Sofka Zinovieff had fallen in love with Greece as a student, but little suspected that years later she would return for good with an expatriate Greek husband and two young daughters. This book is a wonderfully fresh, funny and inquiring account of her first year as an Athenian. The whole family have to get to grips with their new life and identities: the children start school and tackle a new language, and Sofka's husband, Vassilis, comes home after half a lifetime away. Meanwhile, Sofka resolves to get to know her new city and become a Greek citizen, which turns out to be a process of Byzantine complexity. As the months go by, Sofka's discovers how memories of Athens' past haunt its present in its music, poetry and history. She also learns about the difficult art of catching a taxi, the importance of smoking, the unimportance of time-keeping, and how to get your Christmas piglet cooked at the baker's.

'A beguiling blend of autobiography and travel swirled into a portrait of a city and a meditation on Greekness' Daily Telegraph

About the Author
Sofka Zinovieff trained as an anthropologist and has worked as a journalist. She lives in Athens. This is her first book.


Book Information
ISBN 9781862077508
Author Sofka Zinovieff
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Granta Books
Publisher Granta Books
Weight(grams) 216g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 18mm