The Return: A Novel

Already a #1 bestseller in the UK, The Return is a captivating new novel of family, love, and betrayal set against a backdrop of civil war, flamenco, and fiery Spanish passion. The author of the beloved international bestseller The Island, Victoria Hislop now transports the reader to Granada, Spain, in a time of historic turmoil. The Return is a colorful and spellbinding saga of a family inspired by music and dance, only to be torn apart by fragile hearts and divided loyalties during the bitter war that brought the dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco to power.

From the internationally bestselling author of The Island comes a dazzling new novel of family betrayals, forbidden love, and historical turmoil.

Sonia knows nothing of Granada's shocking past, but ordering a simple cup of coffee in a quiet café will lead her into the extraordinary tale of a family's fight to survive the horror of the Spanish Civil War.

Seventy years earlier, in the Ramírez family's café, Concha and Pablo's children relish an atmosphere of hope. Antonio is a serious young teacher, Ignacio a flamboyant matador, and Emilio a skilled musician. Their sister, Mercedes, is a spirited girl whose sole passion is dancing, until she meets Javier and an obsessive love affair begins. But Spain is a country in turmoil. In the heat of civil war, everyone must take a side and choose whether to submit, to fight, or to attempt escape.

“The Return aims to open the eyes, and tug the heartstrings... These days, the battle of historical memory against forgetting has to be fought on many fronts. Hislop deserves a medal for opening a breach into the holiday beach bag.” - The Independent

“The descriptions of war-ravaged Spain, of hand-to-hand fighting, bombardment of civilians, brutal atrocities by both sides and Europe’s cold reception of refugees are very powerful.” - The Guardian

“The rhythms of flamenco resonate on every page and the anguish felt by Concha, the mother of the family…brings home the hardships of war in a way no history book ever could.” - Daily Telegraph (London)

“[The Return] should be required holiday reading for anyone going to Spain.” - Daily Mail (London)

“Fear not, Hislop fans, there was more where [The Island] came from… The story of the Spanish Civil War is…executed with verve and sensitivity.” - Sunday Telegraph

“A vivid portrait of a country in upheaval. The Return has all the right ingredients for an epic beach read: there’s sibling rivalry, thwarted love and an exotic Mediterranean setting. The moral of the story is that you cannot escape from your past.” - Tatler (London)