The Sunrise

In the summer of 1972, Famagusta in Cyprus is the most desirable resort in the Mediterranean, a city bathed in the glow of good fortune. An ambitious couple are about to open the island's most spectacular hotel, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots work in harmony. Two neighbouring families, the Georgious and the Ozkans, are among many who moved to Famagusta to escape the years of unrest and ethnic violence elsewhere on the island. But beneath the city's facade of glamour and success, tension is building.

When a Greek coup plunges the island into chaos, Cyprus faces a disastrous conflict. Turkey invades to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority, and Famagusta is shelled. Forty thousand people seize their most precious possessions and flee from the advancing soldiers. In the deserted city, just two families remain. This is their story.

“Fascinating”

'Vibrant... Hislop brings history to life in this compelling tale' Tatler

One of the best things about this novel is the way Hislop depicts the growing teamwork, love, respect, and trust which two families of opposite persuasions manage to establish... Hislop hasn't of course been into Famagusta - no one may, even now - but has stood near the barbed wire and imagined what life was like there, then and now, with her usual gift for presenting bits of history most of us are unfamiliar with from a fictional point of view

Independent on Sunday
'Vibrant... Hislop brings history to life in this compelling tale' Tatler
Hislop brings her consummate storytelling skills to this enthralling tale of love, marriage and a community all put to the test Woman & Home
Hislop brings her consummate storytelling skills to this enthralling tale of love, marriage and a community all put to the test Woman & Home
Heartbreaking... A insight into a part of Mediterranean history that isn't often explored Essentials
Heartbreaking... A insight into a part of Mediterranean history that isn't often explored Essentials

An imaginative tour de force, and a great read

Daily Mail
Sunday Mirror

An imaginative tour de force, and a great read

Daily Mail
Hislop's writing effectively weaves the personal into the political without ever becoming overbearing. An informative but equally emotional read Woman
Sunday Mirror
Hislop's writing effectively weaves the personal into the political without ever becoming overbearing. An informative but equally emotional read Woman
and moving... Hislop writes unforgettably about Cyprus and its people The Times
An absorbing tale about family, friendship, loyalty and betrayal, set during a violent period in the history of Cyprus Good Housekeeping
and moving... Hislop writes unforgettably about Cyprus and its people The Times
An absorbing tale about family, friendship, loyalty and betrayal, set during a violent period in the history of Cyprus Good Housekeeping
Intelligent and immersive... Hislop's incisive narrative weaves a vast array of fact through a poignant, compelling family saga The Sunday Times
'Some beautiful writing about a difficult period in time makes for a great read' Sun
Intelligent and immersive... Hislop's incisive narrative weaves a vast array of fact through a poignant, compelling family saga The Sunday Times
'Some beautiful writing about a difficult period in time makes for a great read' Sun
Adroitly plotted and deftly characterised, Hislop's gripping novel tells the stories of ordinary Greek and Turkish families trying to preserve their humanity in a maelstrom of deception, betrayal and ethnic hatred Mail on Sunday

One of the best things about this novel is the way Hislop depicts the growing teamwork, love, respect, and trust which two families of opposite persuasions manage to establish

Independent on Sunday
Adroitly plotted and deftly characterised, Hislop's gripping novel tells the stories of ordinary Greek and Turkish families trying to preserve their humanity in a maelstrom of deception, betrayal and ethnic hatred Mail on Sunday

Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, Victoria Hislop wrote The Island in 2005. It became an international bestseller, published in thirty languages with over 3 million copies sold worldwide, and was turned into a 26 part Greek TV series. She was named Newcomer of the Year at the British Book Awards and is now an ambassador for Lepra. Her affection for the Mediterranean then took her to Spain, and in The Return (also a number one bestseller) she wrote about the painful secrets of its civil war.

In her third novel, The Thread, Victoria returned to Greece to tell the extraordinary, turbulent tale of Thessaloniki and its people across the 20th century. Published in 2011 to widespread acclaim, it confirmed her reputation as an inspirational storyteller and was shortlisted for a British Book Award. It was followed by her much-admired collection of Greece-set short stories, The Last Dance and Other Stories.

In the summer of 1972, Famagusta in Cyprus is the most desirable resort in the Mediterranean, a city bathed in the glow of good fortune. An ambitious couple are about to open the island's most spectacular hotel, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots work in harmony. Two neighbouring families, the Georgious and the Ozkans, are among many who moved to Famagusta to escape the years of unrest and ethnic violence elsewhere on the island. But beneath the city's facade of glamour and success, tension is building. When a Greek coup plunges the island into chaos, Cyprus faces a disastrous conflict. Turkey invades to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority, and Famagusta is shelled. Forty thousand people seize their most precious possessions and flee from the advancing soldiers. In the deserted city, just two families remain. This is their story.

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