The Cypress Maze, Fiona Valpy
The Cypress Maze, Fiona Valpy
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The Cypress Maze

Author: Fiona Valpy

Narrator: Henrietta Meire, Ruth Redman

Unabridged: 9 hr 23 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/18/2023

Synopsis

In this haunting tale from the bestselling author of The Storyteller of Casablanca, Beatrice kept a wartime secret to protect the innocent. Now, could telling it set her free?Tuscany, 1943. Stranded in war-ravaged Italy, Beatrice’s dream of an escapist year teaching English is shattered. Granted shelter at the Villa delle Colombe, she seeks refuge in Francesca and Edoardo’s beautiful walled garden, hidden from the outside world, with an elaborate cypress maze at its heart.But Beatrice is not the only one seeking an escape here. Francesca has brought children to the safety of the house, as well as other adults, all of them seeking sanctuary on the estate with its mysterious maze. As the war closes in, the residents are forced to witness—and do—unthinkable things…2015. Tess arrives at the villa raw from the agonising loss of her husband. Beatrice, now custodian, guides her to the solace of its gardens, where Tess begins to heal. But all hope of peace is shattered by the arrival of Marco, the estate’s absent owner, who wants nothing more than to hand it over to developers.Distraught, Beatrice realises she must finally reveal the villa’s painful past if she wants to save it. As the extraordinary story unfolds, Tess realises that Villa delle Colombe is not just a refuge, but a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. Can she convince Marco to give it a new lease of life—and find a way back to happiness herself?

About Fiona Valpy

Fiona is an acclaimed number one bestselling author whose books have sold over a million copies and been translated into more than twenty languages worldwide. She draws inspiration from the stories of strong women, especially during the years of the Second World War, and her meticulous historical research enriches her writing with an evocative sense of time and place.For more information, to sign up for updates or to get in touch, please visit www.fionavalpy.com.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Karren on July 11, 2023

Beatrice moves to Italy to work as an English tutor, with the threat of war clouds looming she isn't worried until she finds herself stranded in the country and declared an enemy alien. Beatrice is very lucky to meet Francesca, she takes her home to Villa delle Colombe and to meet her husband Edoard......more

Goodreads review by Kimberly on January 04, 2024

The Cypress Maze is the emotional tale of two women, decades apart, who live, thrive and love in an Italian villa. Their lives are beautiful but both suffer deep loss, which they carry with them. The characters are warm and easy to like. Recommended.......more

Goodreads review by simona.citeste on November 17, 2024

O ficțiune istorică cu acțiunea în Italia ce descrie minunata zonă în care este situată casa ce reprezintă punctul central al povestirii. O casă înconjurată de o grădină ce necesită muncă dar totodată le asigură tuturor hrană și stabilitate în vremuri grele. Aici trăiesc 3 femei ambițioase care au î......more

Goodreads review by Ryan on September 17, 2023

I forced myself to finish this book. There was zero depth. Lots of first world problems in the ‘present day’ chapters and very unlikable characters. And the writing was so, so basic. I love WWII stories but this just does not compare to some of the greats (e.g. All the Light We Cannot See). Don’t wa......more

Goodreads review by Hannelore on January 15, 2023

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC. This book is set in two timelines: 2015 and WWII. Bess (2015) who's reeling from the death of her husband, goes to Tuscany to stay with Beatrice, her elderly grandmother's good friend. The villa and it's grounds are slated to be turned into a......more

Quotes

“A poignant, luminous tale.” —Woman's Own“Valpy’s writing is beautiful, and she makes this villa, with its spectacular garden and, especially, the cypress maze at the heart of it, come to life.” —Historical Novels Review

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