Victoria Hislop: The Woman Who Found Adversity Easier Than Success

On this week's episode, we're joined by Victoria Hislop, bestselling author, honorary Greek citizen, and the woman who celebrated her 60th birthday waterskiing with a glass of champagne in her hand.

Victoria's been through the lot in her sixties: losing her mum, breast cancer, lockdown, the empty nest hitting like a train she swore she was ready for. But here's the thing nobody expects her to say: she found all of that easier to handle than her own success. The overnight bestseller who was more shaken by a number one slot than a cancer diagnosis. The woman who poured the grief of not having another child into the novel that changed her life.

She talks to Kaye and Karen about why happiness has to come from the inside (Aristotle told her, and she believed him), why "don't get above yourself" might be the most damaging motto our generation inherited, and why the secret to a 45-year marriage is never, ever going to the supermarket together. Plus: the real reason she sobbed in the toilets on Greek Dancing with the Stars, and what happens when your dance partner is younger than your own children.

Victoria's new novel, The Wine Dark Sea, is out in September.

Whether you've ever felt more rattled by something going right than something going wrong, or you're still figuring out what "selfish in a nice way" actually looks like in your sixties, this one's going to land.

Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.

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