The Sunrise

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

Hislop brings her consummate storytelling skills to this enthralling tale of love, marriage and a community all put to the test
Heartbreaking... A fascinating insight into a part of Mediterranean history that isn't often explored
An imaginative tour de force, and a great read

Fascinating
Hislop's writing effectively weaves the personal into the political without ever becoming overbearing. An informative but equally emotional read
Fascinating and moving... Hislop writes unforgettably about Cyprus and its people
An absorbing tale about family, friendship, loyalty and betrayal, set during a violent period in the history of Cyprus
Intelligent and immersive... Hislop's incisive narrative weaves a vast array of fact through a poignant, compelling family saga
'Some beautiful writing about a difficult period in time makes for a great read'
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
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

Internationally bestselling author Victoria Hislop delivers a stirring novel set during the 1974 Cypriot coup d'état that tells the intersecting stories of three families devastated by the conflict. . .
Summer 1972—Famagusta is Cyprus's most desirable tourist destination in the Mediterranean. Aphroditi Papacostas and her husband, Savvas, own The Sunrise, a wildly successful new luxury hotel. Frequented by only the very wealthiest of Europe's elite, The Sunrise quickly becomes the place to see and be seen. Yet beneath the veneer of tranquil opulence simmers mounting hostility between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Years of unrest and ethnic violence come to a head when, in 1974, Greece's coup d'état provokes a Turkish attack on beautiful Famagusta.
The fallout sends the island's inhabitants spiraling into fear and chaos, and the Papacostases join an exodus of people who must abandon their idyllic lives in Famagusta and flee to refugee camps. In the end, only two families remain in the decimated city: the Georgious and the Özkans. One is Greek Cypriot, the other Turkish Cypriot, and the tension between them is palpable. But with resources scarce and the Turkish militia looming large, both families must take shelter in the deserted hotel as they battle illness, hunger, fear, and their own prejudices while struggling to stay alive.
The Sunrise is a poignant story about the measures we take to protect what we love.