book catalogue

Since 800 BC when Homer’s famous epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey appeared, Greek literary production has been incessantly prolific until today. During this long period of time, Greek literature has made fundamental and significant contributions into a variety of subjects of all major fields of human intellectual production including mythology, the epic, lyrical poetry, philosophy, historiography, drama and the sciences.

In this Twin Bulletin Issue, the students of the 9 th Senior High School of Kardamitsia, Ioannina, Greece who have been participating in the Twin Library etwinning project this year, are very happy to introduce to you books of Early Modern and Modern Greek Literature.

The first book to be presented to you dates back in the early 17 th century. It is a beautiful verse romance (long poem) narrating the love story between Erotokritos and Aretousa. It belongs to the Cretan Renaissance school (Post-Byzantine era) echoing the clash between Medieval apprehensions and emerging Renaissance principles and ideas.

The second book was written in the middle of the 19 th century. It is a very interesting book which comments, and on many occasions mocks the social conventions of the era, offering unconventional and pioneer ideas related to politics, religion and family. The extract of the book that the students focused on, referred to women’s role in the mid-19 th century society and family. It accurately describes the restrictions that women had to live by and offers really innovative ideas about what the role of women should be, ideas that sound modern today despite the fact that the text was written more than 150 years ago.

The last section of the presentation is dedicated to modern Greek literature of the first two decades of the 21 st century. Four students review for us their favourite modern Greek novels and young adult fiction books. All these books are written by contemporary Greek authors drawing on a wide and very interesting spectrum of themes like drug abuse, sibling rivalry, maternal love, friendship, family relations and self-discovery.

We really hope that you will enjoy reading our reviews and that you will discover new and interesting things about Greek literature!!