Sofka Zinovieff was born in London, has Russian ancestry and has lived in Greece for many years. Her latest book is Stealing Dad. A tragicomic novel about a dispersed and dysfunctional family, it is “Funny, sad and full of beautiful writing†(The Observer).
“Hot summer sizzle of a book”
I loved Sofka Zinovieff’s potent, highly readable and compelling novel Putney, which came out a few years ago so I pounced on Stealing Dad and ripped through the pages. Another thorny family presented with Zinovieff’s sharp, wry and funny perceptions. Hot summer in Athens, a heist and a vast and funny journey to a Hebridean island form the backdrop to a wonderful, warm and complex interplay between four sisters who have lost their pretty badly behaved father. They are banned from attending his funeral by their stepmother. Farce that is also profoundly real, follows. The different relationships they had with him and one another, the characters and the situations emerge with assurance and a lot of really great and sometimes macabre humour. This novel is a Whisky Sour. Approach with caution, and delight.
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“Funny, sad and full of beautiful writing.” Alex Preston
“Part grief-memoir and part macabre escapade”…'”the writing is fresh… and sensuous.”
“Zinovieff’s STEALING DAD, set in Athens, London and Scotland … is a thrilling and very rewarding read.”
Athens Unpacked
Sofka explores Athens in a quest to understand this complex, seductive city. She visits unusual places and meets Athenians, native and adopted: singers, poets, graffiti writers, architects, journalists, chefs, historians and activists.
Dr Johnson’s House, London Death Rituals & Grief. In conversation with Sofka Zinovieff & Julia Samuel Wednesday 10 June, 6.30 pm https://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/post/death-rituals-grief-in-conversation-with-sofka-zinovieff-julia-samuel
UPCOMING EVENTS 2026 FOR PAPERBACK PUBLICATION OF STEALING DAD Hexham Literary Festival Wednesday 29 April 2026 at 6.15pm. Theatre, Queen’s Hall, Hexham https://www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk/event/sofka-zinovieff The Big Book Group Event: Stealing Dad by Sofka Zinovieff Join Hexham Book Festival for our popular Big Book Group Event, perfect for avid readers. Chaired by Liv Chapman What do you
https://www.ft.com/content/8b4483a7-7b3b-4a9a-a3bd-aa59d03ba9a9 Illustration by Dror Cohen Published APR 3 2026
SOFKA IN CONVERSATION WITH DR JOHN KITTMER, former UK ambassador to Greece Wednesday 19 November 2025 18:30 – 20:30 The Council Room, Kings College London, Strand CampusStrandLondon, EnglandUnited Kingdom The renowned novelist will discuss her latest book in conversation with Dr John Kittmer. Though fictional, the book was inspired by what happened after Sofka’s
‘Day of the Dead Pop Up Salon with Sofka Zinovieff Ritual, Fiction, Cognac and Koliva Special guest Joshua Barley who will sing traditional Greek laments RSVP moonstationathens@gmail.com Kolokotroni 11, 2nd Floor, Syntagma, Athens
Writing Greece: An evening with Sofka Zinovieff and Julian Hoffman Neither Julian Hoffman nor Sofka Zinovieff are originally from Greece and yet they’ve both devoted a large part of their careers to writing and thinking about this country. Between them, they’ve explored it in novels, nonfiction, short stories, podcasts and essays. One lives in Athens,
