This sun-drenched women’s fiction set during the interval between World Wars follows the Caruthers family from Britain as they soak up the atmosphere of THE GREEK HOUSE. A tragedy at the start resonates through the years, as nobody can escape the consequences.
Corfu is a long island, poised in the Adriatic Sea to the north and west of Greece, east of the boot heel of Italy, and just west and south of mountainous, wild, Albania. While part of Greece, the island is home to many British people, and they are shocked by the unheralded invasion by Italian warships one day. This is due to a diplomatic incident between the three neighbouring countries. In 1923 Mussolini runs Italy, and the Caruthers family are in the town when gunboats start shelling the fort. Theresa, or Thirza, Caruthers, is told to run back to Merchant’s House with her little brother Billy, by her mother Dulcie. Dulcie leaves the children with her cousin, Columbine, something she later bitterly regrets.
Dulcie is in charge of refugee children who are quartered near the fort, where her husband Piers is also working. She learns later that Billy went missing in the chaos. She blames Columbine. She blames Thirza. She blames herself. And she blames the Italians, who have taken over the island and looted their Merchant’s House. Billy can’t be found, despite days of searching.
In 1930 Thirza returns to Corfu, as the family left when they could. Thirza wants to restore the house to glory. Her father, unable to reconcile with the loss of his son, has a new lady friend, Penelope. Perhaps this gives Thirza a subliminal go-ahead to start a passionate affair with an Italian man, Emilio. However, everyone mutters that the Italians only ever brought trouble.
The family drama has several twists and turns. Characters we don’t like turn out to be likeable, and those we disparage for taking advantage of young women – while certainly doing that – may not be entirely despicable. That’s the best way I can put it, as I seem to have read too many Mediterranean stories of men having all the affairs they want and women suffering heartbreak, ostracism and poverty. Dinah Jefferies writes location as a character so that with Dulcie and Thirza we enjoy the white walls and blue sea and sky, the vibrant bougainvillea flowers and tasty local foods and drinks. The historical detail is very interesting as THE GREEK HOUSE sheds light on dramatic incidents and worldwide affairs.
The moment Thirza Caruthers sets foot on Corfu, memories flood back: the scent of jasmine, the green shutters of her family’s home — and her brother Billy’s tragic disappearance years before.
Returning to the Greek house, high above clear blue waters, Thirza tries to escape by immersing herself in painting — and a passionate affair.
But as webs of love, envy, and betrayal tighten around the family, buried secrets surface.
Is it finally time to uncover the truth about Billy’s vanishing?
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