Editors Reads Verdict
A vivid Granada novel that uses flamenco and the Spanish Civil War to explore how historical violence shapes the lives of those who survive it.
What We Loved
- Granada is beautifully rendered — the Alhambra, the Sacromonte caves, the barrios
- The Spanish Civil War material is emotionally powerful
- The flamenco thread gives the novel its pulse and rhythm
Minor Drawbacks
- The present-day framing is less compelling than the 1930s sections
- The romance plot is conventional
Key Takeaways
- → The Spanish Civil War's lasting presence in the cultural memory of Granada
- → Flamenco as a form of collective grief and survival
- → The family saga as Hislop's characteristic form
| Author | Victoria Hislop |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Headline |
| Pages | 416 |
| Published | January 1, 2008 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Best For | Readers visiting Granada and Andalusia; fans of Spanish history and culture; Hislop readers |
Sonia Norton’s life in London has stalled. Her relationship is over, her work feels hollow, and a letter from her flamenco teacher sends her to Granada — to stay with a family friend and immerse herself in learning the dance that her teacher, now elderly and ill, says will be better understood in Andalusia than anywhere else.
In Granada, she finds a box of photographs and letters belonging to the family with whom she is staying — the Ramirez family. The photographs take her back to the 1930s, to the years just before the civil war and through it: a brother and sister who found themselves on opposite sides, a love story destroyed by the politics of the Republic and the Nationalist uprising, the specific violence of a city where everyone knew everyone and the killing was personal.
The Return alternates between Sonia’s present-day Granada — its Alhambra, its Sacromonte caves, its flamenco bars, its particular quality of evening light — and the story the photographs reveal. Hislop uses the same dual-timeline structure that she found for The Island and would use across her career: a contemporary figure discovers a historical story, and the two illuminate each other.
Reading Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "The Return" about?
Sonia, a British woman, travels to Granada to learn flamenco after her relationship ends. Staying with family friends, she discovers letters and photographs that reveal the story of the Ramirez family during the Spanish Civil War — a story of love, betrayal, and the violence that divided Spain. Alternating between the present day and the 1930s, The Return is Hislop's portrait of Granada and the civil war's lasting trauma.
Who should read "The Return"?
Readers visiting Granada and Andalusia; fans of Spanish history and culture; Hislop readers
What are the key takeaways from "The Return"?
The Spanish Civil War's lasting presence in the cultural memory of Granada Flamenco as a form of collective grief and survival The family saga as Hislop's characteristic form
Is "The Return" worth reading?
A vivid Granada novel that uses flamenco and the Spanish Civil War to explore how historical violence shapes the lives of those who survive it.
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