The house on Paradise Street

Format:

Book

Title:

The house on Paradise Street

Author:

Zinovieff, Sofka.

ISBN:

9781476718774

Edition:

1st marble arch press trade pbk. ed.

Publication Information:

New York : Marble Arch Press, 2013.

Physical Description:

371 pages ; 21 cm

General Note:

"Originally published in Great Britain in 2012 by Short Books"--Title page verso.

Summary:

"In 2008 Antigone Perifanis returns to her old family home in Athens after 60 years in exile. She has come to attend the funeral of her only son, Nikitas, who was born in prison, and whom she has not seen since she left him as a baby. At the same time, Nikita's English widow Maud - disturbed by her husband's strange behavior in the days before his death - starts to investigate his complicated past. She soon finds herself reigniting a bitter family feud, and discovers a heartbreaking story of a young mother caught up in the political tides of the Greek Civil War, forced to make a terrible decision that will blight not only her life but that of future generations"--Page 2 of cover.

Subject(s):

Families -- Greece -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Genre:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... McMinnville Public Library	Zinovieff, S.	Searching... Unknown

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On Order

Summary

This "fiercely absorbing, passionate novel" ( The Guardian ), a bestseller in the UK, tells the epic tale of two sisters in the war-torn streets of Nazi-occupied Athens.

In 2008 Antigone Perifanis returns to her old family home in Athens after 60 years in exile. She has come to attend the funeral of her only son, Nikitas, who was born in prison, and whom she has not seen since she left him as a baby.

At the same time, Nikitas's English widow Maud - disturbed by her husband's strange behaviour in the days before his death - starts to investigate his complicated past. She soon finds herself reigniting a bitter family feud, and discovers a heartbreaking story of a young mother caught up in the political tides of the Greek Civil War, forced to make a terrible decision that will blight not only her life but that of future generations...

Author Notes

Sofka Zinovieff has published two acclaimed works of nonfiction, Eurydice Street and Red Princess , a biography of her paternal grandmother. The House on Paradise Street is Zinovieff's first novel. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Greece.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

When Maud's husband unexpectedly dies, she begins to research Nikitas's turbulent past. She uncovers secrets and betrayals stemming from the Greek civil war that still haunt her husband's family, but she also discovers undying love and a steadfast loyalty to beliefs. Meanwhile, Antigone, Maud's mother-in-law, returns to Athens after fleeing the country as a political prisoner decades ago. She struggles to face memories filled with death, hunger, and war. As the two women grapple with the present, their voices interchange throughout the novel to unravel a past that divided not only a family but an entire country. Verdict Zinovieff's (Eurydice Street; Red Princess) well-researched fiction debut explores Greece's troubled history from World War II to the ensuing civil war and fight for democracy. Her fiercely passionate characters and rich descriptions evoke the political turmoil of an ancient nation caught up in the chaos of the 20th century. Like recipients of a well-wrapped gift, readers will eagerly peel back more of the story with each turning of the page until they reach the astonishing conclusion.-Andrea Brooks, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.