Know Thyself

"Know Thyself" is one of the early inscriptions Sally reads in Greece, at the temple at Delphi where Apollo's oracle used to prophesy.  It's here that Sally introduces one of the main themes of the book: self-discovery.  In her words:

"It's significant that the maxim 'Know Thyself' was once inscribed at the entrance to this temple, greeting pilgrims who'd come for afar.  My own Greek journey of midlife self-discovery was, in literary terms, a trope that suffered from overuse.  It was unsettling to recognise that my life story might be a platitude, but could the cliché--of traveling to a foreign land to find yourself--date back to ancient times?  If so, does that negate the power of my experience, or enhance it?"

This theme continues through the novel, and at each island and historical site, she seems to discover--or realise--something new about herself.  This theme is universal for all of us.  Just as Hellenistic culture has underscored so much of Western culture and beyond, that need for self knowledge is something that subconsciously underlies everything we do.  I found this to be a particularly appealing and relatable aspect to the book, and if the comments to our posts about this are any indication, so did our followers!  

Hellenistic History

Another aspect of Sally's personality that really comes through in her writing is her love of history!  Perhaps that is why Greece has captured her heart.  There is so, so much history here--layer and layers of it--and Sally really knows how to dive in!



Using her mother's 1978 travel journal as a starting point, Sally goes back in time, through her own childhood and the eyes of her mother to the deep layers of the ancient past.



Readers who love history with a personal touch would really enjoy Sally's vast knowledge of history, accompanied by her descriptions and observations.  They'd be transported back to the days of ancient Greek mythology, through the medieval monasteries, the leper colonies, and the plight of the Greeks through World War II.  Every layer is peeled back to expose the essence of Greece.



Here is an interesting example from the book:



"What struck me on the ferry back to Corfu, my head filled with the heroes of antiquity, was how close these lands are to each other. Whenever I’d imagined the events of The Odyssey, I’d pictured great ocean voyages with sea-weary sailors trapped aboard ship for months, desperate for the scarce sight of solid ground. And some of the islands mentioned in these tales are indeed remote. But what you can see between Corfu — the land of the Phaeacians visited by Greek wanderers after the battle of Troy — and Butrint — settled by a band of Trojan exiles — is a sea speckled with islets. At all times, you are in view of more than one oasis of green or brown breaking the surface of the cerulean waters. Some are small outcrops, but others are large enough to be habitable. A substantial part of the decade-long Odyssey may have been a matter of hopping from one nearby isle to the next."



I love how Sally connects the present to the past, as if -- like the islands of Greece -- she can jump easily between the two.  That is a gift that Sally gives us in Repacking for Greece and one that has helped me form a picture of Greece that I believe will stay with me always.

From Our Blog

Sally is a reader as well as a writer, and has read just about anything--old and new--that has been written about Greece.  Hence her great knowledge of this Mediterranean land.  She agreed to write a guest blog for us in which she shares some of the inspiration for her travels as well as recommendations for readers interested in discovering Greece through books.  Read her blog post here:

If you'd like to know more about Sally and her books please visit: https://sallyjanesmith.com/

As we often do, we've made a short video for you to enjoy! This short will give you a glimpse of the places in Greece that Sally visited, and which are described in beautiful detail in Repacking for Greece.  Click on the image above to watch it.

Hellenistic Humor

In years past we have greatly enjoyed the writings of Peter Barber, another author who writes about Greece.  We've read and featured two of his books in the past: A Parthenon on Our Roof, and A Parthenon in Pefki, which have gained a lot on international interest.  You can even find his books are on the racks of the Athens airport bookstore.