The Island by Victoria Hislop is a novel set on a small island off the coast of Crete called Spinalonga. Spinalonga was a leper colony for over half of the 20th century.

The novel is beautifully written, well researched historical fiction. It is family saga, set on the island, and in the nearby village of Plaka, a small Greek seaside village in neighboring Crete. Hislop tells of the prejudice and misconceptions that surrounded leprosy at the time, and one families tragic struggle to cope with the disease.

Hislop is a wonderful storyteller. I didn’t want to put the book down. A great read.