What are you reading now?

[Euklid]

I am reading "The Symposium" of Plato as always for bed time. I think its the best book to realize who was actually Plato.

I finished a week ago: H POLIS EALW, real testimonies by Mihael Duka and Nikolo Barbaro. ekdoseis Vergina.

One i recommend is the "Vrehei Fws" by Kostis Gkimosoulis, its something like a parallel biography of Karyotakis.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by PhiliptheUniterchaeronea

Those both sound very interesting.

I recomend both file mou, they are very important and pleasurable, although to get the kolokotronis i had to pre-order from the store room in my central library - rare in this country but worth it. The full title of this particular copy is:
Kolokotrones the klepht and the warrior. Sixty years of peril and daring. An autobiography

The Martorell is one of the greatest books ever written and the real stroy of Roger de Fleur who it is based on is fascinating. Cervantes said of the work whilst the Italians were burning all the books,

'burn them all, but save Tirant lo Blanc - the best book ever written.'

BTW I would like to chat with you soon again on msn, been a while.

V

[Euklid]

I do not use msn, i do not open this thing at all.

[Reaper]

LOl, ela re file, i was speaking to the guy above, lol.

[Spartan]

Salonica, City of Ghost 2/3 rds the way through.

Next I plan on reading

1)The Balkan Wars, Conquest, Revolution and Retribution from the Ottoman Era to the Twentieth Century and Beyond. By Andre Gerolymatos

2)Balkan Ghost, A Journey Through History. By Robert D. Kaplan

3)Red Acropolis, The Greek Civil War and the Origins of Soviet-American Rivalry, 1943-1949.
By Ander Gerolymatos

4)Inside Hitlers Greece, The Experience of Occupation, 1941-44
By Mark Mazower

[Euklid]

I know mate, you were not talking to me, i just added my comment on msn.

[akritas]

Spartan I have already read the

1) Balkan Ghost, A Journey Through History. By Robert D. Kaplan

2) Inside Hitlers Greece, The Experience of Occupation, 1941-44

good books, specially the second one

as about the

Red Acropolis, The Greek Civil War and the Origins of Soviet-American Rivalry, 1943-1949.

I didnt read it, but I ve saw some pages in the book store and in my opinion if you want to read a book that consern the Greek civil war my suggestion is Chris Woodhouse,The Struggle for Greece (1941-1949)

Now I am reading the same book as you do

Salonica, City of Ghosts

[Young Turk]

I am reading "Those Crazy Turks" where it tells about Greco-Turkish war.

[Spartan]

Hey Akritas,

what did you think about the Salonica book?

I found it to be very Jewish oriented. I realize that during the time frame he covered there was a large Jewish population, but at the same time he seems to give very little creedence to the other Ethnicities in the city. Also when he reached the Greek Civil War he barely mentioned it as if Thessaloniki had no involvement what so ever and focuses only on the Jews who returned after WWII to claim their property.

Do you know of any other good books that discuss the history of Thessaloniki and the Region of Macedonia during that time frame?

Have you read the book by Andre Gerolymatos called Balkan Wars?

I just got finished with it and it is a very straightforward book that keeps personal opinion out. He focuses on Nation Myth and how each Balkan country used past events as a uniting point. I will say though, it is very short.



Young Turk,

Who wrote that book and is it in English?

If you want to read a good book of the time when the Greeks first revolted from Turkish rule and is unbiased(except for some British arrogance), then you should read;

The Greek War of Independence, The struggle For Freedom From Ottoman Oppression And The Birth of The Modern Greek Nation.

[akritas]

Spartan I did not like it at all.As you said this book is focus in the Jewish part of the Salonika.Of course the Jews in Salonica passed alot from Greek traitors during German occupation , but also many of them saved because the Greek help.I will stay also that Mazower call the Cyrill and Methodios as "propably" Slav.

Do you know of any other good books that discuss the history of Thessaloniki and the Region of Macedonia during that time frame?

Good books for that time are from Apostolos or Konstantinos Vakalopoulos.In my opinion are the best books.
As about Civil war as I said Woodhouse and Flaisher (in Greek as I know)

Have you read the book by Andre Gerolymatos called Balkan Wars?

I just got finished with it and it is a very straightforward book that keeps personal opinion out. He focuses on Nation Myth and how each Balkan country used past events as a uniting point. I will say though, it is very short.

I did not read the Gerolymatos book.

Now I am reading Mango and Byzantium(Oxford University Press)
I found the English edition(hardback) 20 Euros and the Greek edition 38 euros!!!
I bought the first one!!