The Figurine: Escape to Athens and breathe in the Aegean-scented air in the engrossing novel from the much-loved author

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Feel the sun on your face and the sand of the Aegean islands beneath your feet as you uncover the fate of the Bronze Age figurines in the heart-pounding new novel from the No 1 bestselling author.*

The Figurine by Victoria Hislop Scala Radio Book Club: The Figurine by Victoria Hislop

Friends were coming for dinner that night so I went home and made a spectacular fish pie, saying nothing about what had happened. So I will be watching dear Annabel and rooting for her. And also for Strictly professional dancer Amy Dowden, who will not be performing this year because she has breast cancer. No doubt she will be missing the intoxication of the dance floor. Indeed, I do myself. Every week one of my many friends in Athens would come to the live recording, or a friend or family member would fly out from London, but apart from that my only companions were the other dancers. But the isolation allowed me to focus. As she grows up she realises that her Grandfather is a terrible man but still enjoys her visits to Greece where she starts to the learn the language and connects with her Grandmother. She fears her Grandfather but once he passes away she finds her Grandmother a much lighter person. Her affection for the Mediterranean then took her to Spain, and in The Return she wrote about the painful secrets of its civil war.

As I started reading I was a bit like 'is this going to be for me' however, I was soon engrossed in the storyline. I found that I couldn't put it down. They way it was written was just beautiful and I loved that although on the surface it may appear simply about getting 'revenge' almost there was much more to the book. When Helena inherits their apartment, she finds out just how disgusting her father was, and is determined to right some wrongs. Meanwhile she has been helping out on some archaeological digs, and she find out that looting these ancient Greeks treasures is still rife, and decides to bring some of the perpetrators to justice with the help of some influential friends. In her irresistible new novel, Sunday Times No 1 bestselling author Victoria Hislop shines a light on the questionable acquisition of cultural treasures and the price people – and countries – will pay to cling on to them.

The Figurine by Victoria Hislop | Hachette UK

Along the way, she falls in love with the narrow streets of Athens and the city's big-hearted residents, who show her the murky underbelly of the antiques world - and help her understand the meaning of home. But can she finally make amends for her grandfather's actions? And what price should be paid for the return of such ancient and beautiful artefacts? The beginning was slow to build up, but was careful in all details and took time to introduce the characters. Yet I felt calm. I was in good hands and was offered surgery — a lumpectomy — a few days before Christmas, which seemed ideal as I wanted it to be over with as soon as possible. Her curiosity about her heritage dovetails with a growing interest in archaeology. Underpinning this is her determination to protect these precious fragments recovered from the earth and make reparation for her grandfather’s crimes.

Quite often, I left rehearsals to sob quietly, and found someone else in the Ladies doing the same. The figurine of the title and cover is a Cycladic statuette from the Bronze Age. These examples of ancient art have an air of mystery that captures the imagination. As a result they are highly sought after by collectors and looters alike. There is no doubting Victoria Hislop is an incredible storyteller who has opened up the history of Greece to a wider contemporary world; her attention to detail and the creation of warm and sympathetic characters instantly grabs readers' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The Figurine by Victoria Hislop | Waterstones The Figurine by Victoria Hislop | Waterstones

As Annabel Croft takes to the dance floor five months after her husband’s death, her friend VICTORIA HISLOP reveals why the ballroom could be the thing to distract her from devastating heartache I found this to be a fascinating read, full of historical and political facts. I remember this time well, I had friends who had married RAF personnel and were based in Akrotri, and the fear that Britain may be forced to enter into a war, turned the novelty about living abroad into fears about their safety. In 2019, Victoria was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Sheffield, and in 2020 she was given Honorary Citizenship by the Greek President for her promotion of Greece. I love Greece, and have spent so many wonderful holidays of many of the Greek islands. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also steeped in history and it is this history that Victoria Hislop recreates in her novels.Some would say the novel has a slow rhythm. I personally felt that it was good to take the time to go through the different moments in Helen’s life and how they build up into the project she takes on. The story is also very evocative and I enjoyed being taken on a journey through Greece, the sceneries, the way of life, the social relations among people, and the many references to history. Alcohol wasn’t allowed before performing, so I resorted to the calming Bach’s Natural Remedy with its flower extracts and grape spirit, spraying it discreetly into my mouth in the Green Room. The adult Helena becomes interested in the archeology of Greece, the Elgin Marbles are mentioned, of course. Thence unfolds a story of the looting and smuggling of ancient valuables. Author Victoria Hislop has confessed that her new book, The Figurine, contains a “very passionate view" about the world's antiquities and where they should really be. When I was asked, at first I hesitated. I was so low, I could barely get out of bed. I had scars from my operation. I ached all over. I felt nearer 90 than 60. But after giving myself a good talking to, I agreed — and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

The Figurine – Victoria Hislop

The only follow-up treatment was three weeks of daily radiotherapy and then a standard drug taken by many women who have had hormone-receptive breast cancer: Letrozole, which suppresses your hormones. I felt so fortunate. I had got through it all and felt almost on a high. A dramatic and moving adaptation of Victoria’s bestselling novel "The Island" with rich, full-colour illustrations by Gill Smith that will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape … There is no doubting Victoria Hislop is an incredible storyteller who has opened up the history of Greece to a wider contemporary world ; her attention to detail and the creation of warm and sympathetic characters instantly grabs readers . The Figurine continues in the exploration of a period in Greek history and key events - this novel explores archaeology, the theft of ancient objects and the military regime regime of the 1960s and 1970s. Told through the eyes and life of Helena - a Greek / Scot -where at the age of eight she goes to stay with her mother’s parents in Athens. As annual visits continue, she begins to understand her grandfather is a man with a dark history and an angry temperament. I loved The island but unfortunately I think this is where the author reached her peak. So far anyway.There follows a series of events that have an impact on Helena’s future. Upon the death of her grandparents and following a holiday in Greece with her parents- tragedy falls upon Helena and the story moves onto her university years where she becomes involved in ‘holiday time ‘ archaeological digs.Following an act of deception and violence the story takes a darker path and leads to Helena’s desire for revenge and the truth to be revealed. Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, Company number: LP003328; This novel’s central figure is Helena a young girl who has striking red hair from her Scottish father and is about to learn more about her Greek mother’s homeland by spending her Summer holiday with her Greek grandparents. We gradually learn more about why her mother fled from Greece which is now under a military dictatorship. These yearly holidays take up the first part of the novel and describe foods, customs and the people of Athens. Our move to Latin dances saw sparks begin to fly — not with passion! — between handsome Tilemachos and me. He expected me to make very fast progress and one day told me to do the splits.