My Greek Books
Welcome back to My Greek Books! Hope you got some reading time in over the holidays. I’ve got an eclectic mix for you this month. Let’s get to it!
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Tales from a Greek Island by Alexandros Papadiamantis, translated by Elizabeth Constantinides
Johns Hopkins University Press (February 1, 1994)
About the author
Alexandros Papadiamantis is a Greek poet, short story writer, and novelist. Born in 1851 on the island of Skiathos, he died in 1911. He’s considered one of the most influential Greek writers of the 19th century. His stories take place in Greece, predominantly on his native island. His writings are influential in Modern Greek literature. According to Wikipedia, “he is for Greek prose what Dionysios Solomos is for poetry.”
According to the Cambridge Centre for Greek Studies, “he was even compared by some of his contemporaries to Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens, most likely because of the tragic tenor of his work and his habit of marking Christmas and Easter by turning out a seasonal story. His literary field of reference, however, extended far beyond the nineteenth century and along with Homer, Plato and Hesiod he also drew on Dante and Shakespeare, easily integrating scenes and passages from their works into his writing”.
Papadiamantis’ home in Skiathos is now a museum.
About the translator
Elizabeth Constantinides earned a Ph.D. in Greek and Latin from Columbia University. From 1978-1993, she taught Modern Greek language and literature at Queens College of CUNY. Constantinides wrote on Alexandros Papadiamantis and translated the 12 short stories in this collection. She also served on the Executive Committee of the Modern Greek Studies Association (MGSA) and was awarded the 1987 prize of the Society of Literary Translators in Athens, Greece. She passed away in 1992. In her memory, in 1995, MGSA established the Constantinides Memorial Translation Prize Competition for original, new translations into English of a literary work published in Modern Greek.
About the book
Set on the island of Skiathos, Greece, 12 short stories capture village life, with all its challenges. The stories are rich in symbolism and realism, even mysticism and insularity.
My Greek Books review
In Tales from a Greek Island, Alexandros Papadiamantis paints a vivid picture of a simpler time, with all the ups and downs, customs and norms of 19th century Greek village life. Some might call his stories bleak, but I find them an exquisite portrait of another era, where there were rules and mores that didn’t always make sense and sometimes made life more difficult—but where people still recognized the beauty of life. Brilliant! As Papadiamantis’ work has been described as challenging to translate, Elizabeth Constantinides did a fantastic job with the translation. Grab your copy.
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Sailing with the Wind of Freedom: Lascarina Bouboulis and the Greek War for Independence by Katherine Kaye and illustrated by Dmitri Andreyev
Damianos Publishing (February 27, 2024)
About the author
Dr. Katherine Kaye is a New York-based physician. She first learned about Bouboulina on a trip to Spetses in 1984. She has written that she “was certain that the story of a brave and resourceful woman, who dared to defy the Ottoman rulers of her country and the conventions of her village society could inspire young people around the world.”
About the book
The story is a fictionalized account of the life of Lascarina Bouboulis, better known as Bouboulina, one of the great women warriors of the Greek War of Independence.
In 1786, 15-year-old Lascarina is raised on the island of Spetses by her mother and stepfather. The identity of her father, her mother’s first husband, is—for their safety—a carefully guarded secret. This causes much suspicion among the islanders. Along with the gossip and speculation, Lascarina faces other challenges. She is educated. She’s also a brilliant sailor, trained by her stepfather. None of the other girls read and write, and they certainly don’t sail. The villagers say this is only trouble and she’ll end up a spinster.
Lascarina secretly enters a local sailing race. She is poised to win but pulls back to save the life of another sailor and loses. But this experience teaches her many lessons—and acquaints her with her future husband, Dimitris Bouboulis. He’s smitten by the independent-minded and resourceful young woman. While raising their family, she also is the bookkeeper for her husband’s shipping business, and operates a secret school in her home to educate the village children.
When her husband is killed, she uses her knowledge and strength to continue the business, the school, and raise her family. But then the Sultan orders her to turn over her fortune and her ships. Lascarina travels to Constantinople where she receives help from an unlikely source. There she learns about the Filiki Etairia (Secret Society) and joins the revolutionary movement. She builds a fleet of warships, rallies her fellow citizens, and with her expertise in business and sailing, she proves a wise leader. But her time is cut short, not by the battle, but by someone who opposes her son’s marriage.
My Greek Books review
In this novella, Katherine Kaye brings Bouboulina to life in a new way. While we don’t know extensive details of Bouboulina’s young life, the author uses creative license to bring this history to light. Katherine created an intriguing storyline that not only introduces the major figures in the Greek War of Independence (think Kolokotronis, Ypsilantis, etc., and even the Filiki Etairia), but does so in a way that captivates the reader. While this novella is intended for middle grade audiences, I truly enjoyed it. It’s a great way to introduce this important part of Greek history to and to show young girls that it’s OK to be different. It’s OK to stand out. Sometimes kids and others are harsh and will label a kid as trouble or someone without a future. Bouboulina can serve as a role model, showing girls that they are strong and they can do extraordinary things. Check it out.
Island of Ghosts and Dreams: A Novel by Christopher Cosmos
Pegasus Publishing (March 3, 2026)
About the author
Bestselling Author Christopher Cosmos was raised in the Midwest and attended the University of Michigan where he studied Screenwriting, Film, and English on a Chick Evans Scholarship. He then moved to Los Angeles to begin a career in the entertainment business.
As a screenwriter and producer, he’s known for AMERICAN REBEL, RED SONJA, and DOUBLE AGENT. His work has been featured in the Black List of best Hollywood screenplays of the year. Cosmos now splits his time between Michigan and Greece.
His debut novel, Once We Were Here (Arcade, 2020), which follows three young friends in their Greek village during WWII, became an instant bestseller. He’s also the author of Young Conquerors: A Novel of Hephaestion and Alexandros (Peninsula, 2024), and Rise (Peninsula, 2025).
About the book
The story opens in 1941 in Chania, Crete, just before the German invasion. Maria, a young village woman, lives with her in-laws and her young brothers-in-law. Her husband, Dimitrios, has been away fighting on the mainland with the Greek army. One day she finds a wounded British soldier on the beach and she and her family nurse him. Shortly after he leaves, the Germans invade Crete. Maria, her family, and the villagers are thrust into a battle for their lives—and their storied island. Crete has been occupied before, and they’ve lived to tell the tale. Life has changed in an instant, and they must fight and defend their beloved island, as their ancestors have done many times before.
When Maria’s husband, returns, though things are dangerous, the Cretans have a plan. They’ve taken up arms— including a stockpile left by the British soldier, so they can defend themselves. The men hide in the mountains and in caves, ones that the Germans do not know of, and in terrain they never could have imagined. A minor incident occurs, and in reprisal, the Germans kill Dimitrios in front of his family and then proceed to torch the village. Only Maria and a few young family members survive. Maria finds herself in a role she never imagined, as they’re thrust into a battle for their lives, for Crete, and for history.
My Greek Books review*
In this epic tale of honor, sacrifice, love, resilience, and hope, Christopher Cosmos gives voice to the ghosts of the heroes and highlights the dreams of the survivors. People need to know what happened in Crete—the tragedy and the triumph—and Island of Ghosts and Dreams is a stunning portrayal of the plight and perseverance of the Cretan people. This story is a must-read, and one you won’t soon forget. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
*I read an advance review copy. The book is available for pre-order now.
BONUS!
Great Greek Women Revolutionaries of 1821 by Eleni Maria Georgiou
Barnes & Noble Press (November 13, 2022)
About the author
Eleni Maria Georgiou is a writer, translator, and publishing professional. She and her family live in Athens. She’s written several books, including Great Greek Revolutionaries of 1821: Greek-English Parallel Text (Barnes & Noble Press, 2022) featuring six short biographies of the most revered male fighters in the Greek War of Independence of 1821.
About the book
This short work profiles four women warriors of the Greek War of Independence. The first section includes Greek-English parallel text, and then a section all in Greek, and another all in English. The book is intended for advanced learners of the Greek language who wish to improve their vocabulary, spelling and grammar skills. Likewise, native Greek speakers can use the book to improve their English language skills.
My Greek Books review
We all know Bouboulina. Some know Manto Mavrogenous, but Eleni Maria Georgiou introduces us to two women warriors I had not heard of: Stavriana Savvaina and Eleni Vassou. The biographies are intriguing. And how cool to read the Greek translations! It’s a quick and informative read—especially for language learners. Every Greek school kid should get a copy of this to augment their studies for Greek Independence Day. A great gift idea!
It’s available at Barnes & Noble.
My Greek Books—January 2026
That’s it for this month. Now you’ve got four more books to add to your list! Next month, watch for a My Greek Books and more great reads to add to your list. Til then, Happy Reading!
