A woman from a small Greek village finds herself swept up in the long and storied history of her island—and its far-reaching impact—in this unforgettable story of love, passion, and resistance.
Chania, Crete; 1941.
When mainland Greece falls to the Germans after incredible and heroic resistance, the Greek government flees south to Crete: an ancient island of Gods and Kings, and Myths and Minotaurs.
Maria is a villager whose husband has been away fighting with the Greek army, and after she finds a British soldier that washes up on a secluded beach near her home, and helps nurse him back to health, the Germans then turn south and invade Crete, too.
Occupation, tragedy, and betrayal follow. The lives of Maria and her family change in an instant and she finds herself in a role she never thought she'd have to play—and one that generations of Cretans have had to assume before her.
Steeped in history and filled with unforgettable characters, Island of Ghosts and Dreams is a profoundly moving and decades-spanning tale of passion, honor, family, the great and enduring sacrifices all generations must make for freedom, and our sacred and immortal obligation to follow the strength and power of our heart, no matter where it might lead us.
“Island of Ghosts and Dreams is a sweeping story of love and resistance, spanning two generations and capturing the fierce spirit of Crete during the German occupation. History, passion and sacrifice are bound together by the unbreakable will to be free. From the ashes of this war rises a love as timeless as the island itself. A beautiful and poignant must read."
“Wonderful book. Echoes of ancient times: the love of Greece, the love of love, it all shines against the backdrop of war. Beautiful and savage. I loved it."
“Set in Crete during WWII and beyond, Island of Ghosts and Dreams is a compelling story of occupation, resistance, and the inescapability of history, exploring the links between beauty and despair, loyalty and betrayal, and loss and reclamation. Christopher Cosmos has a keen, tender eye for the way memory and trauma mark a landscape, for the dramatic complications of refusal and revenge, and for the deep emotional complexity of a life and the quiet power of the stories we tell. Island of Ghosts and Dreams will surprise you at every turn."
"Rich in historical detail and finely nuanced characters, Island of Ghosts and Dreams is a beautifully written and magnificent novel. Once again, Christopher Cosmos brings to light an important and mostly forgotten moment in history by crafting an evocative and transportive story that you won't want to put down and won't want to end. Highly recommended."
