A Taste of Greece
- Book: Heavenly’s Child
- Location: Athens, Crete
- Author: Brenda Reid
Set on the Greek island of Crete during the 1960s, Heavenly’s Child centres around Angel, a young girl who was brought up by her English Diplomat parents on Crete. Angel is headstrong and wilful and has been asked to leave her English boarding school, she is delighted to be back in the small village that she considers to be her home. Although she’s not actually Greek, she loves Crete, she loves her Greek neighbours and most of all, she loves Chrissi, her childhood friend.
Brenda Reid brings the island of Crete alive through her writing. I have visited Crete many times, and yes, it is a Greek island, part of Greece, but there is something unique about this large island, and it’s people, and the author really catches the spirit of independence and resilience of the place and it’s inhabitants.
The 1960s and 70s were hard times for the people of Crete. The Government was in turmoil, there were many underground resistance fighters, people felt let down, they wanted change, but they were scared. The whole of Greece was a dangerous and violent place to be, and for two young girls, just on the cusp of womanhood and determined to live life to the full, it was especially dangerous.
The story follows Angel and Chrissi as they leave their small village and travel unaccompanied. There is a love story at the heart of the book, but the real story is that of the Greek people and their struggle to overcome the legacies of the war.
Brenda Reid writes with warmth and authority. The sights and sounds of Greece are realistic and authentic, the story is well-paced and the characters are beautifully drawn.
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