Cartes Postales from Greece

Author/Guide: Victoria Hislop

Why a Booktrail?

Various times: The story of Greece told through a series of postcards

ISBN: 978-1472223203
Genre: Short Stories

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What you need to know before your trail

Week after week, the postcards arrive, addressed to a name Ellie does not know, with no return address, each signed with an initial: A.

The postcards bring stories and alluring images of a country Ellie has never seen but after six months of such wonderful captive moments, Ellie has to go and see it for herself

On the morning Ellie leaves for Athens, a notebook arrives. Its pages tell the story of a man’s odyssey through Greece.

The postcards and this notebook is going to reveal the story of Greece to Ellie,a story which has been lived, loved and kept alive by words and images. And now Ellie is bout to find out what a postcard can really reveal about the country behind it.

Locations

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Travel Guide

Greece with Victoria Hislop

If there has ever been a story behind the locations of a country then this book of short stories is definitely it. Each postcard snippet tells the tale of a unique piece of Greek history, heritage and/or culture.

Weaving its way through the decades, the wars and the iconic and infamous battles and war which have ravaged this land, the stories show the human side of them.

Kalavarita – the story of the 13 December Massacre

Messalonghi – This is the place most associated with Byron and every time you see a Vyronas Square, it’s named after the great man himself.

Theophania – the place associated where Christ was baptized

The sea – surrounded by sea, this not surprisingly features in many stories of folklore and history of the country. Holy Water, or a symbol of ancient greece, the sea around the island reflects the soul of the country as well as the livelihood of its people

And let’s not forget the All Seeing Eye – a symbol of protection and a symbol of Greek heritage and a story in itself….

Booktrailer Review

Susan:@thebooktrailer

I read the sample and now have to have this remarkable book. It’s got so many magical ingredients about it – the idea of receiving postcards with snippets of stories of the past on them, the notebook and the idea that reading about a country makes a girl want to go there and find it for herself. See the country through the author’s eyes and the history unfolding over each and every page.

In each story, on every postcard, Victoria Hislop brings to life the people of Greece who live breathe and care for their country. Greece has some marvellous history and some incredible stories to tell and for ordinary people to tell them is quite remarkable. You can feel and taste the hospitality, their zest for life on each and every page.

But this is a Greece changing before their eyes and so the stories also show their frustration, confusion and anger at what is happening to their country. I felt a sense of pride and wonderment when reading these stories. Each one an homage to a country with still so many secrets and stories to share.

I’ve never read a book quite like this before and it’s a treasure to keep.