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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Penny wanted to know about Hislop’s musical experience: ‘Am I right in thinking you play the violin?’ Victoria Hislop has done it again! A truly captivating story . . . I wish I could give it more than 5*’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Indeed, the night I danced the Salsa (without doing the splits) and ended up near the top of the leaderboard, I was on the ceiling. It is the wanton destruction of Greece's history, the looting of incredibly important artefacts to satisfy the whims of the wealthy are really brought home and Helena's bravery and courage in facing up to the sins of her own family, and her determination to bring justice is perfectly portrayed.

The Figurine by Victoria Hislop | Waterstones

I loved the story of Helena, how she grows to love her Greek heritage, her life at University in the 1980s which truth be told actually reminded me a bit of my time studying in the same time frame! And the pampering! My body was spray-tanned, my face contoured, lashes extended, nails shellac-ed. It made me feel a billion dollars. Added to this, the sense of achievement and joy of new friendships formed the ultimate recipe for recovery from the darkness I’d felt. Lord Elgin’s procurement of the marble statuettes became the “burning inspiration” behind The Figurine as Victoria wanted to use the “theft” as the main driving force behind the novel. 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.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 excitement about finding hidden treasures was portrayed really well, not just for fame and fortune, but understanding skills and the life of long ago times. Not the normal happy ever after read, but a book filled with acceptance of faults and failings and their impact upon both people and their culture. She is an ambassador for Lepra, a UK charity that raises money to treat the estimated three million leprosy sufferers worldwide, and is also an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust which promotes reading in the UK. Victoria is Patron of Knossos 2025 which is raising funds to renew the British School of Athens research centre in Crete. After university she travels to Athens to try and find out more about her mother’s culture and her grandfather’s legacy. But I don’t want to retell the story. You can read it for yourselves. I want to draw attention to what this book is really about. It’s partly about Helena’s attempts to right the wrongs perpetrated by her grandfather, but it’s mainly about the relics that have been looted from Greece – and other countries – the most famous being the Elgin Marbles, removed from the Parthenon, and now in the British Museum. They are said to ‘represent perhaps the most disputed pieces of cultural heritage’ ever. Many artefacts were also sold overseas for vast sums of money to private collectors. This book discusses the rights and wrongs, with the addition of fictitious heroine Helena to add interest and romance to the story. I really loved it.

The Figurine: Escape to Athens and breathe in the Aegean

Hislop takes us through Helena's formative years, as she learns to love Greece, learning the language and making new friends. Her own relationship with her Grandfather is strained, he's an oppressive, stern and angry man who often lashes out. However, it is clear to Helena that he is very important and that her family come from great riches. 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. Of all the ancient art that captures the imagination, none is more appealing than the Cycladic figurine. An air of mystery swirls around these statuettes from the Bronze Age and they are highly sought after by collectors - and looters - alike. I loved the addition of Greek music into The Figurine. I looked up some of the songs that are referred to and listened while I was reading the book. I highly recommend doing this. It is quite an experience and made the book all the more magical to me.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 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. Friends were coming for dinner that night so I went home and made a spectacular fish pie, saying nothing about what had happened.

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

Several years later, Helena is living in her late grandparents apartment and is meeting young people and is slowly becoming aware of the politics that have recently caused great change to the country. Her family history is part of these troubles, and grandfather had a shady past both with his Army career and the antiquities trade. One of the qualities that shines in her books, is Hislop's ability to weave incredible amounts of research into the story, and with such clear explanations that never alienates her readers. The field of archaeology in The Figurine is advanced, but Hislop just made me fascinated and wanting to learn more. I enjoyed so much love and kindness from family and friends over Christmas I was able to put all anxiety out of my head, until the day of the follow-up appointment, halfway through January.In 2020, came the sequel to The Island, One August Night, which was adapted for Greek state television in 2022.

The figurine - Victoria Hislop The figurine - Victoria Hislop

When Helena inherits her grandparents' apartment in Athens, she is overwhelmed with memories of the summers she spent there as a child in the 1960s. Her remote, cruel grandfather was a general in the brutal military dictatorship and as she sifts through the dusty rooms, Helena discovers an array of valuable objects and antiquities. How did her grandfather amass such a trove? What human price was paid for them? Helena’s grandparents live in a very well-to-do area and have a flat decorated with grand furniture and art. Her grandmother, Eleni Papagiannis is a kindly woman but her grandfather, Stamatis, is a General in the army and has a cruel streak to him. The maid, Dino, takes a shine to Helena and they develop a good friendship. Helena visits a few more times in the summer and enjoys her time with her grandmother and Dino but discovers more about her grandfather and his evil control over others. She also meets her grandfather's nephew, Arsenis, who takes Helena on day trips occasionally. He does not behave well towards her and she takes an intense dislike to him and tries to avoid him when she can despite being her uncle. After a few years she is unable to visit too as Greece is in civil war and it is too dangerous to go. It is interesting to learn more about the political situation in Greece in the 60s and 70s but this book did feel too long at times. 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.I loved The island but unfortunately I think this is where the author reached her peak. So far anyway.