Literary Tourism: Greece Archives

A Deadly Twist (Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mysteries #11)

by Jeffrey Siger

Holly says: Who is behind the disappearance of journalist Nikoletta Elia on the island of Naxos? That’s the opening question for this mystery in a popular series featuring Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis. As the story unfolds, Kaldis is dispatched to Naxos after an unidentified body is found, and secrets begin to be uncovered. Naxos, one of the larger Greek islands, grapples with the tense relationship between tourism and the traditional agrarian lifestyle, and centers the beautiful setting of Naxos itself. I picked up this book not realizing it was book 11 in the series, simply because Naxos was one of the islands we visited. While I didn’t intend to start in the middle of the series, I still enjoyed the story.

The Island of Missing Trees

by Elif Shafak

An intergenerational story about family, war, loss, and love. In 1974 Cyprus, a Christian Greek boy and a Muslim Turkish girl fall in love despite it being forbidden. In 2010s London we learn how the past affected the family today…and every other chapter is narrated by the fig tree that saw everything happen. Shafak said her reason for making a tree a character and giving the tree an actual voice is that she wanted a character who stood outside of time, who was there before the humans and would be there after. Literary fiction is often weird and creative and can be all the more powerful for it.

Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life

by Daniel Klein

Holly says: This slim memoir from Daniel Klein follows the author on a trip to the Greek island of Hydra, where he immerses himself in the local culture in hopes of discovering the secrets of aging happily. Infused throughout with quotes and reflections from Greek philosophers and his island neighbors, Klein reflects on the simple pleasures available to those who have earned them through time and wisdom. I found this in the slim English-language section of a small Greek bookstore, and found it inspiring and reflective. I can see myself gifting this to several readers in my life.

The Great Chimera

by M. Karagatsis

Holly says: Widely considered a modern Greek classic, this novel follows Marina as she flees her troubled childhood home on the arm of a Greek sea-captain, accompanying him to the Greek island of Syros. She falls in love with her new home but not all is smooth sailing: when tragedy strikes her husband’s shipping business, she must grapple with major losses and changes to her comfortable life. Athenian author Karagatsis was part of the “Generation of the ’30’s,” considered innovators in the Greek arts. This novel is a departure from my usual reading selections, but when I saw it on the English-language shelf of a charming bookstore on the island of Syros—where this novel is set—I had to bring it home with me. I found the story emotional, resonant, and ultimately a satisfying reading experience. Content warnings apply.

Clytemnestra

by Costanza Casati

Holly says: Many of us know the story of Agamemnon and his death at the hands of his Queen Clytemnestra. This story flips the perspective and tells Cyltemnestra’s story from her own perspective. With appearances from well-known Greek legends like Odysseus and Helen, this was a vibrant reimagining that was hard to put down. I read this alongside our travels to ancient Mycenae, where Agamemnon reigned, and the descriptions of the palace and surroundings made for an especially evocative experience. Content warnings apply.

Excavations

by Kate Myers

Holly says: This novel featuring a chorus of four narrators—each a woman working on a remote archaeological dig in Greece—was a delight! Each woman is struggling with her own personal and professional drama; meanwhile, something’s amiss on the dig itself. Can they work together and overcome their differences to discover something truly unexpected? I loved finding out and I bet you will, too. Thanks to fellow Modern Mrs Darcy team member Brigid for recommending this title to me!

The Fury

by Alex Michaelides

Holly says: A locked room mystery with an unreliable narrator, this story follows movie star Lana Farrar and a group of her friends (and frenemies) during their spring escape to a private Greek island. Long-buried secrets and resentments come to light and culminate in a murder. I loved it for the setting and capturing the intense winds of the Cyclades islands, but the characters and story format weren’t my favorites; it's told circuitously and some of the twists were a bit much for my tastes.Content warnings apply.

Labyrinthine Ways

by Aurelia Smeltz

Holly says: When researching the books I might want to read to prepare for my trip to Greece, I came upon this novel that delves into the folklore, archeology, myths, and culture of Crete and added it to my TBR immediately. Weaving stories of occupation and invasion, self-discovery, and the locals, I’m eager to read this alongside Ariadne and compare more modern perspectives against the mythological history of this iconic island. As the Greek National Tourist Organization said of this book: “Labyrinthine Ways presents Crete at its best; read this book before visiting our island.”

Where the Wandering Ends

by Yvette Manessis Corporon

Holly says: Set on the Greek island of Corfu, this multigenerational story follows best friends Marco and Katerina. Separated as children when World War II comes to their island, they vow to make it back home to each other. Over the course of sixty years, their lives take them each on different paths, colored by Greek mythology, the landscapes of Corfu, and the Greek Civil War. I really enjoyed learning about a part of Greek history that was new to me, along with the infusions of folklore and mythology throughout. Content warnings apply.

Circe

by Madeline Miller

Holly says: Miller’s sophomore novel explores the life of Circe, expanding her narrative beyond the few pages in Homer’s Odyssey. In this beautifully crafted novel, we follow Circe after she is banished to a deserted island, where she grows into her skills and power and comes to terms with her place in a world surrounded by gods, mortals, heroes, and titans. I read this upon its release and anxiously look forward to Miller’s next book: she’s shared it will be a story of Hades and Persephone and I cannot wait to see what she does with those characters. Content warnings apply.

Love & Olives

by Jenna Evans Welch

Holly says: The island of Santorini evokes visions of Greece, with its dramatic views and whitewashed buildings, and this YA novel takes you there. Liv travels to Santorini at the invitation of her estranged father. While they attempt to rebuild their relationship, Liv explores a budding romance. A story of self-discovery and young romance, I enjoyed the plot elements featuring the lost island of Atlantis.

The Silence of the Girls

by Pat Barker

Pat Barker retells The Iliad from the point of view of Briseis, a young Trojan queen who is enslaved by Achilles; she is his reward for a military victory. The Trojan women have a complicated relationship with their Greek captors and Briseis is no exception. What these women endure is brutal; Barker doesn't gloss over the violence of war or the treatment of those enslaved. Content warnings apply.

Unpacking for Greece: Travel in a Land of Fortresses, Fables, Ferries and Feta

by Sally Jane Smith

Holly says: After a lengthy travel hiatus following a road accident in Sri Lanka, Sally Jane Smith ventures to Greece in an attempt to rediscover her wandering spirit. Guided by her mother’s 1978 travel diary, she explores Athens, the Peloponnese Peninsula, and several Greek Islands. I appreciated her perspective of traveling as a middle-aged woman on a budget. While several of her destinations overlapped with my own, others didn’t make it into my itinerary, and I enjoyed reading her experiences of both. Travel memoirs can be hit or miss, but I really enjoyed this one, which was also awarded First Prize (Prose in English) in the 2024 Greek-Australian Cultural League Book Awards. A sequel chronicles her visits to additional destinations across Greece.

Ariadne

by Jennifer Saint

Holly says: Another novel featuring a fresh perspective on a classic myth, Saint’s novel explores the tale of Ariadne, Theseus, and the Minotaur. Growing up on Crete, Ariadne lives the life of a princess until she is promised in marriage to a rough man she does not love. When Theseus comes to Crete alongside the annual tributes given to the Minotaur, Ariadne sees an opportunity to escape. The author has since written additional retellings about famous Greek heroines, which I’ve added to my TBR.

Chirp

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