Chris and Jen's relationship is faltering. Their friend Iain invites them to join him and his wife Jane on their next holiday to Kalymnos in Greece "The Sponge Divers Island". He wants them to witness the history behind the hunt for what he calls "Soft Gold". Between the years of 1886 and 1910 the hunt for this "Soft Gold" will see 10,000 deaths and 20,000 cases of paralysis. Most will be Kalymnian men. But this was not the end of the carnage. Kalymnian men will continue to suffer whilst hunting this bounty from the sea.
Despite this the joy and love of life, family and friendship remains at the heart of the Kalymnian way of life. Iain believes that the problems surrounding Chris can be lifted by embracing the experiences that life in Kalymnos offers. This in turn will help him see that the one thing he still has, the love of Jen is worthy of an epiphany. Iain and his wife Janes regular partners on their trips to Kalymnos are Milos and Mary. Milos and Chris are old school friends, but their lives have followed different paths. How will they react to this incursion into their private little world of Emporios, the last village on the island.
As a result of an industrial accident Chris has struggled with some long-term ailments that he feels have deeply impacted on his life chances. As part of his plans for the trip Iain will introduce Chris to Tassos, a modern-day ex-sponge diver and long-time acquaintance to hear his story. His family history has been deeply touched by the human tragedy of the sponge diving. He himself has suffered at the hand of this merciless devil from the deep, not only physically but ultimately with the loss of love. Alongside meeting Tassos, Chris and Jen will witness the dance of the Mihanikos, the wedding of Eleni and Lucas, the crazy antics of fishing, chicken farming and hunting Kalymnos style, the Michas family and their life in Emporios, the place music and dance holds in Kalymnian society, all leading to their very own dinner of love.
Every year before the sponge fleet left for the seasons hunt a week of festivities would be held culminating in a dinner of love. Family, friends, lovers, holding a celebratory dinner with the divers before they departed for seas long beyond Emporios.
How would these experiences play out? Will Iain's best laid plans succeed? How will Chris and Jen react to what they see and hear, what part will Milos and Mary play in all this. This book explores the dynamic of a contemporary relationship tinged with personal troubles and regrets and whether an understanding of others who have suffered loss provides a route for reconciliation.
What foreboding spirit will linger over the final part of the plan, the dinner of love?
