Product Description

Beneath the majestic towers of the Alhambra, Granada’s cobbled streets resonate with music and secrets. Sonia Cameron knows nothing of the city’s shocking past; she is here to dance. But in a quiet café, a chance conversation and an intriguing collection of old photographs draw her into the extraordinary tale of Spain’s devastating civil war.

Seventy years earlier, the café is home to the close-knit Ramírez family. In 1936, an army coup led by Franco shatters the country’s fragile peace, and in the heart of Granada the family witnesses the worst atrocities of conflict. Divided by politics and tragedy, everyone must take a side, fighting a personal battle as Spain rips itself apart.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #378 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

The Times
The Return, 'may be a beach book, but it goes inland and rummages around the cellars'

Review

'The Return may be a beach book, but it goes inland and rummages around in the cellars'

'Brings dignity and tenderness to her novel'

'At last - a beach book with a heart'

About the Author
Victoria Hislop is a writer and journalist. She writes travel features for the Sunday Telegraph, the Mail on Sunday and Woman & Home. Victoria lives in Kent with her husband, Ian Hislop, and their two children.

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable, intriguing and interesting
I was eagerly looking forward to this book, and, unlike other readers, was not disappointed at all.

The book is based around the Spanish Civil War, and is incredibly well researched. The 'flashback' sections are very revealing, and echo many of the facts that i have read before about this incredibly traumatic time - whatever side of the war you were on. These fit fairly comfortably with the 'modern day' events, which come together to help us to further understand the traumas inflicted by a civil war. (One only has to hear Michael Portillo or any other Spanish family on the subject to know how families were affected)

One or two events in the story are a little 'contrived', and the final twists are anticipated by all but the main characters, which has reduced it to a 4 star book in my opinion; however, I still feel it to be a good read and worthy of the wait.

Why would Victoria do this again?.....
Take a perfectly good historically based story and make it into an unconvincing flashback?
I loved "The Island" but it stood on its own as a story about Spinalonga and did not need the link to the modern day bad relationship and family secret. In the same way this wonderful saga of the Spanish civil war does not need to be encompassed in a modern day scenario of "unhappy London girl seeks solace in salsa". In fact, it spoils it. How likely is it that the unhappy London girl would visit Granada and unknowingly go into the very bar which was the home of her Mother?
That said, the book had me in tears as I became wrapped up in its revelations. Victoria, please just stick to the story you want to tell next time. You make it come to life and have relevance without obscure modern beginnings and endings.

A disappointing book
After Hislop's first book The Island I was looking forward to reading this, but was very disappointed. The plot is clumsy and the main characters lack any real depth.The conclusion was all too predicatable. The use of language is sloppy and the book should have been subjected to some fierce editing by the publishers. I am left with the feeling that if an ordinary member of the public had submitted this book for consideration it would have immediately landed on the rejection pile.