Daughters of The Labyrinth

Daughters of the Labyrinth is an immersive novel that delves into the history and folklore of Crete, exploring the power of buried memory and the grip of the past on the present. It is a moving, superbly written exploration of a family with dark secrets, and the island of Crete itself becomes one of the main characters in the story.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2021
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Daughters of the Labyrinth is an immersive novel that delves deep into the rich history and folklore of Crete, offering a captivating and historically informative story-telling experience. The novel transports readers to the picturesque island, providing a vivid portrayal of its landscapes, culture, and inhabitants.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the novel follows the journey of Ri, a successful international artist who has lived in London for most of her life. However, when her English husband passes away, she returns to her Greek roots on Crete, an island renowned for its mass tourism and ancient mythology. What she discovers is not what she expected. As Brexit looms in the UK and Greece grapples with austerity and the refugee crisis, Ri uncovers a secret, darker history that lies beneath the surface of her home. Through her artistic lens, she discovers how much she has not seen and unearths the ghost of someone she never even heard of.

As Ri delves into her parents' stories, she undergoes a profound transformation in her relationships with her family and country, her identity, and her art. The novel explores the power of buried memory and the grip of the past on the present, raising questions about how well we can ever truly know our own family.

Daughters of the Labyrinth is not only a historical novel but also a sumptuous and sensuous evocation of Crete itself. Author Ruth Padel brings a poet's eye to this world of great physical beauty and gnarled legacy, creating a vivid and immersive experience for readers. Colm Tóibín, in his review of the book, praised Padel's "lyrical, unsettling, and evocative" writing, describing the novel as a "passionate quest for the truth about what happened to her parents in Crete during the German occupation."

Overall, Daughters of the Labyrinth is a remarkable achievement that combines historical depth with literary artistry. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Crete, history, or family secrets, and will leave readers pondering the complexities of the past and the power of memory.

Weight: 574g
Dimension: 292 x 349 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472156396