Library
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"A History of Crete"
By Chris Moorey
A comprehensive yet accessible narrative of Crete from antiquity through modern times.
"Zorba the Greek"
By Nikos Kazantzakis
A spirited novel capturing Cretan values, hospitality, and existential depth.
"Minoan Crete: An Introduction"
By L. Vance Watrous
Great for understanding Bronze Age culture, architecture, and festivals.
"Myths of Crete and Pre‑Hellenic Europe"
By Donald A. Mackenzie
A classic introduction to Minoan mythology and its influence on the island’s identity.
"Freedom and Death"
By Nikos Kazantzakis
Kazantzakis's modern "Iliad" set in late-19th-century Crete, when a new uprising takes place.
"The Poetics of Manhood"
By Michael Herzfed
A research-based exploration of what it means to be a man in traditional Greek village life.
"The Golden Step"
By Christopher Somerville
A lyrical walking journey across Crete, blending landscape, history, and local encounters with quiet humor and insight.
"Greek to Me"
By Mary Norris
A personal and joyful exploration of the Greek language and culture by a long-time copy editor at The New Yorker.
"The Greek Islands"
By Lawrence Durrell
Durrell’s poetic guide to the islands, rich with historical references, personal reflections, and vivid imagery.
"Dinner with Persephone"
By Patricia Storace
An elegant, impressionistic account of a year in Greece, weaving myth, daily life, and sharp cultural observations.
"Captain Corelli’s Mandolin"
By Louis de Bernieres
A sweeping love story set during the Italian and German occupation of a Greek island in WWII—both romantic and brutal.
"Kidnap in Crete"
By Rick Stroud
A gripping true story of the daring WWII abduction of a German general by Cretan resistance fighters and British SOE agents.
"Crete"
By Barry Unsworth
A meditative travel narrative where Unsworth explores the soul of Crete, uncovering layers of myth, memory, and modern identity.
"Crete: The Battle and the Resistance"
By Antony Beevor
A powerful and deeply researched history of WWII Crete, examining both military strategy and the extraordinary role of local civilians in the resistance.
"The Ariadne Objective"
By Wes Davis
A thrilling account of a secret Allied mission in WWII Crete, blending espionage, resistance, and ancient landscapes.
"The Island"
By Victoria Hislop
A poignant historical novel that follows Alexis Fielding as she uncovers her family's hidden past, intertwined with the tragic history of Spinalonga, a former leper colony in Crete.
"Eurydice Street: A Place in Athens"
In 2001, Sofka Zinovieff accompanied her husband on a posting back to Athens. This book is both an account of her enthusiastic, if often balked, attempts to transform herself into a Greek, and a vivid evocation of a city in a chaotic ferment of change.
"The Corfu Trilogy"
By Gerald Durrell
The trilogy that inspired ITV's television series The Durrells. Three classic tales of childhood on an island paradise - My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods.
"Here is Greece"
By Alex Kemp
With humor and insight, Alex navigates through a new Greek life and meets a procession of vivid characters who all help him feel Greece has become his home, and sometimes make him wonder if he made the right decision.
"Circe"
By Madeline Miller
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Audio book narrated by Perdita Weeks is particularly good.
Watch
Zorba the Greek (1964, Drama)
Filmed in Crete (Stavros Beach, Akrotiri)
A classic tale of joy, tragedy, and the Cretan spirit. This story of a reserved English writer and his exuberant Greek friend captures the landscape, music, and philosophy of Crete like no other.
The Two Faces of January (2014, Thriller)
Filmed partly at Knossos and Chania Old Town
This modern thriller blends psychological tension with elegant shots of Crete’s ancient ruins and Venetian architecture—useful to spark guests’ curiosity about sites like Aptera or Knossos.
Mediterraneo (1991, Italian Comedy-Drama)
Set on an unnamed Greek island
A quirky, heartfelt story of Italian soldiers stranded on a Greek island who fall into the rhythm of island life. While fictional, it reflects the charm of Greek hospitality and simplicity.
Culinary Journeys: Crete (CNN series)
Showcases the island’s seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine and includes interviews with local chefs and farmers. Great background for your retreat's food and wine elements.
The Moon-Spinners (1964, Adventure – Disney)
Filmed in Elounda and Kritsa, Crete
A charming adventure-romance with stunning shots of traditional Cretan villages and landscapes. A lighter, more family-friendly way to appreciate the island’s beauty and atmosphere.
Little England (Mikra Anglia, 2013, Historical Drama)
Set on the Greek island of Andros but rich in Greek culture
An epic romantic drama about two sisters in the early 20th century, filled with beautiful cinematography, emotion, and old-world Greek customs.
Greece: The Islands – Crete (Rick Steves Europe)
A short but effective introduction to Crete’s geography, food, and history. Ideal for guests new to the island.
The Durrells in Corfu (2016 - 2019)
A British comedy-drama television series loosely based on Gerald Durrell's three autobiographical books about his family's four years (1935–1939) on the Greek island of Corfu.
Eleni (1985)
The haunting and dramatic film adaption of memoir by Greek-American journalist, which looks back to the effect of the 1940s Greek Civil War and his mother's murder by communist guerrillas of the Democratic Army of Greece.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
The 2008 film brought global attention to Greece's dazzling blue seas and whitewashed chapels. Beyond ABBA's infectious music, it celebrates family, love, and island life. Stars Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard and Pierce Brosnan. Was filmed on Skopelos, Skiathos, and Pelion.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 1, 2 & 3 (2002, 2016, 2023)
A romantic comedy that follows a young Greek-American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.
Shirley Valentine (1989)
Filmed on the island of Mykonos, Shirley Valentine tells the story of a middle-aged woman who trades routine for adventure and self-discovery. Against the backdrop of Greek tavernas and sunlit beaches, it celebrates courage, reinvention, and the magic of Greece as a place that transforms lives. This British romantic dramedy earned Pauline Collins an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win for Best Actress.
40 Carats (1973)
Directed by Milton Katselas and starring Liv Ullmann, Edward Albert, Gene Kelly, and Binnie Barnes, this romantic comedy explores love across generations — with the timeless backdrop of Greece.
A Touch of Spice (Politiki Kouzina / The Spice of Life (2003)
A Touch of Spice tells the story of Fanis, a Greek boy growing up in Istanbul, whose life is shaped by his grandfather's lessons about food, love, and philosophy. Blending flavors of Constantinople with memories of exile and return, it's a tender meditation on identity, belonging, and how cuisine preserves culture across borders.
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
2001 film based on 1994 novel by British writer, Louis de Bernieres, of Italian and German occupation during WWII. Stars Penelope Cruz, John Hurt, Nicolas Cage.
Maestro in Blue (2022 - 2024)
A Greek drama television series (Netflix) situated on the Greek island of Paxos. Directed by and Starring Christoforos Papakaliatis.
40 Carats (1973)
Directed by Milton Katselas and starring Liv Ullmann, Edward Albert, Gene Kelly, and Binnie Barnes, this romantic comedy explores love across generations — with the timeless backdrop of Greece.
Rembetiko (1983)
Directed by Costas Ferris, starring Sotiria Leonardou, the film follows the life of a singer shaped by the 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe, exile from Turkey, and the rise of rebetiko music in Greece. It’s the story of uprooted families, cultural survival, and the power of music to hold memory. Through its haunting songs, the film preserves the soul of rebetiko as a soundtrack of resilience and identity.
