The Island Beyond the Coast – Book I, Book II – Historical Novel
Historical Novel – Book I & Book II – Based on a true journey set in Greece during the 19th century with Hans Christian Andersen, Fredrika Bremer, Bayard Taylor and Mark Twain
Deeply dispirited by a series of unforeseen events in the autumn of 1865, Hans Christian Andersen makes a fateful decision to embark on a journey to Stockholm, where he hopes to reunite with his dear friend, Fredrika Bremer. However, upon his arrival, an unfortunate incident unfolds, triggering haunting memories of the dramatic events he had encountered during his earlier travels to Greece in 1841.
Bayard Taylor returns from the Arctic zone and visits Hans Christian Andersen in Copenhagen before embarking on a long-awaited journey to Greece, fulfilling a lifelong dream that he had cherished since childhood. As Taylor immerses himself in the landscapes and experiences the essence of Greece, he perceives it as a significant presence on the European stage, symbolized by the inscription in black paint on the monument of the national hero Karaiskakis in Piraeus, likening it to a “football field across Europe.” Fast forward to 1878, during Taylor’s trip from the United States to Europe, he serendipitously encounters Mark Twain, who enthralls him with stories of his own travels and encounters in Greece during 1867, adding another layer of narratives and experiences to Taylor’s journey.