Book Recommendations

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

By Louis de Bernières

Fiction, War & Military, Historical, General, Literary, Romance, 20th Century | 560 pages
1 recommendation

**AS SEEN ON BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS**

25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR

'A true diamond of a novel, glinting with comedy and tragedy' Daily Mail

It is 1941 and Captain Antonio Corelli, a young Italian officer, is posted to the Greek island of Cephallonia as part of the occupying forces. At first he is ostracised by the locals but over time he proves himself to be civilised, humorous – and a consummate musician.

When Pelagia, the local doctor's daughter, finds her letters to her fiancé go unanswered, Antonio and Pelagia draw close and the working of the eternal triangle seems inevitable. But can this fragile love survive as a war of bestial savagery gets closer and the lines are drawn between invader and defender?

'Louis de Bernières is in the direct line that runs through Dickens and Evelyn Waugh...he has only to look into his world, one senses, for it to rush into reality, colours and touch and taste' Evening Standard

Latest recommendations
Carmel Hendry
23rd Aug 2024
"I love the magical realism in this book - although the book deals with some tragic and quite brutal themes of WW2, through it all there is a message of hope, and love. It captures the eccentricity and strong community and family bonds in small Greek villages. I loved it, as soon as I read it I wanted to be transported to a Greek island (in this case - Kefalonia) immediately!"