The Black Earth

The Times Historical Book of the Month

1922. When the Turkish Army occupies Smyrna, Zoe Haggitiris escapes, only to lose everything. Alone in a sea of strangers, her life is touched briefly by a young English boy, Tom Collyer. Years later when war breaks out, Tom finds himself in Greece, where fate will lead him back to Zoe. But the war will not end easily for either of them.1922. Young Zoë Haggitiris is forced to flee with her family during the Turkish invasion of Smyrna. When tragedy strikes in the midst of their escape, Zoë is found floating alone in the icy waters and is rescued by a passing ship. Caught up in a sea of desperate refugees, her life is touched by an English boy, Tom Collyer, before the compassion of a stranger leads her into a new life. 1941, Greece. In the chaos of the British retreat, Tom and Zoë are briefly reunited before fate cruelly separates them once more. Tom will discover that the war will not end so easily for either of them and, if they can find their way back to each other, that nothing will ever be the same.