Guerra Mundial são sempre livros com histórias fortes, grandiosas e que comovem. Não esperava algo diferente vindo daqui e foi isso que aconteceu. Encontrei uma história repleta de horrores, mas também de momentos de grande beleza, onde a lealdade, o amor e amizade são a grande base da obra.
Também gostei muito de ver a História, Arte e Arqueologia aqui presentes, com papéis de grande relevo, servindo como base para ligar todos os momentos espaciais e temporais. Mais uma excelente ideia do autor!
Em relação à escrita, esta é bastante fluída, encerrando um mundo de beleza e alguma frieza, sendo ela mesma uma das armas do livro.
Sendo assim, encontrei neste livro uma fonte de conhecimento e uma fonte de beleza, que me comoveu bastante e me alegrou. Tem todos os ingredientes que uma boa obra deve ter, despertando no leitor variados sentimentos e emoções. Mais uma vez, recomendo a todos aqueles que gostam de uma boa história, sendo Romance Histórico ou não. É para todos! E, mais uma vez, aqui está outra excelente aposta da Saída de Emergência!
A história está dividida em diferentes momentos, sendo uns em 2013 e outros em 1943, passando por alguns em 1938, antes da Segunda Guerra. Todos os momentos estão entrelaçados e todos os acontecimentos convergem para os mesmos aspetos, mostrando assim a genialidade do autor.
Todas as personagens estão extremamente bem criadas e são muito reais. É possível sentir todas as suas emoções e seguir os seus pensamentos e ações. Gostei muito de todas elas, em especial do trio de amigos que se veem numa termenda confusão e conflito, com a sua amizade posta em risco da forma mais cruel e sórdida que poderia haver.
A nível do enredo, é de referir a perfeita sincronia com o passado e presente, bem como o suspense que está sempre no ar, que paira em todas as páginas, permitindo ao leitor andar sempre a tentar levantar um pouquinho do véu de mistério da história. Toda a tensão entre amor, amizade, dever e guerra consegue formar um nó de grande emoção e tensão, que faz com que o leitor esteja constantemente a sofrer pelas personagens. Existe grande drama, ação, aventura, amor e amizade, e tudo o que a estes aspetos está inerente.
O contexto histórico está muito bem elaborado. O autor criou aqui, mais uma vez, um cenário muito bem contextualizado, com dados importantes e cruciais. Não é tão comum ler sobre a Segunda Guerra noutros países que não "os principais" (ou pelo menos eu não conhecia este lado da guerra). Inglaterra, Alemanha, França, Estados Unidos, Japão, Rússia... mas tendo a Grécia como pano de fundo, ainda não tinha lido nada.
Os livros tendo como contexto a Segunda Guerra Mundial são sempre livros com histórias fortes, grandiosas e que comovem. Não esperava algo diferente vindo daqui e foi isso que aconteceu. Encontrei uma história repleta de horrores, mas também de momentos de grande beleza, onde a lealdade, o amor e amizade são a grande base da obra.
Também gostei muito de ver a História, Arte e Arqueologia aqui presentes, com papéis de grande relevo, servindo como base para ligar todos os momentos espaciais e temporais. Mais uma excelente ideia do autor!
Em relação à escrita, esta é bastante fluída, encerrando um mundo de beleza e alguma frieza, sendo ela mesma uma das armas do livro.
Sendo assim, encontrei neste livro uma fonte de conhecimento e uma fonte de beleza, que me comoveu bastante e me alegrou. Tem todos os ingredientes que uma boa obra deve ter, despertando no leitor variados sentimentos e emoções. Mais uma vez, recomendo a todos aqueles que gostam de uma boa história, sendo Romance Histórico ou não. É para todos! E, mais uma vez, aqui está outra excelente aposta da Saída de Emergência!
August 1, 2016
Αρχικά θεώρησα ότι θα διάβαζα ένα αντίγραφο του Μαντολίνου του Λοχαγού Κορέλι, μια που αναφέρεται σε μια παρέα (οι Έλληνες Αντρέας κι Ελένη και ο Γερμανός Πέτερ) στη Λευκάδα πριν τον Β΄Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο και πώς αργότερα η εγγονή της Ελένης προσπαθεί να βρει την άκρη του τι συνέβει τελικά στην παρέα αυτή. Ωστόσο ο συγγραφέας, έχοντας ψάξει με συνέπεια τις ιστορικές πηγές, δίνει με ακρίβεια και σεβασμό το ιστορικό πλαίσιο της Ελλάδας στον πόλεμο, συνδυάζοντάς το με ένα θησαυρό του ομηρικού Οδυσσέα. Ωραίος τίτλος, ενδιαφέρουσα πλοκή χωρίς να γίνεται στενάχωρη λόγω θέματος και απροσδόκητο τέλος που άφησε μια ωραία, γλυκόπικρη εντύπωση. Κι αν δεν σας αρέσουν τα πολεμικά, αυτό θα σας αποζημιώσει ευχάριστα.
At first, I thought that I would read a copy of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, because this book it's about a company of friends (the Greeks Andreas and Eleni and the German Peter) in Lefkas before World War II and how later, Eleni's granddaughter tries to find what happened to this company. However, the author, having searched consistently the historical sources, he gives accurately and with respect the historical context of Greece in the war, combining it with a treasure of Homeric Ulysses. It has a poetic title, an interesting plot without becoming heavy because of the issue and with an unexpected end which left a nice bittersweet impression. Even if you don't like martial novels, this one will reward you pleasantly.
At first, I thought that I would read a copy of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, because this book it's about a company of friends (the Greeks Andreas and Eleni and the German Peter) in Lefkas before World War II and how later, Eleni's granddaughter tries to find what happened to this company. However, the author, having searched consistently the historical sources, he gives accurately and with respect the historical context of Greece in the war, combining it with a treasure of Homeric Ulysses. It has a poetic title, an interesting plot without becoming heavy because of the issue and with an unexpected end which left a nice bittersweet impression. Even if you don't like martial novels, this one will reward you pleasantly.
August 3, 2016
2 and a half really. A second world war story set in occupied Greece, with a short bit of present day narration picking up with one of the characters and her granddaughter. I think the latter was to give Scarrow that rarest of opportunities with the sort of military historical fiction he writes, to have some of those actual women things in the book as actual real characters!
The adventure story clips along nicely from pre-war And thankfully the silly 'what ancient treasure could the archeologists have found?" plot line that seems to be building at the beginning is kept minimal (I've gone right off those type of books after a glut a few years ago) - indeed practically forgotten. The multi narrative is good, and as you'd expect, the fighting and actions scenes are particularly good. But one of the reasons I don't read much WW2 fiction is the reality was usually far more fascinating - as a brief cameo by Patrick Leigh Fermour, he of "Ill met by midnight" highlighted. I was hoping he'd have more of a role, but he doesn't - and that was even more the boys own derring do stuff.
While it's unlikely to be accused of being literature, it's not meant to be, it's a bit of beach reading, and you can while away easy hours rattling through this.
The adventure story clips along nicely from pre-war And thankfully the silly 'what ancient treasure could the archeologists have found?" plot line that seems to be building at the beginning is kept minimal (I've gone right off those type of books after a glut a few years ago) - indeed practically forgotten. The multi narrative is good, and as you'd expect, the fighting and actions scenes are particularly good. But one of the reasons I don't read much WW2 fiction is the reality was usually far more fascinating - as a brief cameo by Patrick Leigh Fermour, he of "Ill met by midnight" highlighted. I was hoping he'd have more of a role, but he doesn't - and that was even more the boys own derring do stuff.
While it's unlikely to be accused of being literature, it's not meant to be, it's a bit of beach reading, and you can while away easy hours rattling through this.
October 21, 2017
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Otro ejemplo del buen hacer de Simon Scarrow, que esta vez se aleja de las novelas históricas, para narrarnos una historia que nos toca más de cerca. La de la invasión alemana de las islas griegas durante la II Guerra Mundial.
Una profesora de historia es contactada por un historiador alemán preguntando por su abuela. ¿Qué tiene que ver una tierna nonagenaria con la II Guerra Mundial, la resistencia y el ejército alemán?
Esta es la historia de Eleni, Andreas y Peter. Peter es alemán, mientras que Eleni y Andreas son griegos. Pero eso es poco importante, son amigos para siempre jamás. ¿O no? La guerra rompe amistades y convencionalismos, y cada uno se encuentra desarrollando un rol que no se podía prever.
Es un gran libro, de lectura ágil y entretenida, emotivo y que nos deja un par de enseñanzas, también. Os lo recomiendo.
Otro ejemplo del buen hacer de Simon Scarrow, que esta vez se aleja de las novelas históricas, para narrarnos una historia que nos toca más de cerca. La de la invasión alemana de las islas griegas durante la II Guerra Mundial.
Una profesora de historia es contactada por un historiador alemán preguntando por su abuela. ¿Qué tiene que ver una tierna nonagenaria con la II Guerra Mundial, la resistencia y el ejército alemán?
Esta es la historia de Eleni, Andreas y Peter. Peter es alemán, mientras que Eleni y Andreas son griegos. Pero eso es poco importante, son amigos para siempre jamás. ¿O no? La guerra rompe amistades y convencionalismos, y cada uno se encuentra desarrollando un rol que no se podía prever.
Es un gran libro, de lectura ágil y entretenida, emotivo y que nos deja un par de enseñanzas, también. Os lo recomiendo.
January 20, 2017
Ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα όχι όμως λεπτομερέστατο που θα το προτιμούσα σε ταινία μεγάλου μήκους.Παρ'όλο ξένος συγγραφέας,εν τούτοις καταπιάστηκε με την Ιστορία και δη του τόπου μας χωρίς να την χρησιμοποιήσει για κάτι,πραγματοποιώντας ,φυσικά, την έρευνά του ώστε να βγει ένα άρτιο βιβλίο και συγκινητικό ,αναλόγως τι εισπράττει ο καθένας αναγνώστης.Κουραστικό λίγο βέβαια και σε μερικά σημεία στάσιμο,αλλά αυτό δεν ακυρώνει την πλοκή και την δημιουργία του συγγραφέως που σεβάστηκε τον τόπο μας και την Ιστορία του.Αφηγηματικό βιβλίο με εναλλαγές παρελθόντος (ως επί το πλείστον) παρόντος και μία γραφή εύκολη ,κατανοητή και με ζωντανή παραστατικότητα κινεί και πλέκει τις ζωές και τους χαρακτήρες των ηρώων μας.Γνώστης του νησιού,του πολέμου,της βαναυσότητας και άλλων γεγονότων και ειδικά αυτά που αφορούν το υποβρύχιο Παπανικολή .Φυσικά,εν καιρώ πολέμου,δεν θα μπορούσε να είναι απών και ο έρωτας,το βάθος του και η κατάληξή του έτσι όπως την βλέπει ένας άνδρας συγγραφέας.
May 31, 2015
I absolutely loved this book from the first to the past page, and that is down to the writers style, the story is well crafted and flows at a pace to keep the pages turning, set at the outbreak of world war 2, which see 3 friends torn apart by the conflict only to be reunited on opposite sides, a story of friendship and passion told from different perspectives, set in the present day and in the past, beautifully crafted into a mesmerising story.
February 16, 2020
A very entertaining page-turner with a good mix of wartime exploits and emotional involvement with the main characters. A slightly unusual setting on the Greek island of Lefkas gives it an added sense of transforming a typical WW2 novel into something informative and new. There are also a couple of back stories, one about an archaeological dig on the island and the other set in contemporary Britain with the descendants of the characters from the 1940s.
May 21, 2017
Tal como o autor já nos habituou, uma boa história, muito bem contada. Gostei. Uma visão um pouco diferente do que se passou, os sentimentos paradoxos incontornáveis. Podemos e devemos aprender alguma coisa com a História. Obrigado, Simon.
April 13, 2017
A nicely written and also nicely paced, engaging historical novel that moves from present day London to Greece in the Second World War and back.
January 29, 2020
Hearts of Stone
By Simon Scarrow
Beautiful. Simply Beautiful.
Whenever I pick up any book based on war, it is me wanting my conscious self to have a realisation of what has happened in the world, what has been happening in the world, and what could still happen in this world. How the war changes things, changes people, changes your priorities.
And this book did not disappoint me regarding that at all.
The war based books which I've read so far, the setting was either in France or Russia or Poland or Germany. And the brutal, horrifying things which occurred were pretty much the same. But the Greece's account in this book was a new insight to my existing knowledge. A complete new picture of how this war was dealt with. The fights in the hills, near the cliff, and amazing account of the submarine battle under the water, was beautifully described. Though I am not sure if I should be using that adjective, but I want to convey how I really lived through it all while reading.
So three friends, from two different countries, separate while vowing they'd meet each other again. But the fate had something different in mind for them. The bitter irony is that they do meet, although not as friends, but as enemies. And so much had changed since then.
Even before the war Andreas Katarides was devoted to do something for the country. Fight, live and die for the country. When the war started, Eleini Thesskoudis joins in the resistance for the same cause, fight and live to see your country free.
Their patriotism was commendable, but Peter Muller's was not. I'll be brutally honest here, I do not understand how can you support your own country, when your sensible brain cells can clearly detect whatever your country is doing, is wrong.
They are invading other's land. Stealing from them, starving them, killing them. Heck, filtered out an entire race and put them in camps to eventually put them to their death.
So, just, how and why do you want to support them? For what? The least you could do is let your own country's people realize this and inturn help them raise awareness, so that something can be done about it. So that your country improves. Prevents it from being the bad guy. And that's exactly what Dr Miller did, or tried doing before he was executed for being a " traitor ". But Peter never knew until it was too late.
And, (if any Peter fans are reading this, they can stop reading the review right here and now), Peter is pathetic.
Yes, you heard me, pathetic.
He meets Eleini's parents, Inspector and Rosa Thesskoudis. Them despite knowing Peter is an enemy now, belongs to a country which is giving them a very hard time, they give him a warm welcome, ask him how he is, as they used to do when they were still friends. And while doing that, they also let him realise they cannot meet him like this anymore, as they serve their country as much as he does, and wouldn't wanna be called as a traitor by calling him inside, and politely ask him to leave.
How does he react?
" Eleini wouldn't have wanted me be treated this way "
" GrEeKs ArE sO pRoUd "
Those were not the exact lines, it's almost close to it.
Anyway, the point is, from that moment Peter lost whatever respect I had for him. Not only did he seem to me as some sort of Jingoistic being, but also an insensitive human.
Although, yes, I agree he couldn't shake off the image of the boy getting shot by the heinous person Heinrich Steiner, but he also didn't bat an eye when Eleini's parents were being executed in broad daylight. He simply looked on. Would he have watched in the same manner if Eleini were in their place? Would he?
And regarding her parent's execution, I cannot imagine what Eleini had to go through that moment. While reading I was wondering what all could have happened with the options Eleini had:
> Stay in the cave and never surrender, be a devoted resistance fighter and make this decision for the greater good
> Surrender, while maybe poisoning yourself so that you don't give anything away
> Surrender, let them break you until you die
> Surrender, let them break you, until you actually compromise the resistance bands and then die
In any of these cases, it was sure that neither Eleini nor her parents would have survived this. It was Eleini's call to make when she was in that square, to give herself away or not. And she almost did, had Andreas not prevented her from doing so. And this would never have happened, had Heinrich not been the commanding officer for them that time.
And one thing I've noticed in this book is, the very topic Simon started the book with, that same topic was used to end the trio's story for us.
Deiter Muller, grandson of Peter, meets Anna Thesskoudis, grand daughter of Eleini, as he wants to uncover the cave which Dr Muller discovered all those years ago. The cave which could have the tomb of Odysseus in its possession.
And the very same place ended up being the resting place of Andreas. The place where the trio meet, as they had vowed to do so, and they part for the last ever time.
It was heartbreaking in a poetic way.
Also, (Peter's fans AND history lovers can stop reading at this point - you've been warned!), I will never understand the obsession with the tomb of Odysseus in a middle of war, and post that for that matter.
I agree it is ancient. I agree they just uncovered something which was alive 30k years ago.
I agree with this people will come all over the world to look at its civilisation and all that. I very much agree.
But, which people are you talking about? The same ones who are being slaughtered in this war as you speak?
People are being starved, killed, tortured and you are here caring about protecting the tomb of Odysseus? Yes, I'm referring to Peter here, as Heinrich was anyway a lost case.
One moment he plans to conceal the cave forever if found, so that Heinrich doesn't gets his hand on it.
And another moment he's reasoning with his dying childhood friend for not blowing up the cave because then tHe AnCiEnT CiViLiSaTiOn WiLl bE lOsT.
After carrying Eleini to a safe place, I wasn't expecting him to return for Andreas anyway. But when Andreas did blow up to the cave, what is Peter most disappointed for? Not for his dead friend but losing the tomb of a person who has been dead thousands of year ago.
You're freakingly impossible, Peter!
And from this even Deiter was no better. Anna here is trying to tell him she wouldn't allow him to take Eleini back to Greece to point out the location of cave, because that's the resting place of Andreas and it shouldn't be wise to disturb it, AT LEAST when Eleini is alive. And how does he respond?
"You are being sentimental Anna"
No doubt Peter's blood runs in his veins.
If Eleini wanted, in all these years she could have easily took some people to that place, asked them to dig the site, so that they can have their precious tomb of odysseus, and she can give Andreas's remains a proper burial. But did she do that? In all the years that she lived even after war, did she do that? No!
So how wise will it be to ask a frail old women to come along and point to that very place where she lost everything?
Be a little empathetic, Deiter. Prove you aren't like your grandfather.
At the end of the book, I almost skipped reading the author's notes, but then gave a second thought.
I'm glad I did.
Simon Scarrow tells how exactly he got the ideas to write this book. How he justified WWII based books come under historical fiction, unlike how people claim otherwise.
He tells how he deliberately made the story such that Anna, in her present, learns the events of her grandmother's horrifying past. Anna used to see her grandmother as a frail, weak and old woman, but on learning her past, she sees how behind this old woman, there once lived a vibrant, energetic young woman, who fought for her country by risking her life at many points in her life. This makes the younger generation realise what the older generation went through.
And that is what history is for, as Simon himself explained to his students and made Anna explain to her students as well, history might not fetch you a great job (trust me, I disliked this subject in my school too), but it is very much necessary to learn whatever happened in the past, so that you don't ever repeat the mistakes of the past in your future.
This point is something to take home.
One of my favourite quotes in this book:
Age withered all people, and perhaps recorded history was the saving grace of those who became old. A reminder that they too were once young and vibrant and making their mark on the world around them.
By Simon Scarrow
Beautiful. Simply Beautiful.
Whenever I pick up any book based on war, it is me wanting my conscious self to have a realisation of what has happened in the world, what has been happening in the world, and what could still happen in this world. How the war changes things, changes people, changes your priorities.
And this book did not disappoint me regarding that at all.
The war based books which I've read so far, the setting was either in France or Russia or Poland or Germany. And the brutal, horrifying things which occurred were pretty much the same. But the Greece's account in this book was a new insight to my existing knowledge. A complete new picture of how this war was dealt with. The fights in the hills, near the cliff, and amazing account of the submarine battle under the water, was beautifully described. Though I am not sure if I should be using that adjective, but I want to convey how I really lived through it all while reading.
So three friends, from two different countries, separate while vowing they'd meet each other again. But the fate had something different in mind for them. The bitter irony is that they do meet, although not as friends, but as enemies. And so much had changed since then.
Even before the war Andreas Katarides was devoted to do something for the country. Fight, live and die for the country. When the war started, Eleini Thesskoudis joins in the resistance for the same cause, fight and live to see your country free.
Their patriotism was commendable, but Peter Muller's was not. I'll be brutally honest here, I do not understand how can you support your own country, when your sensible brain cells can clearly detect whatever your country is doing, is wrong.
They are invading other's land. Stealing from them, starving them, killing them. Heck, filtered out an entire race and put them in camps to eventually put them to their death.
So, just, how and why do you want to support them? For what? The least you could do is let your own country's people realize this and inturn help them raise awareness, so that something can be done about it. So that your country improves. Prevents it from being the bad guy. And that's exactly what Dr Miller did, or tried doing before he was executed for being a " traitor ". But Peter never knew until it was too late.
And, (if any Peter fans are reading this, they can stop reading the review right here and now), Peter is pathetic.
Yes, you heard me, pathetic.
He meets Eleini's parents, Inspector and Rosa Thesskoudis. Them despite knowing Peter is an enemy now, belongs to a country which is giving them a very hard time, they give him a warm welcome, ask him how he is, as they used to do when they were still friends. And while doing that, they also let him realise they cannot meet him like this anymore, as they serve their country as much as he does, and wouldn't wanna be called as a traitor by calling him inside, and politely ask him to leave.
How does he react?
" Eleini wouldn't have wanted me be treated this way "
" GrEeKs ArE sO pRoUd "
Those were not the exact lines, it's almost close to it.
Anyway, the point is, from that moment Peter lost whatever respect I had for him. Not only did he seem to me as some sort of Jingoistic being, but also an insensitive human.
Although, yes, I agree he couldn't shake off the image of the boy getting shot by the heinous person Heinrich Steiner, but he also didn't bat an eye when Eleini's parents were being executed in broad daylight. He simply looked on. Would he have watched in the same manner if Eleini were in their place? Would he?
And regarding her parent's execution, I cannot imagine what Eleini had to go through that moment. While reading I was wondering what all could have happened with the options Eleini had:
> Stay in the cave and never surrender, be a devoted resistance fighter and make this decision for the greater good
> Surrender, while maybe poisoning yourself so that you don't give anything away
> Surrender, let them break you until you die
> Surrender, let them break you, until you actually compromise the resistance bands and then die
In any of these cases, it was sure that neither Eleini nor her parents would have survived this. It was Eleini's call to make when she was in that square, to give herself away or not. And she almost did, had Andreas not prevented her from doing so. And this would never have happened, had Heinrich not been the commanding officer for them that time.
And one thing I've noticed in this book is, the very topic Simon started the book with, that same topic was used to end the trio's story for us.
Deiter Muller, grandson of Peter, meets Anna Thesskoudis, grand daughter of Eleini, as he wants to uncover the cave which Dr Muller discovered all those years ago. The cave which could have the tomb of Odysseus in its possession.
And the very same place ended up being the resting place of Andreas. The place where the trio meet, as they had vowed to do so, and they part for the last ever time.
It was heartbreaking in a poetic way.
Also, (Peter's fans AND history lovers can stop reading at this point - you've been warned!), I will never understand the obsession with the tomb of Odysseus in a middle of war, and post that for that matter.
I agree it is ancient. I agree they just uncovered something which was alive 30k years ago.
I agree with this people will come all over the world to look at its civilisation and all that. I very much agree.
But, which people are you talking about? The same ones who are being slaughtered in this war as you speak?
People are being starved, killed, tortured and you are here caring about protecting the tomb of Odysseus? Yes, I'm referring to Peter here, as Heinrich was anyway a lost case.
One moment he plans to conceal the cave forever if found, so that Heinrich doesn't gets his hand on it.
And another moment he's reasoning with his dying childhood friend for not blowing up the cave because then tHe AnCiEnT CiViLiSaTiOn WiLl bE lOsT.
After carrying Eleini to a safe place, I wasn't expecting him to return for Andreas anyway. But when Andreas did blow up to the cave, what is Peter most disappointed for? Not for his dead friend but losing the tomb of a person who has been dead thousands of year ago.
You're freakingly impossible, Peter!
And from this even Deiter was no better. Anna here is trying to tell him she wouldn't allow him to take Eleini back to Greece to point out the location of cave, because that's the resting place of Andreas and it shouldn't be wise to disturb it, AT LEAST when Eleini is alive. And how does he respond?
"You are being sentimental Anna"
No doubt Peter's blood runs in his veins.
If Eleini wanted, in all these years she could have easily took some people to that place, asked them to dig the site, so that they can have their precious tomb of odysseus, and she can give Andreas's remains a proper burial. But did she do that? In all the years that she lived even after war, did she do that? No!
So how wise will it be to ask a frail old women to come along and point to that very place where she lost everything?
Be a little empathetic, Deiter. Prove you aren't like your grandfather.
At the end of the book, I almost skipped reading the author's notes, but then gave a second thought.
I'm glad I did.
Simon Scarrow tells how exactly he got the ideas to write this book. How he justified WWII based books come under historical fiction, unlike how people claim otherwise.
He tells how he deliberately made the story such that Anna, in her present, learns the events of her grandmother's horrifying past. Anna used to see her grandmother as a frail, weak and old woman, but on learning her past, she sees how behind this old woman, there once lived a vibrant, energetic young woman, who fought for her country by risking her life at many points in her life. This makes the younger generation realise what the older generation went through.
And that is what history is for, as Simon himself explained to his students and made Anna explain to her students as well, history might not fetch you a great job (trust me, I disliked this subject in my school too), but it is very much necessary to learn whatever happened in the past, so that you don't ever repeat the mistakes of the past in your future.
This point is something to take home.
One of my favourite quotes in this book:
Age withered all people, and perhaps recorded history was the saving grace of those who became old. A reminder that they too were once young and vibrant and making their mark on the world around them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2015
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Simon Scarrow brings to life the horrors of World War II in his latest novel Hearts of Stone. In 2013, Anna Thesskoudiss, a history teacher is contacted by a German research student, Dieter Muller who is interested in talking to her grandmother Eleni. He explains that he is the grandson of Peter Muller who was friends with her grandmother whilst staying on the Greek island of Lefkas until the war made them enemies.
Dieter Muller’s introduction implies that the story is going to be about the relationship between Eleni and Peter, which gets destroyed when Peter returns to the island as an enemy intelligence officer. The blurb for Hearts of Stone also implies this. However, the majority of the book focuses on their friend Andreas’ experience of the Navy and his role in the resistance. Scarrow goes into detail of every dangerous situation Andreas finds himself in, but this is not what the reader was expecting to learn about. Eventually the final chapters turn to Peter’s role in the war and the reason Eleni and he could no longer consider themselves friends.
Despite being full of action and war horrors, it gets a little boring reading about Andreas’ life. Although this narrative leads to what happens with Peter, it occasionally felt unnecessary, as it was the final stages that appeared to be the most important.
From an historical point of view it is refreshing to read a war story that is not focused on either Britain or Germany. Hearts of Stone reveals how Greece was affected even though they were not one of the main fighting bodies. It is shocking how many innocent people were killed purely for the Nazi’s to invoke fear in the hopes the natives would submit to their rule.
Hopefully the vast amount of mistakes and grammatical errors would have been corrected before the final – I read an uncorrected proof – publication. Admittedly Hearts of Stone was a bit of a disappointment as it was not exactly what it appeared to be. However it has educational value as well as entertainment for readers who enjoy war stories. Scarrow has also included maps of the Greek island of Lefkas and the Mediterranean during WWII as well as a character list to benefit readers as they take in the story.
Simon Scarrow brings to life the horrors of World War II in his latest novel Hearts of Stone. In 2013, Anna Thesskoudiss, a history teacher is contacted by a German research student, Dieter Muller who is interested in talking to her grandmother Eleni. He explains that he is the grandson of Peter Muller who was friends with her grandmother whilst staying on the Greek island of Lefkas until the war made them enemies.
Dieter Muller’s introduction implies that the story is going to be about the relationship between Eleni and Peter, which gets destroyed when Peter returns to the island as an enemy intelligence officer. The blurb for Hearts of Stone also implies this. However, the majority of the book focuses on their friend Andreas’ experience of the Navy and his role in the resistance. Scarrow goes into detail of every dangerous situation Andreas finds himself in, but this is not what the reader was expecting to learn about. Eventually the final chapters turn to Peter’s role in the war and the reason Eleni and he could no longer consider themselves friends.
Despite being full of action and war horrors, it gets a little boring reading about Andreas’ life. Although this narrative leads to what happens with Peter, it occasionally felt unnecessary, as it was the final stages that appeared to be the most important.
From an historical point of view it is refreshing to read a war story that is not focused on either Britain or Germany. Hearts of Stone reveals how Greece was affected even though they were not one of the main fighting bodies. It is shocking how many innocent people were killed purely for the Nazi’s to invoke fear in the hopes the natives would submit to their rule.
Hopefully the vast amount of mistakes and grammatical errors would have been corrected before the final – I read an uncorrected proof – publication. Admittedly Hearts of Stone was a bit of a disappointment as it was not exactly what it appeared to be. However it has educational value as well as entertainment for readers who enjoy war stories. Scarrow has also included maps of the Greek island of Lefkas and the Mediterranean during WWII as well as a character list to benefit readers as they take in the story.
June 22, 2017
Only 3 stars?!?! It would have gotten more, but the book was rife with typographical errors, such as words repeated, or left out altogether - was it ever proofread?
Simon Scarrow who is better known for writing about the ancient Roman Empire jumps ahead a couple of thousand years for this World War II novel set on the Greek island of Lefkas. Since it is a war novel, people die, including characters you've grown to like. However, it is also - in some respects - a romance novel without it being something that is aimed at a largely female audience. And since it is set in wartime, the romance doesn't always work out. It is also about friendship and the friendship between several of the Greek islanders and the son of a German archeologist. Since it's a war novel, you know the German youth will eventually wind up serving in the German army during World War II. And, you don't have to be a genius to figure out the three young people will come together again during the war, two of them as members of the Greek resistance and the young German in uniform.
Jumping back and forth between contemporary times where one of the young people, now in their 90's, is telling the story and the war timeline could be confusing, but it surprisingly flows well. Since the early part of the story concerned a German archeological dig, something was discovered and then hidden and because he had been there, the young German (now a Nazi officer) is sent to Lefkas to find the hidden treasure. Fairly simple story line if you stop and think about it, but it moves along well and keeps the reader interested.
If you're a fan of Scarrow and are waiting for the next Roman adventure and haven't read this yet (it came out in 2015), you can probably pick up a copy at a closeout price on a book website (I found mine at BookDepository.com so it's the British edition where trucks are called "lorries" and so on). Interesting read and it does give you pause to wonder, what would have happened if.....?
Simon Scarrow who is better known for writing about the ancient Roman Empire jumps ahead a couple of thousand years for this World War II novel set on the Greek island of Lefkas. Since it is a war novel, people die, including characters you've grown to like. However, it is also - in some respects - a romance novel without it being something that is aimed at a largely female audience. And since it is set in wartime, the romance doesn't always work out. It is also about friendship and the friendship between several of the Greek islanders and the son of a German archeologist. Since it's a war novel, you know the German youth will eventually wind up serving in the German army during World War II. And, you don't have to be a genius to figure out the three young people will come together again during the war, two of them as members of the Greek resistance and the young German in uniform.
Jumping back and forth between contemporary times where one of the young people, now in their 90's, is telling the story and the war timeline could be confusing, but it surprisingly flows well. Since the early part of the story concerned a German archeological dig, something was discovered and then hidden and because he had been there, the young German (now a Nazi officer) is sent to Lefkas to find the hidden treasure. Fairly simple story line if you stop and think about it, but it moves along well and keeps the reader interested.
If you're a fan of Scarrow and are waiting for the next Roman adventure and haven't read this yet (it came out in 2015), you can probably pick up a copy at a closeout price on a book website (I found mine at BookDepository.com so it's the British edition where trucks are called "lorries" and so on). Interesting read and it does give you pause to wonder, what would have happened if.....?
January 7, 2019
I felt a little let down by this book, if I am being honest.
I am a huge Scarrow fan, his early books were a massive influence on me and are one of the reasons I went on to be a writer. I love his Macro and Cato books, but my favourite books of his are the ones when he has a break from Rome and steps away. The quartet on Napoleon/Wellington was a masterpiece, as was the stand alone Sword and Scimitar.
This, I found to be quite slow. The story is incredible, set in Greece both pre and during WWII, the atrocities those poor people had to live though are disgusting and Simon really paints a vivid picture.
I just found the plot moves very slowly at times, pages and pages with nothing much happening, and then a burst of action or a huge plot development, once more followed by nothing much. It just felt to me it could have been condensed, given a good trim, and it would romp along and would have kept me reading to the small hours.
As it is, it's a good book, telling a story that deserves to be read. Just not quite up to the standard one has come to expect from such a brilliant author
I am a huge Scarrow fan, his early books were a massive influence on me and are one of the reasons I went on to be a writer. I love his Macro and Cato books, but my favourite books of his are the ones when he has a break from Rome and steps away. The quartet on Napoleon/Wellington was a masterpiece, as was the stand alone Sword and Scimitar.
This, I found to be quite slow. The story is incredible, set in Greece both pre and during WWII, the atrocities those poor people had to live though are disgusting and Simon really paints a vivid picture.
I just found the plot moves very slowly at times, pages and pages with nothing much happening, and then a burst of action or a huge plot development, once more followed by nothing much. It just felt to me it could have been condensed, given a good trim, and it would romp along and would have kept me reading to the small hours.
As it is, it's a good book, telling a story that deserves to be read. Just not quite up to the standard one has come to expect from such a brilliant author
May 14, 2017
Το βιβλίο αυτό αποδείχθηκε διαφορετικό απ΄ότι περίμενα! Νόμιζα ότι θα διαβάσω γυναικεία λογοτεχνία και τελικά ήταν ένας εξελιγμένος Alistair McLean, με περιγραφές μαχών και πολέμου, αντιδράσεις των ανθρώπων που μπλέχτηκαν στον κυκεώνα του πολέμου, εξαιρετικές περιγραφές που σε μετέφεραν στην Λευκάδα του Β' παγκοσμίου πολέμου, πολύ καλή γραφή συναισθημάτων και καταστάσεων και αντιδράσεων, στρωτό γράψιμο με σωστές λέξεις και ρυθμό.
Αυτό που δεν μου άρεσε ήταν ότι ενώ στο πρώτο μισό του βιβλίου ήταν πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα η εναλλαγή μεταξύ των γεγονότων προπολεμικώς και μεταπολεμικώς στη Λευκάδα με τη διήγηση της Ελένης στην Αννα, και τη διήγηση της Άννας που πάει την δράση πιο κάτω, το δεύτερο μισό ήταν μόνο διήγηση του συγγραφέα, ενώ αν είχε παρεμβάλλει τις αναμνήσεις που έγραψε η Ελένη με τα γεγονότα του πολέμου, θα ήταν πιο καλογραμμένο.
τα αστέρια που κανονικά του βάζω είναι 3,5 αλλά σε κάθε περίπτωση ήταν ένα βιβλίο που διάβασα με ευχαρίστηση, δεν με κούρασε καθόλου και μου έμειναν εικόνες από αυτό.
Αυτό που δεν μου άρεσε ήταν ότι ενώ στο πρώτο μισό του βιβλίου ήταν πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα η εναλλαγή μεταξύ των γεγονότων προπολεμικώς και μεταπολεμικώς στη Λευκάδα με τη διήγηση της Ελένης στην Αννα, και τη διήγηση της Άννας που πάει την δράση πιο κάτω, το δεύτερο μισό ήταν μόνο διήγηση του συγγραφέα, ενώ αν είχε παρεμβάλλει τις αναμνήσεις που έγραψε η Ελένη με τα γεγονότα του πολέμου, θα ήταν πιο καλογραμμένο.
τα αστέρια που κανονικά του βάζω είναι 3,5 αλλά σε κάθε περίπτωση ήταν ένα βιβλίο που διάβασα με ευχαρίστηση, δεν με κούρασε καθόλου και μου έμειναν εικόνες από αυτό.
September 16, 2015
I bought this book as it is about the Greek island of Lefkas, which I know well. It is a good story, and I could relate to the characters, although I didn't particularly like the style of writing. The story was believable, and I enjoyed the descriptions of some of the places I have visited on the island. It was a good mix between historical facts of events that happened during the war, and a fictional story about the search for archaeological treasure. I liked how it jumped back and forward over two time periods.
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