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The Island (2005 novel)
Encyclopedia
The Island is a historical novel written by Victoria Hislop
. It has won several awards including Newcomer of the Year at the 2007 British Book Awards
. The book was also nominated for the Book of the Year award at the same event.
Set on the island of Spinalonga
, off the coast of Crete
, and on the village of Plaka which lies within swimming distance across it, The Island tells the story of Alexis Fielding, a teenager on the cusp of a life-changing decision. Alexis knows little or nothing about her family's past and has always resented her mother for refusing to discuss it. She knows only that her mother, Sofia, grew up in Plaka, a small Cretan village, before moving to London. Making her first visit to Crete to see the village where her mother was born, Alexis discovers that the village of Plaka faces the small, now deserted island of Spinalonga, which, she is shocked and surprised to learn was Greece
's leper colony
for much of the 20th century. It is here that Alexis meets an old friend of her mother's, Fotini, who is prepared to tell her for the first time the whole tragic story of her family. What Fotini tells her is shocking and tragic, it is the story which Sofia has spent her life concealing: the story of Eleni, her grandmother, and of a family torn apart by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island and with the horror and pity of the leper colony
which was once there, and learns too that the secrets of the past have the power to change the future.
Greece produced a 26-episode television series called "To Nisi" (The Island), based on the book; the series premiered on October 11, 2010. With a 4 million euro budget, the series is the most expensive in Greek television history. During a pre-premiere press screening, the show has received positive critical reception and is reportedly being eyed by foreign networks. Initial thoughts by Mega Channel were to make a film out of the novel, but they finally decided upon a 26 episode television series instead. Mirella Papaeconomou primarily took on the script’s adaptation, and with Hislop’s permission added stories and characters that do not exist in the novel, mostly to fill in the time of an entire TV season as well as enrich the book. Hislop has actively participated in the entire process with ideas, suggestions and observations. Shooting began in December 2009 on location on the island of Crete.
Victoria Hislop
Victoria Hislop is an award winning British author.-Personal:Born in Bromley, she grew up in Tonbridge and attended Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls....
. It has won several awards including Newcomer of the Year at the 2007 British Book Awards
British Book Awards
The Galaxy National Book Awards are a series of British literary awards focused on the best UK writers and their works, as selected by an academy of members from the British book publishing industry...
. The book was also nominated for the Book of the Year award at the same event.
Set on the island of Spinalonga
Spinalonga
The island of Spinalonga , officially known as Kalydon , is located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete, in Lasithi prefecture, next to the town of Elounda....
, off the coast of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, and on the village of Plaka which lies within swimming distance across it, The Island tells the story of Alexis Fielding, a teenager on the cusp of a life-changing decision. Alexis knows little or nothing about her family's past and has always resented her mother for refusing to discuss it. She knows only that her mother, Sofia, grew up in Plaka, a small Cretan village, before moving to London. Making her first visit to Crete to see the village where her mother was born, Alexis discovers that the village of Plaka faces the small, now deserted island of Spinalonga, which, she is shocked and surprised to learn was Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's leper colony
Leper colony
A leper colony, leprosarium, or lazar house is a place to quarantine leprous people.-History:Leper colonies or houses became widespread in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe and India, and often run by monastic orders...
for much of the 20th century. It is here that Alexis meets an old friend of her mother's, Fotini, who is prepared to tell her for the first time the whole tragic story of her family. What Fotini tells her is shocking and tragic, it is the story which Sofia has spent her life concealing: the story of Eleni, her grandmother, and of a family torn apart by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island and with the horror and pity of the leper colony
Leper colony
A leper colony, leprosarium, or lazar house is a place to quarantine leprous people.-History:Leper colonies or houses became widespread in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe and India, and often run by monastic orders...
which was once there, and learns too that the secrets of the past have the power to change the future.
TV adaptation
Mega ChannelMega Channel
Mega Channel, also known as Mega TV or just Mega, is a major television network in Greece. Teletypos S.A. was founded in 1989 under the name Teletypos Television Programmes S.A...
Greece produced a 26-episode television series called "To Nisi" (The Island), based on the book; the series premiered on October 11, 2010. With a 4 million euro budget, the series is the most expensive in Greek television history. During a pre-premiere press screening, the show has received positive critical reception and is reportedly being eyed by foreign networks. Initial thoughts by Mega Channel were to make a film out of the novel, but they finally decided upon a 26 episode television series instead. Mirella Papaeconomou primarily took on the script’s adaptation, and with Hislop’s permission added stories and characters that do not exist in the novel, mostly to fill in the time of an entire TV season as well as enrich the book. Hislop has actively participated in the entire process with ideas, suggestions and observations. Shooting began in December 2009 on location on the island of Crete.