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YANNIS: The first book in a continuing saga of a Cretan family
A compelling and true story of a young man who is diagnosed with leprosy. He is admitted to the local hospital for treatment and subsequently transferred to the hospital in Athens. The conditions in the hospital are appalling, overcrowding, lack of amenities, poor food, and only basic medication.
The inmates finally rebel, resulting in their exile to Spinalonga, a leper colony just across the water from Yannis's home village.
This book tells the heart-rending account of his struggle for survival, his loves and losses, along with that of his family on the mainland from 1918 to 1979.
All the events that took place in the Athenian hospital and on Spinalonga are true. The characters are fictitious and there was never any question of embezzlement of hospital funds.
"What a wonderful film script this book would make."
D. Bell
The inmates finally rebel, resulting in their exile to Spinalonga, a leper colony just across the water from Yannis's home village.
This book tells the heart-rending account of his struggle for survival, his loves and losses, along with that of his family on the mainland from 1918 to 1979.
All the events that took place in the Athenian hospital and on Spinalonga are true. The characters are fictitious and there was never any question of embezzlement of hospital funds.
"What a wonderful film script this book would make."
D. Bell
- GenresHistorical FictionGreece
768 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 23, 2018
Wonderful. Spellbinding. Brilliant!
Having read Hislop’s The Island and subsequently visited Crete and Spinalonga it was only natural that I read Yannis. Although The Island was a brilliant read compared to Yannis it was largely romanticised.
Yannis is without a doubt a real raw story. It charts the life of a young boy destined for success to his affliction, cast off to the island and his life up to 1979. The people we meet are real, the story is real although it is not based on real people most of the events happened and retold thanks to Beryl Derby’s research and interviewing of those that lived it.
An absolutely brilliant read, it will have you experience a plethora of emotions, many of which you never knew you had.
Having read Hislop’s The Island and subsequently visited Crete and Spinalonga it was only natural that I read Yannis. Although The Island was a brilliant read compared to Yannis it was largely romanticised.
Yannis is without a doubt a real raw story. It charts the life of a young boy destined for success to his affliction, cast off to the island and his life up to 1979. The people we meet are real, the story is real although it is not based on real people most of the events happened and retold thanks to Beryl Derby’s research and interviewing of those that lived it.
An absolutely brilliant read, it will have you experience a plethora of emotions, many of which you never knew you had.
June 25, 2020
I loved this book , I have visited Spinalonga and this story took me back there. It gave me the same feeling of empathy I felt while there. For people who haven’t visited I think would enjoy this well written wonderful story.
January 30, 2025
The book brought back many memories of regular trips with our children to Crete and particularly the Island of Spinalonga. A moving book, brilliantly written and one of those books that grips you on every page. Highly recommend.
December 26, 2023
Brilliant brilliance
January 5, 2016
Yannis
Just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, but discrepancies spoilt it a bit. The basic storyline is about the life of a man living in Plaka (on Crete) who has shown promise from a young age, which gets him to University at a time when very few do. However his academic career is cut short when he discovers he has leprosy. The story takes you on the journey of his life and the fight he had to get decent conditions and treatment for himself and his fellow "outcasts". Having been to the island of Spinalonga (where the leper colony was until 1957) I could visualize all the places in the book - so it was particularly poignant for me. There were however discrepancies that irritated me - for instance the story begins in 1918 with the birth of a baby. In the family tree at the front of the book it puts this baby's birth in 1917. The same tree at a later stage puts a baby's birth as 1931 but the mother who died giving birth's death was listed as 1930. Apart from these instances though - I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, but discrepancies spoilt it a bit. The basic storyline is about the life of a man living in Plaka (on Crete) who has shown promise from a young age, which gets him to University at a time when very few do. However his academic career is cut short when he discovers he has leprosy. The story takes you on the journey of his life and the fight he had to get decent conditions and treatment for himself and his fellow "outcasts". Having been to the island of Spinalonga (where the leper colony was until 1957) I could visualize all the places in the book - so it was particularly poignant for me. There were however discrepancies that irritated me - for instance the story begins in 1918 with the birth of a baby. In the family tree at the front of the book it puts this baby's birth in 1917. The same tree at a later stage puts a baby's birth as 1931 but the mother who died giving birth's death was listed as 1930. Apart from these instances though - I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
November 6, 2009
I loved this book. I bought it because I have visited Spinalonga, the leper colony island. It is a very atmospheric place but the ghosts are not sad ones. I have since met the author who is a lovely lady.
Yannis is a would-be doctor who goes to University in Iraklion Crete, where he discovers that he has leprosy. He is sent to Athens and then to Spinalonga. The book is the story of how he survived life there and the effect his illness has on his family. It sounds as if it should be depressing, but it isn't! By the end of the book, the characters are old friends and I was sad to finish, so I was delighted to move on to the next book Anna.
Beryl delivered the 5th in the series to me today and I can't wait to start it!
Yannis is a would-be doctor who goes to University in Iraklion Crete, where he discovers that he has leprosy. He is sent to Athens and then to Spinalonga. The book is the story of how he survived life there and the effect his illness has on his family. It sounds as if it should be depressing, but it isn't! By the end of the book, the characters are old friends and I was sad to finish, so I was delighted to move on to the next book Anna.
Beryl delivered the 5th in the series to me today and I can't wait to start it!
May 26, 2016
I read a lot of books set in Greece but this is the first one by Beryl Darby and what a saga! From the minute you pick up the book, you are transported into another world. There is no just scratching the surface here as we follow Yannis being diagnosed with leprosy and what happens to him after that. The research is admirable and I still find it hard to believe that these are not real people, such is Beryl's skill. It's not an easy book to read because of the subject matter but it is deeply moving. Although other books have been written about Spinalonga, this one somehow is more far-reaching and it is hard to believe that what actually happened to the lepers is in the not so distant past.
June 10, 2014
What a shame that 'The Island' won the accolades and plaudits as this book about the leper island of Spinalonga came first. As a lover of epic tales, the size of the book did not daunt me and it delivered the ability to become immersed.
As I had already visited Spinalonga and the surrounding area it was easy to visualise the places described and I'm sure this added to my enjoyment.
Lepers have been shunned through the ages so it was valuable insight to understand the disease and its shocking that in fairly modern times people were still being treated so badly.
As I had already visited Spinalonga and the surrounding area it was easy to visualise the places described and I'm sure this added to my enjoyment.
Lepers have been shunned through the ages so it was valuable insight to understand the disease and its shocking that in fairly modern times people were still being treated so badly.
May 11, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. I like the way Beryl Darby writes & this was a true page turner for me, especially having already read 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop about Spinalonga which I also loved.I'm rationing my self not to start the next Beryl Darby book 'Anna' for a while & then I'll buy the others in the same family saga.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews