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Once We Were Here

A Novel
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( 1,539 ratings, 177 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Once We Were Here follows three young friends in a small Greek village during the outbreak of World War II. As Greece refuses Mussolini's ultimatum and succumbs to war, Alexei, the son of a fisherman, and his best friend Costa leave to fight for their country. Alexeiโ€™s proposal to his lifelong love, Philia, sets off a chain of events that challenges their courage, loyalty, and survival. This historical fiction vividly portrays Greeceโ€™s vital role in the Alliesโ€™ victory, weaving an epic tale of love, sacrifice, and enduring friendship.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers of historical fiction who appreciate sweeping romances set against real wartime events, and those interested in untold stories from World War II, particularly Greece's significant yet often overlooked role.

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As World War II intrudes upon their home, three young friends risk everything for freedom, love, and a chance at a better life.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

As World War II intrudes upon their home, three young friends risk everything for freedom, love, and a chance at a better life.

On October 28th, 1940, Mussolini provides Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas with an ultimatum: either allow Axis forces to occupy their country, or face war, and Greece's response is swift.

In a small village nestled against the radiant waters of the Aegean Sea, we find Alexei, the son of a local fisherman, and his best friend Costa, who were both born on the same night eighteen years earlier and have been like brothers ever since. Now, like all the other young men in their village and throughout Greece, they will leave their homes to bravely fight for their country.

But before they go, Alexei asks Philia, the girl that he's loved his entire life, to marry him. This sets into motion the events that will change the lives of these three and their family and friends forever, and begins an epic and unforgettable story of courage, survival, sacrifice, the strength of the human spirit, and of a love and friendship that will echo across time and generations.

A spellbinding novel and sweeping romance that performs the remarkable feat of creating action-packed scenes, characters that we care deeply about, and revealing in vivid detail the untold true story of how Greece helped the Allies to win World War II, Once We Were Here is an unforgettable tale that pays tribute to the brave men and women who fought and gave everything for their country, for each other, and for freedom.

Once We Were Here is a modern epic, surging with the lifeblood of Greece and her proud history. Beautiful, tragic, and achingly lovely, this story of heroism, survival, and homeland captured my heart. - Victoria Aveyard, #1 bestselling author of the Red Queen series

This stirring debut by Christopher Cosmos examines the enduring costs of love and war, and the way family stories - even buried ones - set the course for generations to come. Cosmos is deeply committed not only to his characters and their harrowing experiences, but also to sharing, with insight and empathy, Greece's powerful and often heartbreaking history. - Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and Love and Ruin

Winston Churchill said that Greeks don't fight like heroes, but heroes fight like Greeks, and this story proves it; a stunning literary debut about legacy and history, war and peace, fate and destiny, the power of family and stories, and how young love can still shine and endure, even in the face of the greatest evils, and long after we're gone. - Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of Gates of Fire and The Legend of Bagger Vance

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

"A modern epic, surging with the lifeblood of Greece and her proud history. Beautiful, tragic, and achingly lovely, this story of heroism, survival, and homeland captured my heart."Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author

"A stirring debut exploring the costs of love and war, deeply committed to its characters and Greeceโ€™s heartbreaking history."Paula McLain

"A stunning literary debut about legacy, war, peace, and the enduring power of young love even against the greatest evils."Steven Pressfield

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781510757127

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 24 December 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Arcade Publishing

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 567g

Pages: 360

About the Author

Christopher Cosmos was raised in the Midwest and attended the University of Michigan as the recipient of a Chick Evans Scholarship. He is also a screenwriter and has had his work featured in the annual Black List of best Hollywood screenplays of the year. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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  • Once We Were Here
    As World War II intrudes upon their home, three young friends risk everything for freedom, love, and a chance at a better life. On October 28, 1940, Mussolini gives Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas an ultimatum: either allow Axis forces to occupy their country, or face war. Greece's response is swift. 'Oxi!' they say. 'No!' In a village nestled against...
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