Interview of bestselling novelist Victoria Hislop to Panhellenic Post

Photo © Bill Waters

ΙT IS THE SIMPLE PLEASURES THAT MAKE GREEK LIFE SO ENCHANTING

Βy Margarita Vartholomeou

In an insightful, humble and heartfelt interview with Panhellenic Post contributor Ms. Margarita Vartholomeou, award-winning author Victoria Hislop shared reflections on her childhood, her studies at Oxford University, and the inspirations that fueled her passion for writing. She delved into the recurring themes of her novels, her dual cultural experience between Greece and the UK, and how this has shaped her perspective, as well as the moments of greatest joy in her life.

On the subject of artificial intelligence and its influence on creative writing, the renowned writer Victoria Hislop asserted that as long as human beings possess emotions—something computers inherently lack—literature will retain its profound impact.

Regarding the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, she passionately advocated for their return to their rightful home in the magnificent Acropolis Museum, where they can be appreciated as part of a unified masterpiece, rather than being confined to a somber, grey room in London.

Victoria Hislop with Margarita Vartholomeou.

The interview:

1. I would love to learn more about your early years—where were you born, and what experiences or influences ignited your passion and creativity?

I was born on the edge of London – we were close to some countryside but near the metropolis, so in some ways I had the best of both worlds.  My parents did not have much money – so life was simple, holidays were a week by the English seaside.  My schooling was at local schools – but I absolutely loved every minute of school – and threw myself into it and got the top marks every year.  I had one friend in my class of 30 children and we were best friends but also competitors. In our final school exams, I got the best grades out of 120 girls (it was an all-girls school) – I think this was the peak of my intellectual achievement.

My home was a very female-dominated place – my grandmother, my mother, my sister, two female cats.  And my father was only there at weekends – and I was not close to him at all.

What ignited passion? It was my first trip outside the UK when I was around 17 – my father had finally left, and my mother took my sister and me to Athens and then to Paros.  It was the beginning of a lifelong passion for Greece – I absolutely ADORED it and felt very very  happy there.

2. In which field did you pursue your studies? Were there defining moments, mentors, or experiences that profoundly shaped your character and left an indelible mark on your journey?

My first memory of school was holding a pencil and learning to write – I remember the pleasure of it.  We always had to write down on a Monday morning what we had done at the weekend – and I still keep a diary to this day.

English literature was my university subject – but I also did some terms of French – languages have always been a really favourite subject – right through school where I also learned Spanish and German. I knew early on that languages provided some kind of key.  A while after my father left, my mother started to live with a French man – and he and I only spoke French to each other – I became fluent very quickly and I loved the music of the language.

3. Looking back on your life, is there a singular moment or achievement that stands out as a source of immense pride?

There are two particular moments that stand out for me when I knew that those moments would define my future.  The first was receiving the letter that told me I had got a place at Oxford University.  It is the best university in the UK – and it was a huge ambition of mine to go there.  I remember feeling proud – but also feeling that this was the beginning of the rest of my life – and indeed it has defined and shaped much of what has followed.  For example I met my husband there (he was also studying English) and we have two children who also went to Oxford.

The second defining moment was standing in my garden in England during the summer of 2020 (a strange year that we all remember for different reasons) and I had a call from Kyriakos Mitsotakis to say that I had been given honorary citizenship of Greece.  It was a huge moment – particularly because of the Covid epidemic – I had a fear that I might never see Greece again, if we were unable to travel.  But if I was a citizen, that would allow  me to be there.  Once again, I felt a sense of something happening that was to define the next few chapters of my life.  It was much more than just a moment of pride.

4. What are the central themes explored in your books, and what messages or reflections do you hope to impart to your readers?

The central theme is usually to do with the strength of the human spirit – and  how we can survive even the greatest challenges. So I suppose if there is a message of any kind (though I don’t think of myself as a deliverer of messages, but a storyteller) then it is one of hope.

5. Having lived between Greece and the UK for several years, how has this dual cultural experience influenced your worldview, aspirations, and personal development?

First of all, I feel immensely lucky to be able to live like this.  I am never bored but always excited wherever I find myself (both in Greece and in the UK).  In terms of how I see these two countries – I see their differences and I celebrate the differences between them – cultures and language and history all create our collective identity – and the UK and Greece have little in common in those areas. 

In terms of personal development – I am constantly learning when I am in Greece – firstly the language is for me a life-long process which excites me every day (a new word, a new phrase – I am constantly diving into my dictionary), the history of Greece similarly there is always something new to discover – and the place itself -I travel to some new corner every year – I have been to 50 islands and there are plenty more to visit.  Each one has its own habits, topography, traditions – each one of them is a little country.  And Greece presents limitless possibilities for me creatively and intellectually.  I see Greece perhaps a little differently from the Greeks themselves and by maintaining to some extent this “outsider’s” eye, it keeps my interest and curiosity.

6. In an era dominated by technology, where creativity often competes with digital distractions, what message would you like to share with the younger generation about the enduring power of inspiration and the art of writing?

So far, AI has not replicated the workings of the imagination – there is some secret ingredient that technology cannot yet reproduce.  It is to do with the emotions – and while we still have emotions and computers do not, then writing will continue to have power.

In terms of digital distractions, I personally don’t believe that they create the same sense of peace and fulfillment as reading a book – but reading a book requires much more concentration – and that’s something I fear the young are in danger of losing (their power to concentrate).

7. You have been a strong advocate for the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures. Could you elaborate on your perspective and why this cause is particularly important to you?

I think it is always important to begin with the facts.  The British Museum is very attached to a series of untruths about what Elgin actually did to bring the sculptures to Britain. 

a.They talk about a Firman (official permission from the  Sultan himself) which did not exist.  All Elgin had was a letter which only survives in translation.

b.They talk about the permission he was given to remove the sculptures (he was only given permission to pick up pieces of rubble that had already fallen). 

1. They do not reinforce the fact that Elgin was stealing them to decorate his own home in Scotland – and they purchased them from him to save him from bankruptcy. They are very stubborn about this – and do not tell the full story – the factual story.

I feel passionate about this cause – largely because of the facts of the removal of the sculptures – but even more because they are part of a whole work of art – and they should be reunified.  And they should return home to the beautiful Acropolis Museum – rather than be displayed in a depressing, grey room in London.

8. If you could convey a message to the Greek people, what would it be, and why do you feel it is especially relevant today?

As I said above, I don’t really think of myself as someone who gives “messages” – as it suggests some kind of superiority, which I don’t have. 

I always want my Greek friends to look more objectively at the beautiful country they live in – in a few months’ time they will be waking up under blue skies most days, drinking frappes with their friends outside and planning their first swim of the season with the family.  It’s the simple things that make Greek life so sweet, but I have to remind them of that sometimes.

the copyright line should read © Bill Waters

VICTORIA HISLOP – Biography

JANUARY 2025

Victoria Hislop studied English Literature at Oxford University and afterwards worked in book publishing, PR and journalism. During her time as a journalist, she wrote on education and travel for national newspapers and magazines and was sent on assignments around the world.

Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, Victoria wrote The Island in 2005.  She was named Newcomer of the Year at the British Book Awards and the novel became an international bestseller, translated into 40 languages, with over 6 million copies sold worldwide.  It was turned into a 26-part Greek TV series which achieved record ratings for Greece.

Her affection for the Mediterranean then took her to Spain, and in The Return she wrote about the painful secrets of its civil war.

In her third novel, The Thread, Victoria returned to Greece to tell the extraordinary and turbulent tale of Thessaloniki and its people across the 20^th century. It was shortlisted for a British Book Award.

The Sunrise, set in Cyprus and published in 2014, was followed by Cartes Postales from Greece, which is her first work of fully colour-illustrated fiction and was also short-listed for the British Book Awards fiction title of the year.  It was adapted into a twelve-part drama for ERT1 in 2021.

Those Who Are Loved, published in 2019, tells the story of Greece’s traumatic period of occupation and civil war during the 20^th century.

In 2020, came the sequel to The Island, One August Night, and Victoria was executive producer on the adaptation for Greek state television.

Victoria’s first book for children, Maria’s Island (listed by Waterstones as one of the best children’s books of the year) was also published in 2020 – and is an adaptation of The Island for a younger audience.

Her latest novel, The Figurine, was published in the UK in September 2023.  A central theme is the looting of archaeological treasures and the meaning of “home”.

Most of Victoria’s novels have hit the number one position in the UK charts, but have also been bestsellers in Greece, China, France, Israel and Norway.  She has won several literary awards in France.

As well as studying the Greek language (it is her ultimate ambition to read everything and anything without the presence of a dictionary by her side), she spends her spare time reading, swimming, boxing, playing tennis and, these days, dancing (having been a contestant in Greece’s version of “Strictly” in 2021).

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 avid supporter of the National Literacy Trust which promotes reading in the UK.  Victoria is Patron of Knossos 2025 which has raised funds to renew the British School of Athens research centre in Crete and she has recently been appointed Vice-President of the BSA.

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.

Victoria is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Panhellenic Post.com