Dimensions
210 x 143 x 19mm
Renowned British novelist Barry Unsworth documents his fascinating travels in Crete, largest of the Greek isles and home to the Minoan civilisation of 1500 BC - one of the most glittering and sophisticated cultures the world has ever seen.
"It is hard to think of anywhere on earth where so many firsts and mosts are crammed into a space so small," Barry Unsworth writes of the isle of Crete. Birthplace of the Greek god Zeus, the Greek alphabet, and the first Greek laws, as well as the home of 15 mountain ranges and the longest gorge in Europe, this land is indisputably unique.
In this new book, Unsworth describes the incredible physical and cultural proportions of the island - in history, myth, and reality.
Lying between two seas and three continents, the isle of Crete has traditionally served as a complex battleground of influences, with a long history of clashes between races and cultures.
Going back to the ancient Minoan civilisation, the inhabitants of Crete have maintained an astonishing tenacity and endurance, even as they suffered conquest and occupation by Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, Ottoman Turks, and Germans - all without losing their sense of national identity. It is a toughness of spirit, Unsworth finds, that parallels the rugged landscape of this severe but beautiful island.
Moving and artful, 'Crete' brings readers a complete history and understanding of this complex - and indeed, almost magical - world of Mediterranean wonders.
