Best Books About Greece Every Traveler Needs to Read

If you happen to be an avid reader, that means you love your mind to travel to faraway places and get lost in the pages of a riveting novel. A good story can capture the essence, landscapes, people, culture and cities of a region-- one of the closest things to "real travel".  
 
Greece has inspired countless writers and poets for millennia. So, why not pick up a book and become inspired by the fascinating stories that take place there? 
 
Discover our top selection of books you ought to read before planning your upcoming holiday in Greece!
 
 
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1) Captain Corelli's Mandolin (1994) by Louis de Bernières

This wonderful novel is an epic war love story between Pelagia and Captain Corelli. The story takes place in the Second World War, set on the idyllic island of Kefalonia, which was then occupied by Germans and Italians. This beautiful story embodies all the love stories in the world: The passionate love that the daughter of a Greek doctor feels for a military captain; the love between a father and his daughter; and about how the locals won the sympathy of their occupants. 
 
This marvellous novel has beautifully written descriptions of the Kefalonian island, which unavoidably conjure up vivid images, scents, and sounds of Greece. 

2) Eleni (1989) by Nicholas Gage

This international bestseller, translated into 32 languages, is a must-read for any traveller who loves Greece or plans a trip here! This riveting novel accounts the story of the author's mother, who fought against the communist guerrillas to save her family from being captured during the Greek Civil War. The story also describes in fine detail about Greek families, home, and the quaint mountain village of Lia. The story has inspired many readers to follow this brave woman's footsteps and visit the story's various stunning locations. 

3) The Odyssey by Homer

One of the first novels ever written, this classic is a must for any avid reader! The Odyssey, by the Greek poet Homer, is one of the most important epic poems of all time. 
The story tells us about Odysseus's journey returning to his homeland in Ithaca after the long and arduous Trojan War. This novel is undoubtedly a page-turner which will transport you to Ancient Greek times and immerse yourself in the protagonist's exciting journey full of adventures and danger. 

4) Mani- Travels in the Southern Peloponnese (1958) by Patrick Leigh Fermer

Author Patrick Leigh Fermor, who fell deeply in love with Greece after his voyages there, decides to write about the country in this travel biography. He stayed in the Peloponnese with his wife and friend long enough to soak up its culture and ways of life, encapsulating all his adventures in this masterpiece. 
 
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5) The Island (2007) by Victoria Hislop

For those who are planning an upcoming holiday to Crete or already are in love with this island, then this novel should be added to your checkbox list! The story is about a 25-year-old British archaeologist of Greek origin who plans to travel to the Greek island of Spinalonga to unearth the mysteries of her ancestry. The reader will explore the history of this magical island-- once home to a leper settlement-- and discover the devastating but extraordinary stories of the protagonist's torn-apart Greek family due to events of the Second World War and the passions of love.

6) The Magus (1965) by John Fowles

The Magus is an enormously rich, and ambitious work-- with elements of the gothic, thriller, and philosophical novel. Nicholes Urfe, an English teacher from London, travels and settles on the remote and fictional Greek island of "Phraxos"-- which came as inspiration by the author's real experiences on the Greek island of Spetses (from the beautiful Saronic archipelago). 
The protagonist feels intoxicated by this paradise island and describes its landscapes and nature in vivid details. Here, he meets a mysterious character, who calls himself a Magician and forces him to participate in very bizarre experiences. Fascinated by this strange character, who makes him seduce two twin sisters, the protagonist goes through a chain of mysterious events that seem to mix reality and dream. 
 
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7) Dangerous Spring (2017) by Yannis Maris

Yannis Maris is known as the most notable writer of Greek crime novels. In Dangerous Spring, the story centres around the posh northern Athenian suburb of Kifissia in 1965-- where inspector Georgios Bekas sets off to solve the murders of a wealthy man's wife and daughter. This contemporary novel captures the essence of upscale Kifissia, making you want to add it to your destination checklist. 

8) Zorba the Greek (1946) by Nikos Kazantzakis

On his trip to Crete, a young Englishman meets Alexis Zorba, a local Greek man full of vitality and zeal. Having always had his nose inside a book, as the protagonist gets to know Zorba, he realises what a boring life he has led up to that moment. And he learns from the Greek man how to live life to the fullest. 
This beautiful novel was also made into a film in 1964. However, if you want your mind to travel directly to Crete, we highly recommend reading this book; as it will undoubtedly spark your imagination and transport you to the Cretan island. 
 
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