Description
Book SynopsisScattered in a crescent in the sparkling waters of the Aegean, the islands of the Sporades are known to Greek fishermen as 'the gates of the wind'. It was to this unspoilt archipelago that Michael Carroll sailed Astarte, a boat of sleek mahogany with wine-red sails, named after the Phoenician goddess of the moon and the sea. But his dream of travelling where the wind took him, rootless and free, changed when he landed on Skopelos.There, a chance meeting with the charismatic Vangeli led to him buying a piece of land on a remote cove, once the site of an ancient city and the perfect harbour for Astarte.So unfolds the story of Carroll's growing attachment to Skopelos as he sets down roots and makes it his home. Engaging and vividly-described, "An Island in Greece" is a sun-drenched tale of a life full of simple pleasures, governed by the seasons, the tides and the wind; the story of a traveller who finally arrived and a unique homage to the island that harboured him.
Trade ReviewAn engaging book, flavoured with ouzo, olives and a distinct individuality. * Sunday Times *
Here is a study of that involvement essential to any understanding of the Greeks, or of what it means to be in Greece. Carroll writes like a travel journalist who sees the surface accurately and records it with facility. Once involved, however, his vision deepens and he writes with affectionate insight, a richer man because he understands more. * Guardian *
Readers who enjoyed his
From a Persian Tea House will be glad to meet him again in a Greek setting and he should attract a wider public. * The Times *
Carroll evokes the atmosphere and the essential kindliness of the people splendidly. Good, tautly-written, sun-drenched stuff. Irish Times
Greece seems to inspire writers to write well. Michael Carroll is a new and welcome edition to the list which Patrick Leigh Fermor heads...Once of the best and most enjoyable travel books I have read for a long time. * Glasgow Herald *
Table of ContentsPreface 1 North to the Sporades 2 Skiathos 3 Skopelos: Vangeli's Island 4 Kosta and Paraskevoúla 5 Panormos: Saints and Treasure 6 Skyros: A Poet's Grave 7 Granddaughters of Lycúrgos: A Berth for
Astarte 8 Landowner at Last 9 Earth Tremors and Island Rivalry 10 Goat-Hunt to Iura 11 Tourist Salad Days 12 Eremonisia 13 A Balcony Over the Sea 14 Elections for Mayor: Vangeli Stands 15 Harbour Stands
