Start reading Last Train from Liguria on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Try it free

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices with our FREE Kindle Reading Apps.

Share your own customer images

Last Train from Liguria [Kindle Edition]

Christine Dwyer Hickey (Author)

3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews) |

Digital List Price:	�4.47 What's this?
Print List Price:	�7.99
Kindle Price:	�3.58 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via *Amazon Whispernet*
You Save:	�4.41 (55%)
Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

	Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Kindle Edition	�3.58	--	--
Hardcover, Large Print	�20.95	--	--
Paperback	�5.11	--	--
Show # more paperbacks
Show fewer paperbacks

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny
3.2 out of 5 stars (92)

�5.73
A Lily of the Field by John Lawton
4.6 out of 5 stars (12)

�5.72
Ed King by David Guterson
3.5 out of 5 stars (6)

�5.10
Sektion 20 by Paul Dowswell
4.2 out of 5 stars (4)

�4.58
Asylum Harbor by Traci Hohenstein
2.8 out of 5 stars (4)

�4.65
Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, The by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
4.5 out of 5 stars (23)

�3.71

Product Description

Review

"'Spare, trim, precise and remarkably tense' Margaret Forster 'Keeps getting better, long after you have put it down. In perfect, unassuming prose, Christine Dwyer Hickey conjures all our childhoods.' Anne Enright 'Beautiful and heartbreaking' Independent on Sunday"

Product Description

From the bestselling Irish novelist comes a sweeping historical novel, a tale of consequences, spanning from the 1930s to the 1990s

In 1933, Bella Stuart leaves her quiet London life to move to Italy to tutor the child of a beautiful Jewish heiress and an elderly Italian aristocrat. Living at the family's summer home, Bella's reserve softens as she comes to love her young charge, and find friendship with Maestro Edward, his enigmatic music teacher.

But as the decade draws to an end and fascism tightens its grip on Europe, the fact that Alec is Jewish places his life in grave danger. Bella and Edward take the boy on a terrifying train journey out of Italy - one they have no reason to believe any of them will survive...

See all Product Description

Product details

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 561 KB
Publisher: Atlantic Books (1 Oct 2009)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.� r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B002ROKQPG
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,203 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #1 in Books > History > Political History > Fascism & Nazism
- #1 in Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Government & Politics > Political Science & Ideology
- #1 in Books > Fiction > Political

Would you like to give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Christine Dwyer Hickey Page

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny Kindle Edition
3.2 out of 5 stars (92)

�5.73

Taken by Debra Lee Kindle Edition
3.2 out of 5 stars (25)

�0.72

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars (680)

�2.39

"War Brides" by Helen Bryan Kindle Edition
3.7 out of 5 stars (37)

�0.77

› Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

london(15)

crime fiction(13)

crime thriller(13)

female detective(13)

mel comley(13)

psychological suspense(13)

di lorne simpkins(12)

murder(12)

psychological thriller(12)

serial killers(11)

Customer Reviews

48 Reviews

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

Average Customer Review

3.6 out of 5 stars (48 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, 10 Aug 2010

S. Zigmond (Yorkshire, England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Last Train from Liguria (Paperback)

I took this novel with me for a weekend's break and read it morning, noon and night and couldn't put it down until I'd finished. The writing is lyrical and poetic with the most stunning imagery and Bella, the reason for whose timid, clinging and what we would now call anorexic behaviour is explained later on, is a character who gets under your skin. In fact all the characters do, from Bella's selfish, difficult and mostly absent employer, the American 'cousins' to the enigmatic Edward whose crime remains largely unexplained. Alec, I assume , has what is now know as Asperger's syndrome. One can't begin to imagine how his final days must have been.

I have read the critical comments here and am amazed. Did these people actually bother to read the book properly? Where is all this bad behaviour and language? Yes, the story of Anna shows a woman who is down in the depths but there is the possibility of redemption for her at the end and her all-too-believable behaviour is also explained by her past. You only have to think of her 'ancestry.'

The writer does not see the English as inferior. In fact, it is English people who look after Bella on the train when disaster strikes and help her through France and when she gets to London.I believe these reviewers only skim-read the beginning or were expecting Enid Blyton, not an intelligent, deep and thought-provoking read. That the title refers to a train journey which only comes later on is irrelevant. It is built up throughout the whole novel from the very first journey Bella makes.

This is a novel that remains with me even now. I keep thinking about the unfairness and stupidity of war, the vile stain of fascism and anti-Semitism and how people who would never normally meet are flung together, only to fail each other. Stunning.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A love story of perception and regret., 31 Jan 2011

LindyLouMac (Italy) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Last Train from Liguria (Paperback)

I have never read anything by this author before so I have no comparisons to make with previous novels. All I knew was that Christine Dwyer-Hickey is an award winning Irish novelist. While I found this narrative interesting taking us back and forth between London, Dublin and Italy in the nineteen thirties and mid nineteen nineties it neither excited me nor bored me. In fact leaving me feeling rather indifferent about this well written novel. I am disappointed and feel a little guilty admitting this, but there is no point in pretending otherwise. A decent read that was absorbing but nothing particular really drew me in.

The main setting of the story is fascist era Italy where the female protagonist Bella Stuart takes a position as tutor to Alec the son of the aristocratic Lami family. His mother has little time for him and Alec's life revolves around Bella and his music teacher Edward King. The reader has already learnt much about the latters past in the opening chapter of the novel, a dark secret he keeps to himself in Italy. When the story moves to the present times it is to meet Anna a young woman of Italian descent and gradually connections with the past are uncovered.

It is a vivid picture of Italy during the rise of fascism that the author gives us with a very atmospheric sense of place. A novel not just about the historical period it is set in but a love story of perception and regret.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping, warm and incisive read, 21 July 2009

C. Lynch "CL" (Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Last Train from Liguria (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book. I was rather uninspired by the gory first chapter but completely captivated from then on. This is a warm and engaging story that not only deals with the minutiae of an aristocratic family life in Italy in the 1930's but also touches on the sprawling epic of what was to befall Europe in the lead up to WW11. The characters are thoughtfully and richly depicted, the storyline is strong and coherent and the larger picture across three generations and a number of European countries is clearly drawn. I could not recommend this book more highly.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 48 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars AN ADDICTIVE TALE
Don't think of starting this one unless you have time for long reading sessions. It is that good . You won't want to put it down. Read more

Published 7 days ago by Alexander Bryce

4.0 out of 5 stars last train for liguria
I enjoyed this book and it evoked pre-war Italy and the rise of fascism really well. I found the ending abrupt and less than satisfying.

Published 11 days ago by Mr. G. Hornsby

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Read, disappointing ending
I bought this book based on other reviews. I agree with a previous comment about the first chapter but soon found myself engrossed and wanting to keep reading to see what happened... Read more

Published 14 days ago by Stitcher69

4.0 out of 5 stars An enigmatic tale, full of colour
This really is a very good, very well written book, which I managed to get through in around 3 days (the snow helped). Read more

Published 17 days ago by Ms. J. M. Austin

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but didn't feel complete
Perhaps I'm the person who needs to know how everything turns out in the end, I didn't find that this was so with this book so for me it felt like a bit of a let down anf although... Read more

Published 19 days ago by Charlie&Molly

4.0 out of 5 stars Sorry to reach the end
There are two parallel stories in this extremely readable and intelligent novel. The first is that of Bella, who reluctantly leaves London in 1933 to tutor a child in Italy. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Alison McVey

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing
The idea, the juxtaposition of fascist Italy with Dublin and London, people getting caught up in troublesome situations, was exciting. And I was gripped, racing to the end. Read more

Published 2 months ago by faby felix

4.0 out of 5 stars cleverly written
this is a really well-written story with the various facets subtlely interwoven. The first few chapters seem a little slow but persevere and you find the main character, Bella,... Read more

Published 2 months ago by jenifer

5.0 out of 5 stars Becomes a real page turner
Another book club selection that turned out to be really positive. I have to confess that by about 100 pages, I was getting a bit irritated with the central character and thought... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Ailsa M. Hollinshead

3.0 out of 5 stars last train from liguria
This was the first book I'd read from this author, didnt enjoy the first chapter, once passed it I enjoyed it, although the ending was a bit abrupt it left me wanting to know more.

Published 4 months ago by Diane

› See all 48 customer reviews...

Popular Highlights

(What's this?)

But they seem to admire everything, the Italians. Then they admire each other. She likes that about them, their childlike ability to be constantly enchanted. Unlike the English, who so often need to be persuaded. &quote;

Highlighted by 5 Kindle users

Satisfy the need, overfeed the need, wear it out till it weakens and goes whimpering back to its corner. Only keep in mind that it never quite dies &quote;

Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

Long closed the roads to the past, And what is the past to me now? What is to be found there? Bloodstained flagstones, Or a bricked-up door, Or an echo that still refuses To keep quiet, though I ask it to Anna Akhmatova, &quote;

Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }

Customer Discussions

This product's forum

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
fiction forum Come on - why don't we write our own book right here in the fiction forum ? I'll do the first sentence, and then jump in....hold on, here we go...	3876	33 minutes ago
fiction forum Non-Whigers' Forum. Hard working authors and sensible readers only	1660	1 hour ago
fiction forum The non author mosty harmless book club.	746	1 hour ago
fiction forum Murder, Inquests and Criminal Trials - Historic	0	1 hour ago
fiction forum What are you reading now?	3932	1 hour ago
fiction forum Are you a 'must finish' reader?	52	2 hours ago
historical fiction forum Run out of favourite authors - looking for some new historical fiction. Recommendations please.	239	14 hours ago
historical fiction forum Publisher looking for new historical fiction authors	76	10 days ago