The Cyclades: Discovering the Greek Islands of the Aegean

Description

The Cyclades are the quintessential Greek isles, renowned for the beauty of their seascapes, their historical monuments and a unique way of life deeply rooted in the remote past of the Aegean. Over the course of more than 7,000 years the Cyclades have seen a succession of civilizations, the earliest of them perpetuated in legends such as that of Atlantis, which has been identified with volcanic Santorini. The islands are arrayed around their sacred centre on Delos, where Leto was said to have given birth to the divine twins Apollo and Artemis, children of Zeus. Dionysos was born on olive-embowered Naxos, where he fell in love with Ariadne, and myths relate that Poseidon was the protector of Tinos, whose mid-summer festival of the Virgin is celebrated with the folk-dances and songs for which the Cyclades are famous. In this comprehensive guide to the Cyclades, John Freely describes the immemorial past and timeless present of these enchanting islands, which still await discovery.

John Freely was born in New York and joined the US Navy at the age of seventeen, serving with a commando unit in Burma and China during the last years of World War II. He has lived in New York, Boston, London, Athens and Istanbul and has written over thirty travel books and guides, most of them about Greece and Turkey. He is author of The Western Shores of Turkey (Tauris Parke Paperbacks), Strolling Through Athens (also Tauris Parke Paperbacks) and the bestselling Strolling Through Istanbul.

"A charming and informative companion for anyone exploring these enchanting islands." Andrew Steed, Stanfords Maps and Travel Books PRAISE FOR JOHN FREELY'S OTHER WORKS The Western Shores of Turkey: Discovering the Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts '...Enchanting guide...a work of genuine scholarship, lightly worn and charmingly conveyed. I fell in love with the book and stayed enamoured until the final page.' Paul Bailey, The Sunday Times '...the record of a journey undertaken by a man effortlessly able to convey in depth the meaning of what he sees.' Marlena Frick, Scotsman, Edinburgh '...John Freely's magnificent walking guide to the city.' - Anthony Sattin, Book of the Week, Sunday Times Strolling Through Istanbul '...a classic. The best travel guide to Istanbul'The Times Inside the Seraglio: Private Lives of the Sultans in Istanbul 'Freely provides a fascinating, easy-to-follow overview, beautifully researched and riveting in its detail.' - Christopher Fowler, Independent on Sunday 'A richly-coloured, highly entertaining book that I wished I'd had to hand when I strolled around the Topkapi.' - Lawrence James, The Times Istanbul: The Imperial City 'This is the handiest single volume to take with you as you explore this most intriguing of cities...' - Robert Carver, Scotsman 'Freely abounds in colourful details...' Philip Mansel, Independent 'This study uncovers nuggets of information while having the charm of The Thousand and One Nights.' Tabasim Hussain, Literary Review 'If you're thinking of paying Istanbul a visit, don't go without reading this book from cover to cover at least twice.'- Arminta Wallace, Irish Times The Lost Messiah: In Search of Sabbatei Sevi 'Everything in this book is astonishing...' The Mail on Sunday 'Freely reveals a superb eye for the telling detail...This is an intriguing book.' Independent on Sunday 'Freely's brilliantly researched tale transports the reader through a host of wonderfully arcane locations.' - The Independent 'Freely's unobtrusive, scholarly tone in this guide to the rich culture of the islands complements his perceptive reflections on contemporary island life.' Sunday Telegraph Review, 2nd April 2006