General Books about Greece

 You can order most of these books through Greece In Print by using their form, unless otherwise noted. Some of these books you can get directly from the publisher. You can also find them on Amazon.com so look for the search boxes I have placed in convenient locations. Just copy and paste the title of the book you are looking for into the box.

This Way to Paradise: Dancing on the Tables by Willard Manus is essential reading for anyone with a dream to live in Greece or believes there must be more to life then what we in western society have gotten used to. The book by American author and playwright is a journal of their lives in the town of Lindos on the island of Rhodes where they send thirty-five years living alongside such people as David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, humorist S.J. Perelman and novelists Richard Hughes and Martha Gellhorn. Anyone with a love of Greece (whether you have been there or not) should read this book. This book will do for Rhodes what A Year In Provence did for  the south of France. This is perhaps the best of the foreigner living in Greece genre.

Greek Unorthodox: Bande A Part and Farewell to Ikarus by Elizabeth Boleman-Herring is a collection of the best of her Close To Home column from the now defuct Athenian magazine and a newer work in memory of her close friend Kevin Andrews, the Great Philhellene writer whose books are also on this site. Elizabeth's  book discusses the despoilation of the Greek environment, elections, sexual betrayal, and loyalty with a quirky sense of humor and a writing style that is often brilliant. Greek Unorthodox is a book by someone who truly knows the country and in particular the people of Athens. It is must reading for any woman going there with romance in her heart and anyone who wants insight into Greek character and society. More importantly it provides precious details about the life and death of Kevin Andrews, one of my favorite writers, making what was in my opinion a terrific book about Greece, even better. For more details e-mail the author at literatechigger@earthlink.net

Matt's Pick!  Haunted Greece: Nymphs, Vampires and other Exotika by John L. Tomkinson is another terrific book by Greece's best known unknown author. In the folk beliefs of the Greeks, the landscape is haunted by a large number of different types of beings which possess paranormal powers. belief in some, such as the Christmas goblins (kallikantzaroi) and vampires (vrykolakes) developed during the medieval period; others, like the Charos (Charon), the Nymphs (nereids) and the Fates (moires) may be traced back to ancient times. E-mail the author at anagnosis@anagnosis.gr 

World Food: Greece was put out by Lonely Planet as part of a series. It's a small pocket sized guide that has a Greek culinary dictionary, useful phrases, lots of yummy photos and plenty of information about food, restaurants, wine, ouzo, olives, cheese and traditions. But my reason for recommending it is that they have used various pages from my website and then credited me as Matt Barlett, author of  I Married A Lesbian. Considering the fact that they e-mailed me ten times because they forgot to get my written permission to use my articles you would think they could spell my name right and remember the name of the website they came from. But they apologized and told me they would fix it in the next printing (if there is one).

The Greek Economy 1940-2004 by Mark Dragoumis. Greece’s economic history reflects the slings and arrows of outrageous fortunate that have bedevilled the country ever since it became independent in 1832. The road to development has been full of pitfalls such as coups, civil war, several Balkan wars, two World Wars, occupation, a global crisis, and two outright bankruptcies. These have endowed Greeks with a sense of insecurity of varying intensity. This has led to a deep-rooted conservatism in national economic planning and deep-seated protectionism on the part of industry and workers. The result is an inflexibility in the face of changing market demands that has, for many years, prevented liberalisation and reform. Mark Dragoumis has been observing Greek affairs both from inside the government and as a journalist since the 1940s. His informative and compelling account explains economic developments in the light of political ones. For ordering information e-mail mangel@dolnet.gr

The Foods of Greece by Aglaia Kremezi. This book was first published in hardcover in 1993 and is not just a book to cook from but a book to read as well. It transports the reader to the Greek Islands and the Mainland with award winning recipes and captivating photos. Aglaia blends history, mythology, religion and folklore to provide a facinating backdrop that explains not only the 'how' but the 'where', 'why' and 'when'. If you want to have only one book on Greek cooking for your collection this one is it. The book won the Julia Child's Award for the Best First Cookbook from the International Institute of Culinary Professionals.

Though not a sociological study but only a work of fiction, Arcadia, My Arcadia by Nicholas D Kokonis tells the inspirational story of real people and their life. In this story lies the heart and soul of Arcadia. It is a personal memory of life, mostly fond but at times merciless. It is a portrait of life in Arcadia, and perhaps in all of the Greek countryside, during the stone years of the 1940s and the hopeful decade that followed, when villagers began to emigrate once again in hopes of a better life elsewhere. An authentic work of literature, based on experience and observation and not one written from notes taken during a months visit to the country, Arcadia, My Arcadia has as its prime villains class struggle and poverty.

"Occasionally a work that reaches our desks stands out even among a field of shining stars. And Arcadia, My Arcadia by Nicholas Kokonis is just such a novel. If your gift-giving list for someone of Greek descent can include only one present, make it a purchase of Arcadia, My Arcadia You won't regret it."
MARY PAPOUTSY, Hellenic Communication Service, LLC

You can get info on ordering this book from the author at Zumberi@aol.com

 You can order most of these books through Greece In Print by using their form, unless otherwise noted. Some of these books you can get directly from the publisher. You can also find them on Amazon.com so look for the search boxes I have placed in convenient locations. Just copy and paste the title of the book you are looking for into the box.

Athens Then and Now by Adami Maro Kardamitsi and Fani Konstandinou: Athens of the late19th - early 20th c. and Athens of today, at the turn of the 21st c. What has changed? What remains unaltered? How does contemporary Athens of the 2004 Olympic Games compare with Athens of the 1896 first Olympic Games of the modern era? The collated photos of yesteryear and nowadays prompt us to compare, comprehend and muse. The photographic material has been gathered from various Photographic Archives and private collections, while the modern shots have been taken by the well known Hungarian photographer Laszlo Lugo Lugosi.

Unraveling Ariadne’s Thread: Cretan Music by Maria Hnaraki, Ph.D.: “Young Academic Writer and Reseacher in the Areas of Cretan Culture and Dance” Award by the Pancretan Association of America. "Crete is an island where many people from different countries, cultures and religions have lived and have left their traces. So isn’t music in Crete today a product of all these mixtures and cultural elements?" Dr. Hnaraki’s self-posed question is answered in the affirmative as the author takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the five steps -- or five chapters -- of this book, constructed in the spirit of the traditional pendozalis five-step dance. Writing in an intensely personal style, bringing into her narrative gods and heroes from Greek mythology and literature as well as present-day musicians and performers, Hnaraki succeeds in evoking both the rich history and the vibrant present of Cretan music.

The book is written in the English language. It includes notes, list of sources, glossary and suggested discography for readers who wish to study certain topics further. A CD including traditional Cretan songs and dances accompanies the book.

Maria Hnaraki is an artist and a scholar…So here is a work of feeling and thought. Dealing in beauty and tragedy – two things that are undistinguishable in Greek (and Cretan) tradition. You may read it as a treatise or you may enjoy it as a performance. It is both. -Nikos Dimou, writer

It's All Greece to Me By John F.L. Ross. Greece is a country famed worldwide for its physical beauty, wealth of antiquities and other vestiges of its unsurpassed ancient civilisation. Yet despite over ten million annual visitors and an open and inviting culture, modern Greece is not an easy country for outsiders to understand or comprehend fully. Countless tourist guides extoll its resorts and archaeological tomes unravel its classical past, but there are few books that attempt to explore the many complexities of Greek life and lifestyles right here in the present. Athens News contributor John F.L. Ross, offers an accessible and dependable guide to the nooks and crannies of the modern Greek character, mentallity, customs and attitudes. It offers a sharp-eyed and challenging yet sympathetic look at the rapidly changing nature of contemporary Greece at the dawn of the new millenium with clarity, gentle wit and perceptive insight. For ordering information e-mail mangel@dolnet.gr

Matt's Pick!  Festive Greece: A Calendar of Tradition by John L. Tomkinson is a comprehensive calendar of the folk, religious, military and commemorative festivals of Greece. It is the only detailed guide of its kind in print in English. Included are in-depth studies of many of the more interesting and exotic manifestations of popular culture such as the mysterious figures dressed in animal skins and sheep bells which roam the streets of Northern greece during the winter and spring carnival seasons, the many variations on the popular cermonies of Holy Week and Easter, the fire-walking Anastenarides , the bull sacrifices of Lesvos, the annual appearance of the Virgin's serpents in Kefalonia and much more. From proud military parades commemorating the trials and victories of the modern Greek state, to children's spring festivities which have survived unchanged from ancient times, this beautifully illustrated guide provides the key to a more eventful stay in Greece and a better appreciation of its colorful past. E-mail the author at anagnosis@anagnosis.gr 

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Most people are familiar with Lawrence Durrell who wrote the Alexandria Quartet among other books. But did you know he had a more famous brother named Gerald who was a world famous zoologist and author? My Family and Other Animals is his classic tale of his childhood on the island of Corfu where the Durrells moved to in the thirties from damp grey England. This is a wonderful book about an idylic time and will be loved by anyone who likes animals. For those who don't you may learn to love them. The book is all about young Gerry's collection of animal friends and their adventures in the family villa.

Birds Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell takes up where My Family and Other Animals leaves off and is another autobigraphical delight about the Durrell family soujourns on Corfu and the ten-year old Gerry's efforts to collect creatures for his family zoo. This is a delightful book full of simple, well-known things and a childhood intimately recalled in middle-age. Like all of his nature books this is a good way to forget your problems, much like going on a holiday in your mind as are his boks Fauna and Family and Fillets of Plaice from the same period of Durrell's childhood on Corfu. They are all recommended.

Culture Shock: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette in Greece by Clive L. Rawlins tells the history and literature of Greece, its climate, flora and fauna but most importantly it tells of the people, their customs and traditions, their institutions and their language. It tells of how they relate to their past and seek to build their future with attachments to the west while preserving their connections with the east. Culture shock gives the newcomer a headstart in understanding Greece and the Greek people. The author has been visiting Greece since 1958 and spends time between there and Scotland.

It's All Greek To Me by John Mole tells the story of a banker and international businessman who comes to Greece to find his piece of paradise and finds himself in a love affair with Greece after an impuslive purchase of a ruin which he restores. The book is a tale of sun, sea, sand and cement and his characters come to life as they attempt to help and hinder his effort to build the house. If you are dreaming of doing the same better buy this book. John Mole is a well known author of comic novels and the perennial bestseller Mind Your Manners.

The Foods of the Greek Islands by award winning cook Aglaia Kremezi is more than a Greek cookbook. The author has put together recipes from all the islands that she has spent years collecting from the women, fishermen and bakers and has included enough information on the cooking ands culture of the individual islands to make this book interesting and pleasurable reading too. The book also contains recipes from the famous Molyvos Restaurant, one of the finest Greek Restaurants in New York City if not the world which hired Agalaia as a consultant to the menu.

GREECE: Garden of the Gods by Jennifer Gay. Landscape designer and Athens News columnist Jennifer Gay draws on a decade of experience in the Mediterranean to show you how to succeed in gardening without harming the environment.Whether you are coaxing climbers out of pots on a balcony or carving an oasis out of acres of scrubby hillside, this book offers invaluable advice on dealing with drought, pests, high winds, fires and soil erosion. Learn how to compost, mulch and turn one pest against another. Discover indigenous Greek species and the secrets of their survival. e-mail mangel@dolnet.gr

Cookbook of the Jews of Greece is a collection of recipes collected by my highschool history teacher Nikos Stavrolakis. His book comprises representative recipes from the Romaniot and the Sephardim Jewish communities of Greece. It is divided according to holidays and rites of passage, and the recipes are preceded by material that focuses on the unique character of each community and their traditional customs.

The Grecian Plate Cookbook compiled by the women of St Barabara's Church in Durham, NC. Winner of the Prestigious R.T. French Company Tastemaker Cookbook Award and March 1988 CookBook of the Month from Good Housekeeping Magazine it includes nearly 300 time-tested recipes from appetizers to desserts with step-by-step instructions and many easy to follow illustrations. Sections on the origins of recipes and how they fit into daily life in Greece. Available by sending $21 to:
Ms. Erie Cocolas
1298 Wildwood Drive
Chapel Hill NC 27514
E-mail: ajpe@unc.edu

The Real Cost of Building a House in Greece or Learning to Live with Avrio by RL and Ema Rhodes is a must for anyone planning to build in Greece or do any kind of major or minor renovations. The book is not only about the trials and tribulations you will go through but also goes into incredible detail about how to do just about everything. I don't think there is anything on the market like this book. It even comes with a CD-Rom. You can order  by e-mailing the authors at spitakiavrio@virgin.net

The Illustrated Greek Wine Book by Nico Manessis is a labor of love and anyone with an interest in Greek wines should buy it and treasure it because not only will it be invaluable when confronted with a wine list in one of the more touristy restaurants, but you will end up spending a great amount of time reading the histories, descriptions and explanations of the world of Greek wine, a world that is just starting to be discovered.

Greek-o-File! These paperbacks are collections of useful, informative and entertaining articles written by and for people who love Greece. They include subjects such as advice and experiences of property purchase & renovation, retiring to Greece, anecdotes of life in Greece, travel experiences from many contributors and background articles such as: Greek food, wines & recipes, history & mythology, language, music, book reviews and short stories - a total Greek experience.  Greek-o-File started out late 1998 publishing a quarterly magazine before switching to the annual book format in 2002. They have built up quite a following of Grecophiles who enjoy sharing their experiences and love of Greece with like-minded people." You can e-mail them at mail@greekofile.co.uk for more information.

Odyssey Magazine

You can order it at a special discounted rate at: www.greektravel.com/odysseyform

The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Christianity by Kyriacos C. Markides is an engaging combination of dialogues, reflections, history and travel information as Markides follows father Maximos, a monk from Mount Athos, as he establishes churches, convents and monasteries on the divided island.. Markides book shows us the existence of an ancient form of mysticism within modern Orthodox Christianity. Markides is also known for his book Riding With the Lion about Mount Athos and his series on the spiritual healer and teacher known as Daskalos, the Magus of Strovolos and Homage to the Sun.

The Philokalia: The Complete Text complied by St Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St Makarios of Corinth is a collection of texts written between the fouth and fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of the Orthodox Christian tradition. First published in Venice in the Greek language in 1782 this book has exercised an influence greater than that of any book other than the Bible in the history of the Greek Orthodox Church. Translated from the Greek and edited by G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard and Kallistos Ware

The Pocket Oxford Greek Dictionary is ideal for study, business, home use and especially for traveling in Greece. With over 67,000 words and phrases and helpful information on grammatical points of style and usage it is the most up-to-date English and Greek dictionary.

 You can order most of these books through Greece In Print by using their form, unless otherwise noted. Some of these books you can get directly from the publisher. You can also find them on Amazon.com so look for the search boxes I have placed in convenient locations. Just copy and paste the title of the book you are looking for into the box.

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