The Girl Under the Olive Tree

 The Girl Under the Olive Tree

Reviewed By  Janet Mawdesley       November 26, 2014

 

Author  Leah Fleming

Distributor:     
ISBN:                 978-0-85720-405-9
Publisher:         Simon & Schuster
Release Date:    

   Website:   http://www.simonandschuster.com.au

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Set during the German occupation of Crete in World War 2 the story combines little known historical fact with fiction to create a compelling story of a British nurse caught in hostile territory, living out the last dark and terrifying days of the  occupation..

Penelope George has been offered a chance to return to Crete with her niece and son to take part in a reunion of those who remained on Crete after the war was long over.

Rather than delight her she fears the trip will bring back many of the memories she would rather have stay buried in the annals of time.

After much soul searching she decides to undertake the journey, revisiting many of the places she once knew and loved well.

 

As Penny’s story unfolds we join her in the time before the commencement of the war, when she went to Crete, ostentatiously to help out her married sister, but really hiding out from the inevitable social horror of the “Debutante” circle her family were determined she should be involved in as a child of their class of society.

Eventually training as Nurse with the Red Cross she remains in Crete a little too long becoming involved in the battle of Crete. She finds herself up in the foothills helping allied soldiers, along with German airmen injured in the battle.

We join her as she ends up working with the Resistance where she learns more about treachery and love than she could ever possibly imagined and then on to her final, devastating days before she was evacuated with a ship load of Jews being taken to Germany.

Her love affair with a high ranking German officer during this time ends up haunting her all of her days but with the pilgrimage back to Crete she eventually finds acceptance and  reunion with one she though lost forever.

Creating a world that was both savage and unbearable though filled with bravery and ultimate human sacrifice Fleming seamlessly combines the world of Penny George past and present,to bring us a compelling story which is richer for the telling.

Fiction