Where do you live?
In London, Athens and Crete
Best childhood memory?
Cycling through a forest on a very, very hot day, then stopping for a big picnic. I remember eating cold chicken and mayonnaise and drinking lemonade. It was very idyllic.
Most frequented restaurant and absolute favourite dish? What food would you really turn your nose up to?
The restaurant I go to most often is Mistrali in Agios Nikolaos in Crete. And my favourite dish there (and anywhere) is “fava” – a warm puree made with split peas.
I was in China last week launching The Sunrise in Chinese. I was offered a plate of seahorses and politely turned them down.
What did you have for breakfast?
Muesli with skimmed milk
Would you class yourself as a day or night person? What’s your idea of the perfect night/day out?
I am greedy. I am both a day and a night person. So this is a tricky question. I like getting up quite early as I hate to miss daylight – it seems so precious, but at night, I always get a burst of energy around 2 in the morning – and after that I like to stay up until dawn.
Perfect day out: a swim in the sea followed by lunch in a waterside taverna. Perfect night out: dinner with friends, then to a bar with good music.
Best book ever read?
Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch: It was a brilliant story and even at 900 pages I could not put it down. It was moving, philosophical and brilliantly written, with great characters. It was everything a book should be. I was bereft when I finished it and didn’t quite know what to do.
Favourite film of all time?
Melancholia – Lars von Trier…. It is a completely unique and original film, extremely dark, very well acted. It is apocalyptic, terrible and depressing and I couldn’t move while I was watching it – it had a really profound effect on me.
Best holiday ever taken?
The best holiday I ever took was to the Galapagos Islands (west of Ecuador). You can’t stay on the islands themselves as they are protected – but you stay on a ship and swim to them to see unique and indigenous species of birds and mammals that only exist there (and swim with hammer-headed sharks and turtles on the way).
What music are you listening to in the car at the moment?
I have a stack of Michalis Hatzigiannis CDs that I listen to in the car. They are great to sing along to – and they help me a lot with my Greek.
What is always in your fridge?
Milk (for the muesli), yogurt, cheese, tomatoes
Dream house: rural retreat or urban dwelling? Where would it be, what would it be like?
It would be an urban dwelling but by the sea. It would be ultra modern, mostly made of glass for maximum light, but with open fires for the winter time. It would always be warm. The kitchen and living areas would be open plan. I don’t want a rural retreat because I need the proximity of people! And I love to be able to walk to shops and restaurants.
If you could pick anyone at all (alive or dead) to go out for the evening with, who would it be?
William Shakespeare. I think he would be funny, wise and extremely good company. Within his body of work there is such wisdom and humour – so I can’t imagine a dull moment with him.
What is your greatest fear?
Anything bad happening to my children.
Tell me a joke…
How does a lion like his meat?
…. Roar
Victoria Hislop’s latest novel The Sunrise, set in Famagusta, is out now
