The Black Earth

The Times Historical Book of the Month

1922. When the Turkish Army occupies Smyrna, Zoe escapes, only to lose everything. Alone in a sea of desperate strangers, her life is touched briefly by a young English boy, Tom. Years later when war breaks out, fate will lead Tom back to Zoe but he will discover that the war will not end so easily for either of them.1922. When the Turkish Army occupies Smyrna, Zoë Haggitiris escapes with her family, only to lose everything. Alone in a sea of desperate strangers, her life is touched, for a moment, by a young English boy, Tom Collyer, also lost, before the compassion of a stranger leads her into a new life. Years later when war breaks out, Tom finds himself in Greece and in the chaos of the British retreat, fate will lead him back to Zoë. But he will discover that the war will not end so easily for either of them.