Listen free for 30 days

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Once We Were Here cover art

Once We Were Here

Written by: Christopher Cosmos
Narrated by: Gary Bennett
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $43.85

Buy Now for $43.85

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

On October 28, 1940, Mussolini provides Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas with an ultimatum - either allow Axis forces to occupy their country or face war - and Greece’s response is swift: “Oxi!” they say. “No!”

In a small village nestled against the radiant waters of the Aegean Sea, Alexei, the son of a local fisherman, and his best friend Costa - who were both born on the same night 18 years earlier and have been like brothers ever since - leave their homes, like all the other young men in their village and throughout Greece, to bravely fight for their country.

But before they go, Alexei asks Philia, the girl he’s loved his entire life, to marry him, which sets into motion events that will change the lives of these three and their family and friends forever, beginning an unforgettable story of courage, survival, sacrifice, and the strength of the human spirit.

A spellbinding novel and sweeping epic, Once We Were Here introduces listeners not only to the heart-pounding dangers and horrors of war but also to the heart-breaking emotions and sacrifices of those who fight and whose lives war intrudes upon.

©2020 Christopher Cosmos (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

What listeners say about Once We Were Here

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

No reviews are available
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for E. H.
  • E. H.
  • 2020-12-09

Great story...

Story line was great. Kept wanting to hear more. Not wanting to set it down.
Narration was superb.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kyle
  • Kyle
  • 2020-12-05

Can’t wait for the movie or tv series!

Awesome book. In addition to the amazing story, I learned a lot about Greek culture and the role that the Greeks played in the war. This is going to be a huge hit when it gets made into a movie or tv series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 2022-11-24

Once we were here

A beautiful story with feelings and emotions make you think of your country and your childhood.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anita Papadopoulos
  • Anita Papadopoulos
  • 2022-09-04

Great WWII novel

As a Greek I really enjoyed this book. It was historically accurate and a story that matched what truly did occur in Greek families during that time. I had to get over some of the pronunciations but apart from that I loved this audiobook.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for paula wright
  • paula wright
  • 2022-05-14

My only criticism of the audio is that it had to end

I have rarely enjoyed a book as much as this one. I generally do not like war and fighting maneuvers and I usually skip over battle scenes but I couldn’t do it. I was mesmerized and imagining all the action in my minds eye. No book has ever made me do that. I kept thinking about how it all played out. For good or evil. The character development was excellent What a love story. What a tragedy . I took the major players to heart and cried and cried in different scenes . Not familiar with Greece during the war but Greece played a very important part in the Allies winning .even hitler had to complement the fighting spirit of the Greeks . No wonder this country has lasted down thru the ages The narrator was one of the best I have ever hear. So glad I didn’t pass over this audio. I will give the author and narrator a ten star rating !!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Laura Maness
  • Laura Maness
  • 2021-06-01

Where has this book been??

This is one of the best stories of Greek resistance that I have read. We hear so much about the French and English resistance and fortitude but very little about the Greek.
The narrator was excellent, the story line was very interesting and held my attention throughout the whole story.
I just happened upon this book and wondered where is the world it has been and why haven’t I heard about it before.
I hope more people will read it and boost its ratings to the top because it was excellent, and I don’t say that about many books!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for judy
  • judy
  • 2021-02-19

A facet of WW2 that we haven't heard enough about

This is a historical fiction based on the Greek resistance of WW2. The heritage, the friendships, the culture, the sea, the mountains, the Italians and ultimately the Germans weave their way into the lives of heroic young men and their families as they defend their homeland from invasion and ultimately change the course of history. Thoughtfully and beautifully crafted.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!