Crete may be known for its dramatic coastline and clear seas, but it’s also an island of long-standing traditions and passionate people. To understand just what makes the Cretans so proud of their history and culture, there is a wealth of literature to turn to.
Here are some of our favourite books about Crete, Greece’s largest island with a rich and turbulent history.
Zorba the Greek
by Nikos Kazantzakis
Kazantzakis’s much-loved novel – and Oscar-winning film adaptation – follows the story of a young Greek man who moves to Crete to claim an inheritance. On the island, he befriends Zorba, a middle-aged man with a zest for life. It’s an unforgettable tale of friendship and living life to the fullest.
The Cretan Runner
by George Psychoundakis, translated by Patrick Leigh Fermor
This is the true story of a young shepherd boy who joined the resistance when the Nazis invaded Crete in 1941. Psychoundakis recounts his dangerous role carrying messages, smuggling arms and guiding soldiers across the island.
Daughters of the Labyrinth
by Ruth Padel
Set in the 21st century, this is a story of family and identity. When Ri’s English husband dies, she returns to Crete from London. Here she finds proud memories of the Crete resistance, but also family secrets and a darker history than she expected.
The Island
by Victoria Hislop
Alexis knows very little about her family’s Cretan past, so decides to visit the village of Plaka where her mother was born. She’s shocked to learn that Plaka sits opposite the deserted island of Spinalonga, a former leper colony that holds a tragic story about Alexis’s family. This gripping summer read was a number 1 bestseller for good reason.
Freedom and Death
by Nikos Kazantzakis
Set in the late 19th century, this fictionalised history tells the story of the epic struggle between Greeks and Turks, Christianity and Islam. A new uprising throws the island’s community into confusion amid explosions of violence.
Crete: The Battle and the Resistance
by Antony Beevor
Acclaimed historian Antony Beevor brings to life the events of 1941 leading to the Cretan resistance and a major turnaround in World War II. This is not just a story of military events, but of ordinary people showing extreme courage.
Ill Met by Moonlight
by W. Stanley Moss
This is the true story of a young Officer W. Stanley Moss who, along with Major Patrick Leigh Fermor, carried out one of the most hazardous missions of World War II. Together, they set out to Nazi-occupied Crete to capture General Kreipe, narrowly escaping a German manhunt.
The Poetics of Manhood
by Michael Herzfeld
Cretans are known for their resistance, first to Turkish rule and then to German occupation. Herzfeld’s book looks at the shepherds, villagers and mountain-dwellers of Crete and the way of life that has made them so resilient.
If you’ve been inspired to come cycling and walking across Crete with us, find out more about our journeys or enquire now.
