The Ionian Islands
Corfu, Cephalonia, Ithaka and Beyond
Freely, John
Paperback
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BOOK SYNOPSIS
Legend has it that the Ionian Islands were created as Zeus’ beautiful lover, Io, raced through the Ionian Sea escaping Hera’s wrath. Rising from the waters between Greece and Italy, the Ionians – peaks of an underwater mountain range – are quite unlike any of the other Greek islands and are some of the most culturally, historically and mythologically rich in all Greece. Consisting of Corfu, Paxos, Ithaka, Lefkas, Cephalonia, Zakynthos (Zante) and Kythera, they have been inhabited since Paleolithic times and have a colourful and often turbulent past. Variously invaded and occupied by the Goths, Arabs, Normans, Venetians, British, Germans and most recently by tourism, they have always absorbed and assimilated other cultures whilst still retaining their unique character and identity.
The Ionians have been made famous in literature from Homer and Aeschylus to Gerald Durrell and Louis de Bernières and numerous myths are associated with them: Corfu is linked to the voyage of Jason’s Argonauts, Aphrodite was born on Kythera, Paxos and Corfu were once joined until Poseidon threw his trident and separated them and Odysseus’ home was on Ithaka. John Freely, who has visited and travelled throughout the islands over the course of 40 years, here illuminates the history, culture and present day of all seven islands, providing the most readable and comprehensive guide to the magnificent Ionians.
AUTHOR BIO
John Freely joined the US Navy at the age of seventeen, serving with a commando unit in Burma and China during the last year of World War II. He is author of The Western Shores of Turkey (Tauris Parke Paperbacks), Strolling Through Athens (also Tauris Parke Paperbacks), the bestselling Strolling Through Istanbul and The Cyclades (I.B.Tauris).
BOOK REVIEWS
PRAISE FOR JOHN FREELY'S OTHER BOOKS
Strolling Through Athens
"A magnificent walking guide to the city...His knowledge is encyclopaediche brings the millenniums of history alive. If you want a cultural guide to the ancient city, this is the one for you." Anthony Sattin, "Books of the Week", Sunday Times
Strolling Through Istanbul
"a classic. The best travel guide to Istanbul" The Times
The Western Shores of Turkey
"Enchanting guidea work of genuine scholarship, lightly worn and charmingly conveyed. I fell in love with the book and stayed enamoured until the final page." Paul Bailey, The Sunday Times
the record of a journey undertaken by a man effortlessly able to convey in depth the meaning of what he sees. Marlena Frick, Scotsman, Edinburgh
The Cyclades
A charming and informative companion for anyone exploring these enchanting islands. Andrew Steed, Stanfords Maps and Travel Books
Submit a book reviewFOR RELATED BOOKS
History Books :: Ancient Books :: Greece Books
Travel Books :: Europe Books :: Greece Books
MORE BOOK INFO
ISBN: 1845116968
ISBN(13-digit): 9781845116965
Dewey Decimal: 914.95/50474
Library of Congress: 2008275612
Book Publisher: St Martins Pr
Language: ENG
No. of Pages: 249
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