The Greek islands have inspired writers for centuries, from ancient myths set on Ithaca to modern novels on Crete, Corfu, Skiathos and the Cyclades. The books below explore island communities, family dramas, historical upheavals and unforgettable landscapes, offering a literary journey across some of Greece’s most fascinating islands.
Fear of Barbarians by Petar Andonovski (Gavdos)
Set on the remote Greek island of Gavdos, south of Crete, Fear of Barbarians follows two women whose lives are shaped by the island in very different ways: for Oksana, a Ukrainian newcomer, it feels like a refuge, while for Penelope, who was born there, it feels like a cage. This award-winning novella offers a vivid portrait of island life while exploring themes of belonging, isolation and the experience of being an outsider.
- Location: Gavdos (island south of Crete)
- Year of publication: 2018
- Original title: Страв од варвари
- 90 pages
- Notable: Winner of the European Union Prize for Literature (2020)
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood (Ithaca)
Set largely in ancient Ithaca, The Penelopiad retells the story of Odysseus’s long absence following the Trojan War through the eyes of his wife, Penelope. Margaret Atwood, best known for The Handmaid’s Tale, brings the Greek island kingdom vividly to life while offering a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on myth, giving voice not only to Penelope but also to her twelve maids whose tragic fate has long been overlooked.
- Location: Mainly ancient Ithaca
- Year of publication: 2005
- 216 pages
The Island by Victoria Hislop (Crete, Spinalonga)
Set on the coast of Crete and the nearby island of Spinalonga, The Island follows a young Englishwoman who uncovers long-buried family secrets linked to one of Europe’s last leper colonies. Victoria Hislop combines romance, history and drama with a vivid evocation of Crete, making this bestselling novel a compelling introduction to one of Greece’s most fascinating islands.
- Location: Crete and Spinalonga
- Year of publication: 2005
- 480 pages
S.S. Proleterka by Fleur Jaeggy
Set aboard a ship sailing from Venice to the Greek islands, S.S. Proleterka follows a teenage girl and her father on a journey marked by emotional distance and unspoken tensions. Fleur Jaeggy’s acclaimed novella combines the evocative atmosphere of a Mediterranean voyage with a subtle and powerful exploration of family relationships, memory and adolescence.
- Location: Mediterranean cruise from Venice to the Greek islands
- Year of publication: 2001
- Original title: Proleterka
- 122 pages
- Notable: winner of the Premio Viareggio and the Premio Donna Città di Roma.
The Jasmine Isle by Ioanna Karystiani (Andros)
Set on the Cycladic island of Andros, The Jasmine Isle tells the story of two sisters whose lives become tragically intertwined through love, marriage and the hardships of a seafaring community. Richly rooted in the traditions and atmosphere of the Greek islands, Ioanna Karystiani’s award-winning novel is both a moving family drama and a vivid portrait of island life.
- Location: Andros
- Year of publication: 1997
- Original title: Μικρά Αγγλία
- 288 pages
- Notable: winner of the Greek State Award for Literature
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières (Cephalonia)
Set on the Greek island of Cephalonia during the Second World War, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin combines romance, humour and tragedy against the backdrop of occupation, resistance and civil war. Louis de Bernières brings the island vividly to life, making this international bestseller both a compelling love story and an unforgettable portrait of one of Greece’s most beautiful islands in a time of turmoil.
- Location: Cephalonia (Kefalonia)
- Year of publication: 1994
- 596 pages
- Notable: winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book
The Life of Ismail Ferik Pasha by Rhea Galanaki (Crete)
Set largely on Crete in the nineteenth century, The Life of Ismail Ferik Pasha tells the remarkable story of a Cretan boy who is captured by the Ottomans, rises to become a powerful general in Ottoman Egypt, and eventually returns to his homeland, Crete, to suppress a rebellion. Based on real events, Rhea Galanaki’s acclaimed novel offers a fascinating perspective on Cretan history while exploring questions of identity, loyalty and belonging.
- Location: Crete and Egypt
- Year of publication: 1989
- Original title: Ο βίος του Ισμαήλ Φερίκ Πασά
- 166 pages
- Notable: included in the Unesco Collection of Representative Works
The Magus by John Fowles (Spetses)
Set on a fictional Greek island inspired by Spetses, The Magus follows a young English teacher who becomes drawn into the psychological games of a mysterious and wealthy Greek man. John Fowles’s acclaimed novel combines the atmosphere of a sun-drenched Greek island with suspense, mystery and philosophical intrigue, making it one of the most influential British novels of the twentieth century.
- Location: Phraxos (Spetses)
- Year of publication: 1965
- 656 pages
- Notable: featured on Modern Library’s list of 100 Best Novels of the 20th century and the BBC’s top 100 books from The Big Read survey.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell (Corfu)
Set on the Greek island of Corfu in the years before the Second World War, My Family and Other Animals is Gerald Durrell’s memoir of his childhood among an eccentric British family and the island’s remarkable wildlife. Filled with colourful characters, amusing anecdotes and affectionate descriptions of Corfu’s landscapes and fauna, it remains one of the most beloved books ever written about a Greek island.
- Location: Corfu
- Year of publication: 1956
- 288 pages
The Great Chimera by M. Karagatsis (Syros)
Set on the Cycladic island of Syros, The Great Chimera follows a French woman who marries into a Greek shipping family and struggles to find her place in an unfamiliar world. Combining passion, obsession and tragedy, M. Karagatsis’s celebrated novel offers a vivid portrait of island life while exploring the tensions between desire, identity and social expectations.
- Location: Syros
- Year of publication: 1953
- Original title: Η Μεγάλη Χίμαιρα
- 384 pages
Freedom and Death (Captain Michalis) by Nikos Kazantzakis (Crete)
Set on Crete during the island’s struggle against Ottoman rule in the late nineteenth century, Freedom and Death (Captain Michalis) follows a proud Cretan freedom fighter caught between personal passions and the fight for independence. Nikos Kazantzakis – best known for Zorba the Greek – combines history, drama and powerful characterisation to create one of the most celebrated literary portraits of Crete and its people.
- Location: Crete
- Year of publication: 1953
- Original title: Ο Καπετάν Μιχάλης
- 472 pages
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis (Crete)
Set on Crete, Zorba the Greek follows a young man who leaves behind his life of books to embark on a mining venture with the larger-than-life Alexis Zorba. Combining philosophy, humour and adventure, Nikos Kazantzakis’s most famous novel offers a vivid portrait of Cretan life and an unforgettable celebration of freedom, friendship and the joy of living.
- Location: Crete
- Year of publication: 1946
- Original title: Βίος και Πολιτεία του Αλέξη Ζορμπά
- 368 pages
The Murderess by Alexandros Papadiamantis (Skiathos)
Set on the island of Skiathos around 1900, The Murderess follows an elderly woman whose desire to spare young girls from a life of hardship leads her down a tragic path that culminates in murder. Widely regarded as a classic of modern Greek literature, Alexandros Papadiamantis’s novella combines a vivid evocation of island life with an exploration of poverty, morality and the position of women in traditional Greek society.
- Location: Skiathos
- Year of publication: 1903
- Original title: Η Φόνισσα
- 144 pages
Tales from a Greek Island by Alexandros Papadiamantis (Skiathos)
Tales from a Greek Island is a collection of short stories set on the island of Skiathos that captures the rhythms of everyday life in a Greek island community at the turn of the twentieth century. Drawing on local traditions, folklore and the island’s landscapes, Alexandros Papadiamantis, one of Greece’s most celebrated writers, offers an evocative portrait of his native Skiathos.
- Location: Skiathos
- Year of publication: 1891-1904
- 200 pages
