Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
by Louis de Bernières, (£8.99, PB, Vintage Publishing)
The story It’s 1941, and Captain Antonio Corelli, a reluctant Italian officer, has been posted to the Greek island of Cephalonia as leader of the invasion force. Here he meets beautiful, headstrong Pelagia, the local doctor’s daughter. After Pelagia’s fiancé goes off to fight with the Greek army, it’s not long before she falls for the charms of humorous, mandolin-playing Corelli. Soon even the locals begin to warm to him. But love doesn’t run smoothly when you are on opposing sides, and, as the ugliness of war begins takes hold, they find it increasingly difficult to negotiate the minefield of allegiances. A tragic tale of star-crossed lovers.
Our verdict Emotional, dramatic, humorous and absorbing.…
