Summary of Secrets of the Swamp
“Secrets of the Swamp” is a young adult novel, set at the beginning of the 20th century in Ottoman-ruled northern Greece. The novel follows the story of Apostolis, a Greek adolescent, and Jovan, a Bulgarian boy, during the Macedonian Struggles, a period when Greek and Bulgarian guerrilla fighters fought for control of what is now Greek Macedonia.
Reasons to read Secrets of the Swamp
In Greece, “Secrets of the Swamp” is regarded as a classic young adult novel, offering insight in a lesser known but significant chapter of Greek modern history. In the neighbouring countries, the novel is less appreciated due to its idealised portrayal of the Greek struggle in Macedonia. Penelope Delta was one of the most celebrated Greek writers of the early 20th century, especially for her historical novels and children’s books.
Setting: Giannitsa (Greece)
Book set in Greece: Giannitsa in Central Macedonia (the marshland around Loudias Lake, which was drained around 1930)
Original title: Στα μυστικά του βάλτου
Year of publication: 1937
Nr of pages: 475
