The House on Paradise Street by Sofka Zinovieff

Our April book club novel is The House on Paradise Street by Sofka Zinovieff, an epic tale of love and loss spanning the recent history of Greece. From the war-torn streets of Nazi-occupied Athens through the years of the military junta into the troubled city of recent times, the book explores what happens when ideology threatens to subsume our sense of humanity.  Sofka answered your questions here.

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. Nikitas had been distressed in the days before his death and, curious to find out why, his English widow Maud starts to investigate his complicated past. In so doing, she reignites a bitter family feud and discovers a heartbreaking story of a young mother caught up in the political tides of the Greek Civil War and forced to make a terrible decision that would blight not only her life but that of future generations...

"I can’t remember when I was so totally absorbed by a book...Enthralling, moving and wise." Cressida Connolly

"... that rare thing: a beautifully written novel which is a great read. It is also a compelling guide to the last sixty years of Greek history at this very troubled time for Europe and for all of us." Vesna Goldsworthy, Author of Chernobyl Strawberries.

The House on Paradise Street is a fascinating read at a time when Greece is so much in the news.

All our free copies have now gone, but you can order a paperback or an ebook on Amazon.