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Yvonne Payne
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Kritsotopoula: Girl of Kritsa Paperback – 20 Feb. 2015

by Yvonne Payne (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 72 ratings
Throughout her childhood exploits, the feisty daughter, Rodanthe, of Kritsa's pappas (priest), yearns for her father's approval without appreciating his efforts to keep her safe under Ottoman oppression. Years later, the ruling Pasha orders Rodanthe's kidnap intent on making her his wife. Determined not to yield, Rodanthe tricks the Pasha, and then flees to the mountains dressed as a young man. After joining rebels as Spanomanolis (Beardless Manolis), she draws on her unusual experiences and rare education to maintain her disguise throughout daring raids. Now, honored as Kritsotopoula (Girl of Kritsa), villagers celebrate Rodanthe's exploits annually in front of a poignant stone carving. This monument portrays the moment in 1823 when brave Rodanthe's secret was exposed - a point mirrored as this story culminates with a twist. Infused with myths and local flavour this historical adventure gives insight to customs that still shape many lives in Kritsa today.
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  1. Print length
    282 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    SilverWood Books Ltd
  4. Publication date
    20 Feb. 2015
  5. Dimensions
    13.3 x 1.61 x 20.3 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1781322651
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1781322659
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ SilverWood Books Ltd (20 Feb. 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 282 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1781322651
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1781322659
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.3 x 1.61 x 20.3 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 72 ratings

About the author

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Yvonne Payne

Yvonne Payne

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In 2001, Yvonne Payne and her husband bought a house in the back streets of Kritsa, a village that nestles in the foothills of the Dikti Mountains in the east of Crete. From their small balcony their breath-taking view looks out across cluttered rooftops, a huge church, olive groves, and the distant sea, all framed by the Thripti Mountains.

Over the next ten years, Yvonne explored eastern Crete extensively, read up on local history, myths, and legends while experiencing village customs to gain inspiration to write creatively. Luckily for Yvonne, this coincided with the opportunity to watch a fellow Kritsa resident, the English sculptor Nigel Ratcliffe, work on his beautiful stone monument dedicated to 'Kritsotopoula, Girl of Kritsa, who along with her rebel comrades, fought against Ottoman oppression in 1823. This carving became Yvonne's 'muse' as she researched and wrote her first novel. Yvonne continues to find local inspiration for further novels and her non-fiction guide, Explore Kritsa. You can read her a blog at www.kritsayvonne.com where your contributions and feedback are very welcome.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
72 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a cracking good read with brilliant writing and wonderful historical facts. They appreciate its authenticity, with one customer noting how it captures the spirit of Crete, and another highlighting its accurate portrayal of village life.

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16 customers mention ‘Readability’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a cracking good read with an unusual story. One customer notes it's a must-read for anyone visiting Crete.

"...praise this book highly enough and would class it as a must read for anyone visiting Crete or for anyone who enjoys historic novels." Read more

"...Well done Yvonne, a superb book and a story very well told." Read more

"Interesting read especially for anyone who knows the Kritsa area of Crete" Read more

"I enjoyed the book but sometimes the story was hard to follow when it changed era." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Writing quality’9 positive2 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as brilliantly written, with one customer noting its authenticity and another highlighting its accurate portrayal of village life.

"...It is a superbly written, truly capturing the spirit of Crete as well as the spirit of Rodanthe and her fellow freedom fighters...." Read more

"...got through it the more bloody it became, but it's a brutally accurate portrayal in novel form of a true story of life in Crete under the Turkish..." Read more

"...the huge amount of research which must have gone into the excellent writing of this book...." Read more

"...Yvonne creates a sensitive and accurate portrayal of village life in the 1850's under the repressive and brutal Turkish occupation...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Authenticity’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's authenticity, noting its wonderful historical facts and well-researched content.

"...The story, based on truth, begins with the life of a young girl Rodanthe, in Ottoman occupied Eastern Crete, in the early 19th century...." Read more

"...The book brings history to life as it relates the true story of a young girl who lived in Kritsa and joined the revolutionaries, working as both a..." Read more

"Exciting story that has wonderful historical facts while continuing to give you the flavour of true Cretan life that is still in evidence in..." Read more

"Well researched and beautifully written, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this inspiring and interesting heroine of Cretan history...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Story power’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the story's power, with one review highlighting the bravery of ordinary Cretan people and another noting how it captures the spirit of Crete.

"...It is a superbly written, truly capturing the spirit of Crete as well as the spirit of Rodanthe and her fellow freedom fighters...." Read more

"...depicted with plenty of blood and gore, but show the determination, courage and bravery of the ordinary Cretan people to regain their..." Read more

"...A story of courage and true conviction that reminds you of the important things in life such as love, friendship and honour...." Read more

"...and beautifully written, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this inspiring and interesting heroine of Cretan history...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Callumn R Anderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just Loved This Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 October 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this the first time round and absolutely loved it the second time round. I had planned on reading it for the second time whilst on a recent trip to Crete but my plan went out of the window when I started it reading it on the plane. The pages kept on turning and I just couldn't put it down and by the end of our first full day in Crete I finished it off whilst watching the sunset.
    It is a superbly written, truly capturing the spirit of Crete as well as the spirit of Rodanthe and her fellow freedom fighters. I have visited Kritsa including the house where Rodanthe once lived with her father and without question Yvonne manages to bring the area and story to life.
    I can't praise this book highly enough and would class it as a must read for anyone visiting Crete or for anyone who enjoys historic novels.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Abzorba the Greek
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stick with it, it's worth it.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 June 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I have to confess that I thought this a little slow to get going at first. I'm very glad that I stuck with it though. It turned into an epic that I would compare to the classic, if somewhat difficult to read (owing to its age probably) "Freedom and Death" by Nikos Kazantzakis, who also wrote Zorba The Greek, of course. The further I got through it the more bloody it became, but it's a brutally accurate portrayal in novel form of a true story of life in Crete under the Turkish occupation, as indeed is "Freedom and Death." Yvonne Payne has pulled off a remarkable achievement with this book. I wonder whether it ought to be essential reading material in the curriculum for young Greeks in the school system, learning about the turbulent history of their country. Well done Yvonne, a superb book and a story very well told.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Brian Mason
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 December 2015
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    Interesting read especially for anyone who knows the Kritsa area of Crete
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  • Caroline
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 July 2015
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    I enjoyed the book but sometimes the story was hard to follow when it changed era.
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  • Suzi Stembridge
    5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful story set in an Ottoman occupied Crete unable to share in the success of the Greek War of Independence.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 April 2016
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    A prodigious amount of work must have gone into this work of historical fiction. I notice from other reviewers that some have read the work more than once and I am not surprised. I suspect that this might be because the geographical detail and beautiful scenery create a 'real' world that cannot be absorbed on a first reading unless you know Eastern Crete very well or that the historical background which is both so graphic and so overwhelming a single read would not do the author justice. So this is not a criticism rather it is admiration for the huge amount of research which must have gone into the excellent writing of this book. The story, based on truth, begins with the life of a young girl Rodanthe, in Ottoman occupied Eastern Crete, in the early 19th century. Loved by her mother, in awe of her father the Priest, her tale enfolds as she is forced, badly injured to take refuge in a cave occupied by another fugitive, a disfigured shepherdess, Thea. Brought back to health by Thea, Rodanthe must leave the cave and finds herself with nowhere to hide except in the world of young warriors, intent on taking Crete back from the Turks and with no option but to fight as a young lad. Until the last page, the reader will not find the last piece of the complex jigsaw that is Kritsotopoula. A huge number of realistic battle scenes may not be to everyone's liking but the scenes of family life and stunning scenery will soften it!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Beryl Darby
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a heroine!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I have just read Kritsotopoula for the second time.
    Yvonne creates a sensitive and accurate portrayal of village life in the 1850's under the repressive and brutal Turkish occupation. The battle scenes are depicted with plenty of blood and gore, but show the determination, courage and bravery of the ordinary Cretan people to regain their independence.
    The book brings history to life as it relates the true story of a young girl who lived in Kritsa and joined the revolutionaries, working as both a spy for the Cretans and a fighter against the Turks.
    I am certainly looking forward to a sequel.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Maggiej10
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting story that has wonderful historical facts while continuing to give you the flavour ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Exciting story that has wonderful historical facts while continuing to give you the flavour of true Cretan life that is still in evidence in villages today.
    A story of courage and true conviction that reminds you of the important things in life such as love, friendship and honour.
    I really enjoyed this book and I am sure anyone would enjoy it who is interested in Crete or is looking for a beach read.
    Hope there is more to come from this author.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Debbie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Vivid, unforgettable portrait of Cretan resistance to Ottoman Turkish domination
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 December 2015
    This fictionalised biography of a young Cretan heroine fighting against Ottoman Turkish occupation is well researched and rich in both historical detail and compassion. Unsparing of the details of grisly and often barbaric acts of oppression and resistance, it has moments of jaw-dropping horror, justified by historic accuracy, and demonstrating the extraordinary spirit of ordinary Cretan villagers to defend their nation and their rights. It also provided a vivid portrait of the simple, blameless life and values of ordinary village peasants outside of the conflict, which made their destruction seem all the more tragic and cruel. I especially liked the plot device that enabled the construction of a touching relationship between the beautiful Rodanthe and the disfigured hermit girl, Thea.

    I knew very little about the history of Crete before reading this book, and have never been there, though have travelled extensively to Greek islands in the Ionian, but now I can understand why Greeks are so bitter about Turks even now, two centuries later.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Diana Wilder
    5.0 out of 5 stars A heroic story, beautifully told
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I remember my first sight of this book, written by Yvonne Payne, who writes a very good blog. I had visited it and saw the book. It was worth a second look:

    You see a girl, her long, sun-sparked hair flowing down her back, gazing into the distance. She wears a simple, long white tunic. The sunlight, the blue sky and the rocks and hills before her catch your attention and you almost overlook the shadowy figures in the upper register of the cover, like the ghosts of long-ago strife, somehow discordant beside the sun and the peace and the beautiful girl.

    But it is not. The book tells the story of Rodanthe, the daughter of the local priest in the village of Kritsa during the first part of the nineteenth century, when Greece lay under Ottoman rule. Given the name Kritsotopoula – ‘Girl of Kritsa’ – after her death, Rodanthe fought beside her fellow Cretans and ultimately died for the cause.

    You can see the monument and read of her exploits if you visit Crete.

    …or you can read this lyrically written book that tells her story. Yvonne Payne has a wonderful way with words, from her description of Rodanthe’s emotions when she cuts her beautiful hair to aid in her disguise through to the fast-moving, vivid scenes of battle, skillfully weaving action, noise, pain and emotion together in a beautiful whole.

    I agree with another reviewer who said that it would be nice to have a glossary of Greek and Turkish terms if (when!) this book goes into another edition.
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  • Simona
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! <3
    Reviewed in the United States on 26 March 2021
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    Loved the writing!
    I want to say I loved Rodanthe's account of her childhood best....but then I also loved the second part of the book just as much.
    Kritsa is a special place, I like to associate with the saying we have in my country: "Eternity was born in a village". This book made it all the more amazing in my eyes, brought back the timeless feeling I would get with each visit to the village.
    What was most inspiring was the description of the stoic Greek in front of so much adversity, keeping strong by not giving up on their way of life, no matter what.
    Thank you, Yvonne! :)
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  • Kaylee Karavatos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kritsotopoula is a masterpiece.
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 July 2022
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    Kritsotopoula is a masterpiece. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a fantastic, engaging, and informative book. I loved it! I definitely recommend this book and would give it a 6 star review if I could.
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