The house has been transformed into an army hospital, it is a prize of war in the hands of the British. And as Nur weaves through the streets carrying the embroideries that have become her livelihood, Constantinople swarms with Allied soldiers - a reminder of how far she and her city have fallen.

As the lines between enemy and friend become fainter, a new danger emerges – something even more threatening than the lingering shadow of war.The more we talked through the book, the characters and the plot the more it occurred how the huge themes of war, human nature, tradition, culture and love is told through a million small details in the book. The plot itself is not fast paced but each chapter we look through a window into each character and through their experience of daily life in the occupied city, we gain an understanding and an empathy with Nur, George, The Boy, The Prisoner and The Traveller . The descriptions of the city are raw yet lyrical, the descriptions of war brutal yet brilliantly evocative and detailed. Hard to read in parts due to the obvious reality of it all.Men are are capable of some awful things. The characters, as varied as a small Turkish boy and a Scottish doctor make this a rich tapestry of a historical read. The most precious thing in Nur’s new life is the orphan in her care - a boy with a terrible secret. When he falls dangerously ill, Nur’s world becomes entwined with the enemy's. She must return to where she grew up and plead for help from Medical Officer George Monroe. When your group has read the book, we’d love to hear what you think. Tweet us at @HarperFiction and @W6BookCafe using #LastLetter.

This will sweep you away for the summer. Lucy Foley blends a rich history, haunting secrets and a timeless love story' Santa Montefiore, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Deverill series Her liberation has come at a price. She is a teacher now and a child's guardian, she understands duty and responsibility. What then, when circumstances have her questioning her core values? What would her father have said? Or her little brother, who was forced to fight in his country's war? A sorrowful war changes a country forever- changes its people, can the trauma be reversed? Forgiven? Is there room for love in such a hateful sphere?A Well written book about loss and war and the human minds ability to restrain feelings. An Excellent read.”

Everyday new inhabitants arrive, fleeing the ongoing consequences of the Great War, the revolution in Russia. Dispossessed, desperate. Regular flurries of chaos at the quays.” The invading soldiers It’s a time of uncertainty: there are occupation forces on the streets, refugees arriving on a daily basis and everyone’s hustling to survive. Despite that, for Nur it’s also a time of increased freedom: she can go out to work as a teacher, substituting for her brother who went off to war and hasn’t returned, and she no longer needs to wear the veil when leaving the house. But this freedom is new and not without limitations: she sees the disapproving looks as she walks the streets of her city, and knows that she can only push against long-held customs and norms so much.I did like how you were not really sure of who some of the characters were.........” the traveller”, “the prisoner”.....and I liked the reveal near the end. An unassuming, kind, Scottish doctor has volunteered to serve at the local military hospital. This is the basis for a love story and dance of keeping within decorous rules which are constantly changing. Nur had never worn a veil, but it is now considered a sign of respectability in a woman who encounters the occupying enemy – even when he does her less harm than her own family.

Nur has been brought up as the cossetted daughter of a wealthy Turkish man. She is more accustomed to reaching for the next fig than struggling to survive as she must do following WW1. Instead of a return to normality the bungling allies carve the map and create years of future harm, in this case by occupying what they rename as Constantinople. The house has been transformed into an army hospital, it is a prize of war in the hands of the British. And as Nur weaves through the streets carrying the embroideries that have become her livelihood, Constantinople swarms with Allied soldiers a reminder of how far she and her city have fallen.Their uniforms are clean but she sees them drenches in blood. How many men have you killed, she asks, silently….” Es una lectura algo fuerte, está escrita muy bonito y tiene descripciones muy bellas de cosas comunes, pero eso no le quita el ambiente triste que inunda la historia. Te presentan las múltiples interrogantes de un conflicto: ¿Existen soldados buenos y malos dependiendo del lado en que luchen? ¿Quién la tiene más difícil,los soldados o los civiles? ¿Es mejor para los prisioneros de guerra volver a casa y vivir con lo que pasó o morir? ¿Alguien alguna vez se recupera realmente de la guerra? Now the shadow of war hangs over the city, and Nur lives for the protection of a young boy with a terrible secret. Stumbling through the streets, carrying the embroideries that have become her livelihood, she avoids the gazes of the Allied soldiers. Survival is everything.