Books Volume V

The National Herald a b DECEMBER 20, 2008 www.thenationalherald.com

Sponsored by the Greek Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs 2 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008

ost of the early The National Herald immigrants who A weekly publication of the NATIONAL came to this HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues country during the of paramount interest to the Greek American early years of the community of the USA. 20thM century are no longer with Publisher-Editor us. The sons and daughters of Antonis H. Diamataris Assistant to Publisher, Advertising those first immigrants to the Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos United States are also fast Special Section Managing Editor disappearing. Amongst her Elaine Thomopoulos siblings and friends of that second Production Manager generation, my dear mother, who Chrysoula Karametros just turned 91, remains one of the 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 last survivors. To preserve our Tel: (718)784-5255, heritage, the children of the hardy Fax: (718)472-0510, early immigrants must tell of the e-mail: [email protected] challenges and triumphs they and www.thenationalherald.com Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, their parents faced: poverty, hard Athens, 10671, Greece work, prejudice, clinging to their Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Greek identity in the “xenitia” Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, (strange land). In this issue we e-mail: [email protected] Subscriptions by mail: 1 year $59.85, 6 months have included several books that $29.95, 3 months $19.95, 1 month $9.95. Home speak of the immigrant delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $80.00, 6 months experience, as witnessed through $43.99, 3 months $29.99, 1 month $12.95. Home delivery New England States, Pennsylvania the eyes and ears, tears and felt isolated as the only Greek people who found themselves in in which I found myself.” & Washington DC: 1 year $99.00, 6 months laughter of immigrant’s children family in Tomahawk, a small town the middle of nowhere, who were The cookbook, “Grecian $51.75, 3 months $37.45, 1 month $15.95 On and grandchildren. in northern Wisconsin. He says, “ I complete strangers at the time, Delight,” gives us another sweet line subscription: Non subscribers: 1 year $29.95, 1 month $3.95; Dr. James Roman harkens back wanted to create a realistic picture looked down upon as immigrants, taste of immigrant life. The Subscribers: 1 year $19.95, 1 month $1.95 to his own life experience in in your mind of what life might nobody to comfort them.” cookbook, still in print after 24 “Underwater Dreams.” His family have been like for these other Also based on his family’s years, demonstrates how the experiences is Jason Mavrovitis’ second generation adapted the “Remember Us,” a story of Greek recipes from the old country to the refugees from Bulgaria who new world and added some spicy immigrated to America to escape dishes of their own. unending war and hardship. This This issue of “Books” also fictionalized account of the life of reviews books about Greece, from his maternal grandparents and romance to tragedy. Love blooms their family, including his own between a modest village girl and parents, takes place from 1886 to a worldly ship magnate’s son in 1936. Patty Apostolides’ “Lipsi’s “The Priest Fainted” is another Daughter.” novel informed by the personal The book “Mythology” by Lady experience of the author, Hestia Evans and editor Dugald Catherine Temma Davidson, a Steer spins stirring stories of third-generation Greek American. mythological heroes and villains. A nationally recognized writer, It contains lively illustrations, Davidson crafts a narrator in guides, foldout map, as well as a passionate pursuit of her mother quill pen. Susanna Hoffman and grandmother’s pasts. The features huge servings of Greece’s narrator’s journey to Greece, the history and culture, as well as birthplace of her grandmother, delicious recipes in her book, “The extracts bits and pieces of these Olive and the Caper.” pasts, while offering insights on This book about food stands in the meaning of ethnicity. stark contrast to Violetta Theodore Stamos, son of Hionidou’s “Famine and Death in immigrants, is profiled in “Eyes on Occupied Greece, 1941-1944,” Stamos” by his sister Georgianna which pictures gaunt, starving Stametelos Savas. Young Theodore children on the cover. Hionidou Stamos’ artistic talents drew the gives us facts and figures as well admiration of luminaries such as as stories about this terrible Mark Rothko, William de Kooning tragedy – a tragedy which should and Jackson Pollock. Savas tells of never be forgotten. their growing up in Manhattan, of We look forward to reviewing his talent and success, of his bitter other books about Greece or Greek disappointments at the end of his Americans. Please send your life. English language books, whether Taking a lighter note, Harry fiction, memoirs, history, essays, “Bud” George infuses his memoir, poetry or translation, to The “By George,” with humorous National Herald, 37-10 30th incidents. He gives a lively account Street, Long Island City, NY 11101 of the Greek community of for possible inclusion in a future Baltimore, Maryland, as well as his issue of “Books.” experiences as a naval officer and lawyer. He says, “I’ve tried to Elaine Thomopoulos capture my fondest memories of a Managing Editor happy life punctuated by special Books people and amusing predicaments [email protected] THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 3

Greek Education, Greek Civilization and Omogeneia

It is the content of these words that I would like to convey to the readers of the “National Herald” now reading this booklet beautifully prepared by the only Greek-American newspaper circulating all over the United States in both Greek and English. The content of these words simply mean: Hellas.

It’s all about Education. This is the motto of the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs of Hellas that encompasses our philosophy. For without education, without “paideia”, Hellas that we all know today, and are proud to say that we come from, would have ceased to exist a long time ago, as it happened to so many other peoples in history.

The main reason of the survival of the Hellenes throughout history is our “paideia”, in essence our civilization. For the two are inseparable, they have always been. Since antiquity, Hellas has been enchanting the world with its philosophers, their deep and analytical thought on every aspect of human life, with the progress of its people in all sciences and, above it all, with Democracy. Throughout the centuries, the Hellenic “Paideia” was the paradigm of every civilization. From the Renaissance times onward, the marriage between Christianity and Hellenism became the very foundation of what we know today as “Western civilization”. We can now understand why Hellenic “paideia” is so important for the whole world, as it lays in the foundations of our Western civilization.

We, Hellenes, are proud carriers of this “paideia”. And the Greek-Americans, Americans of Hellenic descend, really, should be proud to come from Hellas, to be carriers of such an important civilization that radiates civility and spirit throughout the world.

The Hellenic Government feels compelled to continue this legacy both in Hellas and wherever our fellow countrymen live around the world. Particularly in the United States, I am proud to inform that we send more than 170 teachers every year to teach Greek to the children of the omogeneia and gladly contribute more than 10 million dollars for the “Paideia” of the Greek-Americans.

My deep wish and strong advice to all of you is to maintain your bonds with Hellas at all costs, throughout your life; and the only way to maintain this umbilical cord with the land of your ancestors is through learning and speaking the Greek language. For the loss of it would mean the loss of your identity in this vast American land, where other nationalities strive to find their own roots.

And you have yours, your Hellenic roots. Be proud of your roots!

Evripidis Stylianidis Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs 4 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Loneliness, Tragedy and Love: A Greek American's Path from the Wisconsin Woods

more of themselves and the talked about. This was a cohort of Roman family. “My father used to strange new lives they’ve been lead isolated people out in the Midwest import the Greek priest four times to live. who raised families without the a year from an Orthodox church “I felt I could educate a non- support groups of churches and or- 150 miles away, and he held ser- Greek into understanding with a ganizations. Yet they somehow vices at our dining room table. In little more insight one area of the managed in spite of all to maintain our family house there were three Hellenic Diaspora that may not their language and continue with baptisms, and I don’t know how have occurred to them in the past. the culture and heritage and try to many liturgies and even a wedding Let’s face it, you can go for history pass it on to their kids. ceremony. We had no church. I did to Halsted Street in Chicago to the “In my case for example, it was go to the Episcopal Church; I was restaurants, and you’re probably quite extraordinary that we were an altar boy. I learned to pray with aware they’re creating a Hellenic the only Greek family in our com- the Book of Common Prayer of Museum in the urban area there. munity. There were no Italians; 1928. But, we still did not partici- But I wanted to create a realistic there were no Negroes. If there pate fully; we were still Greek Or- picture in your mind of what life was a minority living amongst the thodox. At that time, the Greek might have been like for these oth- Scandinavians, Germans and archbishop, recognizing there were er people who found themselves in French Canadians in northern Wis- isolated people out in the boon- the middle of nowhere, who were consin, we were it. And growing up docks, allowed us to get our reli- complete strangers at the time, as kids we did get derogatory com- gious instruction from the Anglican looked down upon as immigrants, ments.” Episcopal Church. It was a very dif- Underwater Dreams: nobody to comfort them.” Rouman is the second of three ferent situation from the Greeks The parents of the character Leo brothers. Home schooled in Greek who grew up in Chicago and other A Modern Greek Sarris immigrate to the middle of reading and writing by his parents, eastern cities with large communi- Tragedy nowhere, a remote deep woods there was some initial difficulty ties. We strove to preserve our tra- Dr. James Rouman was born in area in northern Wisconsin. Clearly with English during the early pub- ditions and our faith.” Tomahawk, Wisconsin. He enlist- By James Rouman based on Rouman’s experience in lic school years. Once begun, Although the novel begins with ed in the navy during World War Peter E. Randall Publisher LLC, 152 the town of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, Rouman labored hard to catch up the story of Christos and Soula, II. After receiving undergraduate pages, $18 he remembers the feeling of sepa- with his fellow students. “We knew there is a shift with the birth of and medical degrees from North- rateness, and speaks on it quickly, a we had to excel in everything we their second son, Leonidas. While western University, he became an topic he’s weighed at length. did. This was not taught to us by his parents will reappear later in anesthesiologist and practiced at By Robert Krause “One of the reasons I wanted to our parents. They didn’t say, “Look, the novel, we now become rapidly a major urban tertiary-care cen- Special to The National Herald write this book was because I you’ve got to be better than the immersed in the life of Leo Sarris. ter, where he was a committed wanted to talk a little bit about a other kids.” We just knew it; we This quick jump from one set of teacher of medical students and James Rouman, a re- group of Greeks that have always had to be better in terms of our characters to a solitary man effec- physicians entering the field of tired anesthesiologist, been ignored in terms of the larger achievements.” tively generates a feeling of aban- anesthesiology. The author is Dr.was born in upper media. My book dwells on a group The isolation of the area also donment. Again Christos and Sula now retired and lives in Hartford, Wisconsin to parents who emigrat- of people who are not usually tempered the spiritual life of the are left on their own. Isolation, Connecticut. “Underwater ed from a small village in the Pelo- loneliness and abandonment resur- Dreams” is his first novel. ponnesus, Katavothra. His first face throughout the book, yet are novel, “Underwater Dreams,” deals conveyed in a more somber, intro- We shared a relationship much like with the life of an anesthesiologist spective tone of each character’s in the book.” born in northern Wisconsin to par- emotional analysis rather than The bond established during a ents who originally came from a merely illustrating them in despair. long stint at a Boston hospital be- town in the southern Pelopon- The sense of being not only a tween Sarris and his colleague, nesus, Kathavothra. It’s quickly minority, but a minority in isola- Martha Ravitch, forms a grand in- clear Roman’s fiction may be closer tion seems to play out as a main ner core to the book. We are treat- to autobiography. theme throughout “Underwater ed to the slow unfolding of a He admitted as much when I Dreams.” Loneliness pervades friendship blossoming into an inti- spoke to him recently from his pre- much of the early life of main char- macy with a rare pacing and hon- sent home in Hartford, Connecti- acter Leo Sarris. Even after he esty of note. The fact they sustain cut. He spoke with a slow and gra- seems to find a partner, Sarris has their lives as intelligent and re- cious manner. His vocabulary difficulty discerning the true na- spectful individuals lends credence sounded to me as that of a writer, ture of the connection of relation- to the value of the bond, though speaking with accomplishment and ships. He spends much time trying the pair never truly seem to form a precision. to interpret what it means to be true union. Much of the remainder “Underwater Dreams” tells the with someone, and how it relates of the book deals with Leo and story of the son of two young new- to being alone. Even as part of Martha and their extended fami- lywed emigrants, Christos and Su- what becomes a defined couple, lies. Intimacy is sustained though la. They cross the ocean to America the characters recognize and share an extended interlude between the and travel by rail to Eagle Creek, their apartness, always sustaining couple as they discuss Mahler and Wisconsin, an area not only geo- a degree of isolation. Mann’s “Death in Venice,” a con- graphically remote, but for Chris- Rouman has drawn a great deal versation reflecting the somber tos and Sula, spiritually remote as on his personal life for the book, notes in their lives. As the two con- well. With only a brief introduc- This photo, circa 1957, captures Dr. James Rouman while he was in not only professionally as he ad- verse, they reveal themselves to be tion, the reader is quickly drawn specialty training at Hartford Hospital and McGill University. He dresses the nature of anesthesiolo- more than fictive. Leo and Martha into the thoughts and emotions of says: “Notice the icon of St. Nicholas sitting on the book shelf. My gy, but also as he deals with per- are truly real characters with great this young couple whose lives are mother insisted I carry an image of this saint with me during the time sonal relationships. “I wanted to depth of spirit. radically shaped by their arranged I was working on the high seas as a ship’s surgeon. As the patron tell the story of this nurse who was The discussion of the Mann marriage and relocation. As they saint of sailors, he was often a comfort to me during rough weather a dear friend of mine. Martha was book is no surprise. Each of learn of one another, they learn and has been with me during numerous storms ever since.” a real gal, an extraordinary person. Rouman’s chapters is introduced THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 5 with a brief quote from classical passed them. I tried to develop Rouman may not have intended self. The qualities of Dr. Sarris of their feelings for one another, writers such as Plato, Aristotle, Vir- each one of them. And they each one. Ultimately he agreed the book stand as an example of the depth of that remain in my head and heart. I gil and not surprisingly Hip- did something, going from here to is more tragic than tragedy. In Leo the nature of each of the characters suspect they’ll be there for a long pocrates. Perhaps based on his ear- there. They weren’t just mentioned Sarris, I found a man who man- in the story, all of whom sustain time. ly home schooling in Greek clas- but were integrally woven into the aged to care so deeply for others this novel. Even though Rouman sics, Rouman is obviously well whole combined plot.” around him, he came to lose the told me he felt his book was driven Robert Krause works in two pub- read. “Books have been very im- While reading “Underwater ability to care for himself. Appar- more by plot than by character, in lic libraries as an assistant librar- portant in my life. I was only belat- Dreams” I felt I had to search for ently crying out for the need for the end, it is the characters in “Un- ian. He reads and writes in Lake edly drawn to the computer. I tried Leo Sarris’ tragic flaw, even though community, Sarris abandoned him- derwater Dreams,” and the depth County, Illinois. to write a book many years ago on the typewriter and it became a real mess when I started correcting. Fi- nally when I couldn’t buy a ribbon, I went to word processing. When I realized how easy it was, that’s when I said I’m going to do what I always wanted to do, write a book. It was the computer that permitted me to do it, but I’m still surrounded by books, and I love them. There’s a lot we can learn by reading the classics.” Beyond the classics, he also en- joys more modern authors. “I’ve read everything by Kazantzakis. There’s a tremendous amount of poetry coming out of Greece today. Nicholas Papandreou is one that comes to mind. He writes novels, and he’s also writing poetry, both in Greek and in English.” Rouman wondered about the nature and quality of his writing, but it’s clear by his own comments he’s studied not only writing but also plot mechanics. “I think my writing is a little old fashioned, not part of the modern ethos. Even at the ending of the book I used a de- vice that’s not original to me, with many of the characters coming back. What I had in mind is the Greek Orthodox church and the depiction of the Mother of God, the icon depiction of Her as she’s lying in her bier, and all the Greek people who had influenced her have come back to be with her as she ex- pires. I thought that’s kind of neat. As a physician we know that as people die their brain oxygen di- minishes gradually, their senses begin failing.” Rouman achieves a similar effect in the book, almost as if the character enters an under- ground cave. I was pleased to learn Rouman continues to write. “My next one’s going to be a bit of a more comical thing, lighter in tone. I had to get the first one out of my system, but now I can be a little bit more creative.” His next work will also en- compass a variety of characters, based within a high-rise condo- minium similar to where he now resides. We spoke of the female characters in Leo Sarris’ life. I found I enjoyed meeting each one in the book, each presented fully developed, especially so for a male author. Rouman recognizes their con- tribution. “Much of the book is about women, very strong women and very unusual ones. I think the story I tried to tell just encom- 6 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Jason Mavrovitis Traces His Roots From Soyzopolis, 1881 to Brooklyn, 1936

Remember Us that much as in real life, individuals Greek girl marries a Bulgarian boy who seem destined to be central whom she truly loves. Both set of By Jason C Mavrovitis characters in the drama fade into parents approve. In which commu- Golden Fleece Publications, 409 the background and even perish, nity will the couple want to live pages, $21.95, paperback their places taken by persons previ- when ethnic rioting seems proba- ously thought less important. ble? Where will they be allowed to BALKAN ROOTS live? A Greek patriarch has Slavic By Dan Georgakas “Remember Us” begins on the roots in his family tree. Does this Special to The National Herald shores of Black Sea villages cohabit- make him suspect to other Greeks? ed by Greeks and Slavs. Numerous Should a young Greek patriot leave early all first novels have families have mixed lineages. Al- his village to fight on the front lines considerable direct or indi- though the Slavic line sometimes with the Greek army or should he Nrect autobiographical con- dominates, the novel spotlights remain to confront local problems? tent. In the case of “Remember Us,” families where Greek identity is How do Greeks deal with Cretan American-born Jason Mavrovitis paramount. Local relations between guerilla fighters who show up on has written that his novel is based the two groups are cordial. Men the edge of the village and rouse the on the lives of his maternal grand- reminisce about battles in which wrath of the Ottomans with their at- mother and her family, including his they jointly fought against Ottoman tacks? Can the local Bishop get own mother and father. He states forces. But there is a gathering ten- away with pretending to obey the that as a child he was puzzled that sion in the air. What will happen to Turks while secretly leading the his parents had no wedding photos. the Greeks when Bulgaria asserts rebels? As such questions play out, Later he learned there was a family political control of the region? some of the Greeks begin to speak scandal involved in their marriage At first “Remember Us” seems to of “going to America” as the only that had reached the pages of the have a political agenda. What coun- permanent solution to their woes. New York Times. As he became try takes what piece of territory? A fourth of the way into the nov- aware of the richness of the oral his- How will the struggle between the el, the reader is transported to Cal- tories, actual events, court tran- Bulgarian Orthodox and Greek Or- abria and introduced to a young scripts and various public records thodox forces come out? What hand Italian named Leonardo whose related to his family, Mavrovitis de- will the Ottomans play even as they home has been destroyed by an cided to present his family saga in fade away? But these political issues earthquake. Leonardo will embark the form of factually-based fiction. are mainly viewed from the per- for America where his life eventual- Much of the resulting novel’s power spective of individual families. A ly will merge with Greeks who emi- and many of its flaws stem from this grate from Bulgaria. Rather than remarkable melding of fact and fic- fighting for ethnic turf, this set of tion. An unanticipated consequence immigrants largely cooperate with of his exploration of the pathways one another, often intermarry and sarily dense. mentous historical events, but those that had brought his family to grow prosperous in tandem. The POLITICS events never resonate within the America, was that Mavrovitis, who more the story moves into 20th cen- Although “Remember Us” deals characters as they do in a classic like had always wanted to be considered tury America, the stronger this pat- with one of the most volatile re- “War and Peace” or even a conven- 100 percent American, became re- tern becomes, eventually extending gions of Southeastern Europe dur- tional best seller like “Gone with the Hellenized. His father had Angli- to the marriage of a Greek Christian ing an extremely violent era, the Wind.” cized the family name to Mavis; Ja- with an Ashkenazi Jew. In this re- novel does not deal substantively Midway through “Remember son changed it back to Mavrovitis. gard Mavrovitis is in tune with his- with the politics at hand. Major Us,” the theme moves decisively “Remember Us” follows the lives torians who are increasingly writing events always happen somewhere from dealing with events in the of more than 20 individuals. The that although there were numerous else and for the most part are talked Balkans to a “coming to America” spotlight is on Greeks who were conflicts between immigrants, more about rather than experienced di- story. Happiness and even physical born in what is present-day Bulgar- often there was recognition of simi- rectly by the characters. Men in the survival for the characters seems ia, but their stories touch numerous lar problems and social compatibili- kaffenia discuss politics almost ab- possible only by fleeing the region, non-Greeks and Greeks from other ty. Rather than xenophobia, stractly. Political commitments are and those who flee to America are regions and nations. The tale begins Mavrovitis shows that the Greeks not truly embodied or well articu- the most successful. This theme is in Soyzopolis (eastern Romylia) in usually exhibited what I have lated by any of the characters. The not presented as a putdown of 1881 and ends in Bay Ridge, Brook- termed xenophilia. conflict between the Bulgarian and Greece so much as an appreciation lyn, 1936. During the course of the The family lines eventually be- Greek Churches, for example, is of what America meant to the 1900- story, the Ottoman Empire collaps- come so complex that Mavrovitis never clarified in an argument be- 1924 generation of Greek emi- es; Greece attains its modern bor- provides three pages of family trees tween proponents or by some dra- grants. The opportunities available ders; and the first massive Greek to document the characters’ rela- matic event. Individuals speak of in the new world rather than its migration to America takes place. tionships to one another. This is es- the possibility of retaking Constan- considerable hardships and injus- Mavrovitis brings remarkable pecially crucial in this multi-genera- tinople, but the passion created by tices drive the narrative. The story candor and generosity to this epic tional epic, where following Greek the Great Idea is never evident in becomes more conventional as hard narrative. He forthrightly deals with custom the children are often any of the characters. Both Balkan work and strong family structures the shortcomings and virtues of named after grandparents. Thus, wars pass quickly. The atrocities by pave the way to economic success. everyone concerned. Moral failure Jason C. Mavroritis was born in identical first and last names be- all sides in those conflicts are only Mavrovitis employs so many and success are not determined by Brooklyn, N.Y. and now lives come common. Toward the end of touched upon lightly. Where and Greek words in his story that he has ethnicity, religion or gender. Even a with his wife Bette in Sonoma, “Remember Us,” when there is a why final boundaries are drawn and felt it necessary to provide an eight- high-handed Turkish bey who had California. He held executive po- new cycle of marriages and births, if they are valid are not a vital con- page glossary. The most common shown some mercy to one of his sitions with Stanford University, one suspects the fictional and actual cern. The Disaster of 1922 creates reason for using non-English words Greek subjects gets a bit of sympa- American Savings and the Uni- family trees have merged and that barely a ripple. This political thin- in English-language literature is to thy when the local Ottoman regime versity of California. His novel, the author feels compelled to men- ness stems with the author’s absorp- remind the readers that the charac- is overthrown. Another daring and “Remember Us,” is based on his tion everyone’s marriage and off- tion in the details of a family saga. ters are not speaking English with successful aspect of the narrative is family's history. spring, making the novel unneces- His chronicle may be set amid mo- one another. Ernest Hemingway, for THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 7

www.hccs-nys.org

CRISTINA TETTONIS Principal NATASHA CABAN Assistant Principal JOY PETRAKOS Director of Operations

ABOVE: This is a photograph of REGISTRATION Efxeinoupolis, one of two settle- for the school year ments the Greek gov’t construct- 2009-2010 ed in 1906 for Greek refugees following pogroms conducted by has begun Bulgarian militia and mobs against the Greeks who populat- OPEN HOUSE In 1917 Lily (Evangelia Athenas) ed Anchialos and other coastal Saturday posed in a Harem costume she cities in Bulgaria. It is in the pre- February 7 wore for a pre-lenten carnival fecture of Magnesia, southwest of dance. Volos. Jason Mavrovitis’ grand- & March 14, 2009 mother Eleni, a young widow, and from 10 a.m. to 12 Νoon her baby daughter Evangelia (Ja- Accepting applications son's mother, whose name be- for students entering came Lily in America) lived in one Kindergarden to 8th Grade of these huts for several months when they first escaped to Our Goal: Greece. FAR LEFT: In 1926, Lily To provide Athenas presented this portrait to Jimmy (Dimitrios Mavrovitis) on a classic based their engagement. LEFT: This por- school education, trait of Jimmy Mavrovitis, taken rich in the studies in 1926, was the last of a series of of humanities annual portraits he sent to his and literature mother and father in Greece. Program Highlights • Enriched curriculum focused on meeting and exceeding THE STATE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS in all curriculum disciplines • Daily class of Greek language, history, art, literature/mythology • Reduced class size This 1924 photograph, taken in • Theater workshops/internships Glen Falls, New York, reflects the • Partnerships with the bond between Lily and her moth- Greek government er, Eleni. The story of Jason Mavrovitis’ maternal grand- • Educational field trips mother, Eleni, and her family be- • Foreign travel came the basis for his novel “Re- • Kaplan Test Prep member Us.” ∆ωρεάν εκπαίδευση one, was a master at using just a NEW YORK STATE FUNDED few words to establish a Spanish cultural context. Another valid but Give your children much less common reason to use a non-English word is that it conveys the best holiday gift a meaning that is impossible to Give them the opportunity translate. Mavrovitis, unfortunately, This 1910 photograph is of the family of Athanasios Mavrovitis, grandfather of Jason Mavrovitis. The chil- to a Hellenic Education shows no pattern in his use of Greek dren in the front row (from left to right) are Aristedes Mavrovitis and Thomas Mavrovitis. In the second row that will change their lives words. Especially in the chapters in are Dimitrios Mavrovitis (Jimmy in the book, “Remember Us”), Zoe Mavrovitis (Athanasio’s sister), Athana- America, one doesn’t know if the sios Mavrovitis, Kalliope Mavrovitis (Athanasio’s wife). In the back row are Constantinos Mavrovitis (Jim- Greek words are being employed to my's older brother), Anastasia Mavrovitis (Athanasio’s daughter from his first marriage). Both Athanasios CALL NOW and Kalliope had lost their first spouse. The photo was taken in Mavrovo, a village on Lake Kastoria whose (718) 499-0957 Continued on page 19 name is now Mavrohorion, probably to distinguish it from a village with the same name in the FYROM. 8 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Gina Savas Remembers Brilliant Artist: Her Brother Theodore Stamos

Eyes on Stamos: Gina’s book forms its own work of matelos in New York in 1922, “Sta- art. It’s a special repository of mi,” as his mother called him, grew A Sister's Memoir- memory, poetry, occasional Zen- up in railroad flats on Manhattan’s like insights (Stamos was deeply East Side, one of six children. a Brother's Wishes influenced by Eastern art), pho- While working in his father By Georgianna Savas tographs and documents related to Theodoros’ shoeshine and hat- Zacharias G. Portalakis, S.A., 205 the life of Stamos. blocking shop on St. Mark’s place, Athens financier Zacharias G. he also drew and painted. Early pages, $44.99 paperback Portalakis, 61, the world’s foremost recognized for his talent, he would collector of Stamos and a loyal become simply “Stamos,” the By Penelope Karageorge friend of the artist, published the youngest member of the famous, Special to The National Herald book with a few caveats from the avant-garde group the “Irascibles,” author. Gina refused to accept a the founding core of the New York owards the end of his tem- euro or even a penny for the manu- school of painters that included pestuous life devoted to cre- script. She also insisted that the Mark Rothko, William de Kooning Tating brilliant art, Theodore book not be for sale, because she and Jackson Pollock. Stamos was Stamos’ younger sister, Georgianna did not want to profit from Stamos’ known as the “Wonder Boy.” (“Gina”) Savas urged him to write talent. “What can I say?” Gina says. During a long career, Stamos’ an autobiography. “I’ll help you “He was my brother.” Gina has al- artistic stature grew. His work was with your files. I’ll contact people. ready given away over 500 copies collected and shown in the Whit- I’ll type,” Gina promised him. “I’ll to friends and associates, as well as ney Museum, the Museum of Mod- give you all the help you need.” to the Hellenic Museum and Cul- ern Art, the Metropolitan Museum Unfortunately Stamos, one of the tural Center in Chicago, where it of Art, nationally and internation- world’s leading abstract expres- will be sold only as a fund-raising ally. Stamos continued to change sionists, died in 1997 before writ- venture for the museum. Says Por- artistically, his style moving from ing even a paragraph. Now Gina talakis, “We did it for Stamos.” poetic “biomorphic paintings” to has produced a beautiful “sisterog- To appreciate the story behind his “light boxes” and finally his raphy” of her late and much- the book, one must tune in to who dramatic Red Paintings. beloved brother, “Eyes on Stamos.” Stamos was. Born Theodore Sta- But there were emotional up- heavals. His companion, the poet Robert Price, died suddenly of a COURTESY OF GINA SAVAS heart attack. During the difficult A mature Theodore Stamos poses in front of one of his magnificent period that ensued, his close “Sun Box” paintings. friend, the older artist Mark Rothko, a father figure, proved an Stamos. Gina has included a search, “What research?” Gina emotional support. When Rothko reprint of the Myers article in her laughs. “It was all up here.” She suffered a painful separation from book. But Stamos never really re- taps her head. Working up to nine his wife, he turned to Stamos. On a covered from the Rothko debacle, hours a day, typing on a 53-year- morning visit to Rothko’s studio which dealt him an emotional and old manual Royal typewriter, Gina with a dealer, Stamos found financial blow. He felt that his rep- completed the entire work in three Rothko lying on the floor in a pool utation in the United States was months. “And I said, ‘That’s very of blood. Rothko had committed tarnished. Stamos began spending easy. I’m ready to publish it.’ And suicide by slitting his wrists. Sta- more of his time in Greece, on the everyone said, ‘You’ll make mos became so ill that he had to be island of Lefkada, birthplace of his changes,’ and I said, ‘Oh, no no.’ hospitalized. But he loyally in- father, keeping a small apartment But it took four years to make all terred the “homeless” Rothko in in New York. the changes, to polish the writing. one of his own plots in East Merri- After Stamos’ death, Gina The thoughts were always there.” am on Long Island. A stone from yearned to tell her brother’s special Four years younger than “Ted- Gina’s property marked the grave. story. “I felt all along, I’d like to dy”, Gina and her older brother Rothko had named Stamos one write a book about him, but I formed a special bond. One of the of the three executors of his estate. thought, what am I going to write? great charms of the memoir is the In 1971, guardians acting on be- How?” During a forced bureaucrat- picture Gina paints in words of half of Rothko’s children filed a pe- ic wait, Gina took out a piece of pa- those early years in Manhattan, a tition against Stamos and the ex- per and began scribbling. “I time of wood stoves and street ecutors. In 1975, Surrogate Millard thought, let me see if I can get games, of neighborhoods. Gina A. Midonick ruled that Stamos and started with a poem, and it came – and her brother played pick-up- the other executors were guilty of it slowly came, the first stanza. sticks at the kitchen table and took negligence and conflict of interest, And then I continued when I got long walks, discovering Manhat- and levied a whopping $9.2 mil- home. It took me a month to write tan. lion in fines and assessments. Sta- that poem. I thought, maybe I can Art dealer Betty Parsons, who mos paid his share by signing over write a book.” gave Stamos his first show, called to the Rothko estate his Manhattan To jog her memory, she created Gina “the feminine side of Sta- house, valued at $425,000. Many a handwritten chart of the respec- mos.” Gina posed for his sketches, believed the ruling was unjust and tive ages of herself and her brother, and later pursued a career as a PENELOPE KARAGEORGE unfounded. from her earliest memory. “That’s dancer and artist’s model before Gina Savas, author of “Eyes on Stamos,” a memoir of her famous Writing in “The New Criterion” how I wrote the whole thing. marrying chiropractor Louis Savas artist brother, Theodore Stamos, stands in her kitchen, together with in 1973, John Bernard Myers, well- That’s what I referred to. Because I and having six of her own children. her husband, Dr. Louis Savas. In the background are two Stamos wa- respected art critic and dealer who couldn’t always remember his age, She remained close to Stamos, pro- tercolors. Favorite and treasured works by Stamos fill almost every knew all the parties involved, but I remembered my age. I have a vided an emotional and practical room of their Manhattan townhouse. mounted an in-depth defense of very keen memory.” As for re- support, and was the one who THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 9 looked after his bills, paperwork, Stamos memorabilia. house, and now his reputation and After the publication of “Eyes on legacy. Stamos,” Gina received a letter Before he died, Stamos wanted from the Rothko family asking per- to will his entire estate to Gina, in- mission to disinter Rothko’s re- cluding his Athens apartment. She mains, and to bury them again urged him to give the apartment near his wife’s at a different loca- and all the art he had produced in tion, a request Gina rejected. Greece to cousins on the island of “Rothko is there with the good Lefkada, where he had a house. graces of Stamos,” said Gina, who Stamos, gravely ill, complied. Un- saw this as evidence of their great THE PERFECT GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS fortunately, the cousins would turn friendship and trust. She did offer their backs on Gina, in what she the family space to move their considered a terrible betrayal of mother’s remains near Rothko. The herself and her brother. Returning judge recently ruled in favor of the Books from to New York, Gina became severely Rothko family. Nonetheless, Gina ill and was hospitalized after the plans to erect a nearby memorial to enormous strain of events in Stamos. “Teddy is buried in D.C. Divry’s Greece. While recovering, she Greece,” she says, “but I would like pondered the future of her broth- to have him commemorated in the bring you closer er’s collection that remained in her East Marion cemetery.” hands. She made the decision to Gina has never sold a drawing, to your roots and to your culture give all of the paintings, papers, painting, or piece of paper of her sculpture and work to Portalakis, brother’s, despite frequent re- Give a gift to be remembered and shipped them off to the grate- quests, nor does she have any in- ful and deeply committed collector. tention to do so in the future. Gina every day of the year While in Greece, I met Porta- COURTESY OF GINA SAVAS keeps her personal collection of lakis in his office in downtown This rare photo captures Stamos’ work in her home, includ- Athens, a space graced by several Theodore Stamos, 16, with the ing one he did of her galoshes, and CALL NOW Stamos originals. His daughter, clay he’s been sculpting still on another, an early seascape she res- Ellefetheria, who is studying art his hands. cued from behind a trunk. She sees and get a classic D.C. Divry’s book. history in London, sat in on the in- herself as the keeper of the Stamos Learn to converse in Greek, improve your vocabulary terview, and helped act as transla- Portalakis contributed $100,000 flame. or learn how to cook like your grandmother tor. A man with boundless energy to the National Gallery in Athens to In an epilogue to her book, she and enthusiasm, Portalakis’ work- mount a major retrospective of Sta- writes: “A harmonious whole of in- day extends from about 9 a.m. to 2 mos’ work. Unfortunately Stamos dividuals is now working together a.m. A native of Crete, Portalakis died a month before the hugely suc- committed to the legacy of Stamos, worked his way through the Uni- cessful retrospective. In conjunction fulfilling his last wishes and his last versity of Piraeus with scholarships with that show, Portalakis published words, ‘Gina, you’re going to save $14.00 and part-time jobs – writing and a 505-page catalogue, “Theodore my work. The right people will publishing notes for other stu- Stamos, 1922-1977, a Retrospec- help you at the right time – it’ll dents. In Athens, he founded a bro- tive,” with stunning reproductions happen. After all, the art hasn’t kerage firm, as well as the Associa- of Stamos’ work, and text in English changed.’ Writing the Stamos story tion of Greek Brokers, of which he and Greek. has been both painful and exhila- $25.00 was the first president. Portalakis has established a rating while spreading forth his Despite enormous financial suc- splendid art gallery on another last words. What better way to $12.50 $12.50 cess, Portalakis derives his greatest floor in his office building, where have impressed the world at large satisfaction from collecting con- he presents art shows every six than with these parting thoughts – temporary art. He now owns more months. On Jan. 12, 2009, he will At last than 2,000 works of artists ranging have the first exhibit of Stamos’ the reappreciation of Stamos, The new Tselemente from Samaras to Andy Warhol and Red Paintings. These large, dynam- master Stamos, the centerpiece of his col- ic Stamos works manifest a special of infinite forms.” lection. Says Portalakis enthusiasti- spontaneity, and seem to reflect the She also writes, in Greek: “His cally: “All of the money I made is Stamos’ ethos. Stamos was known life was his art – his art was his now colors.” for his temperament, his lighting life.” He recalled meeting Stamos for mood changes. In her memoir, Gi- the first time in 1987. “My daugh- na writes: “But Teddy in his better To order the book, send a check $25.00 $7.00 ter and I went together to his moods was better than anyone in for $59.61 (includes shipping and $8.50 place. I didn’t understand anything his best moods. Teddy’s enthusi- handling) to the Hellenic Museum about this type of Expressionism, asm, during such moments, was and Cultural Center Gift Shop, 801 so I asked my eight-year-old like no one else’s. You were thor- W. Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois - Shipping and handling additional - daughter to choose a picture. What oughly captivated with his exuber- 60607. The book can also be pur- I found most interesting was Sta- ance.” chased at the museum for $49.99. Look for these and other D.C. Divry’s Books mos’ personality, when he started Portalakis plans to organize a at your local book stores and Greek shops talking about art. It wasn’t just large retrospective exhibition from A freelance journalist, Penelope some colors on the canvas, but his collection in New York in three Karageorge is the author of two feelings and values and ideas. years, and he’ll insure that the novels and has made short films. HOMERIC GREETING From that time on, I loved his work artist’s memory and work has a She is currently pursuing produc- because I could understand what special place in the Greek sun. “My tion of a film script set on the was behind it. And so I bought the plan is to make a unique museum Greek island of Lemnos, “Drink- CARDS & IMPORTS first one without really wanting it, for Stamos here in Greece,” Porta- ing the Sun,” and is writing a and then I became the biggest col- lakis says. “I have many of his per- crime novel, “The Hype Artist.” lector of Stamos’ work. I bought sonal objects, like gloves, tools, Her work appears in the just-pub- a b 289 New Main Street, Yonkers, NY 10701 from auctions, galleries in New palette, what he was wearing when lished “Pomegranate Seeds” from York, from Stamos, from every- he drew and painted, as well as the Somerset Hall Press, edited by Tel.: (914) 968-7551 • (914) 968-0220 where. Every August I would go to Stamos collection.” Gina also con- Dean Kostos, the first ever anthol- Fax: (914) 968-7552 meet Stamos on Lefkada.” tributed photographs and other ogy of Greek-American poetry. 10 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Straight From the Heart Romance and Poetry from Patty Apostolides

By Aphrodite Matsakis him to marry for money; Ipatia’s lage life, with its close personal ties, Special to The National Herald fear of romantic involvement, lest its hospitality, its belief in “tihi,” its she lose her beloved as she lost her various superstitions and its ever- eading Patty Apostolides’ ro- parents; and Ipatia’s leaving present fear of gossip, into her love mance novel, “Lipsi’s Daugh- Greece to attend college in the U.S. story. She also reveals changes in Rter,” is like taking a trip to a where she is pursued by men who the island as more and more young shimmering Greek island where consider her exotic and alluring. people (including girls) learn Eng- even the presence of topless beach- Tony and Ipatia’s romance is in- lish, go abroad to study and are ex- es has not corrupted its clear blue nocent, yet engaging. Even though posed to computers and other as- skies or its strong communal bonds. one anticipates a happy ending (for pects of modern culture. Indeed, the heroine, Ipatia, is like a that is what romance novels Apostolides was born in Pi- fresh island breeze. While other promise – a happy ending), follow- raeus, Greece and immigrated to young women her age are busy ma- ing the trail of the two lovers as the U.S. when she was about five nipulating men into marrying they wade through the labyrinth of years old. She and her four sisters them, Ipatia is an open-hearted their lives until they finally land in grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where hard working young woman who one another’s arms, is full of adven- they were immersed in Sunday loves her donkey Kitso and her ture and delight. The characters are school, Greek school, Greek food goats as much as she does her Eng- Patty Apostolides, author of the sufficiently developed and realistic and music – the works! She ob- lish books and medical journals. novel, “Lipsi’s Daughter,” and the so that the reader can become emo- tained her biology degree from Unlike the more citified women poetry book, “Candlelit Journey: tionally involved with them. Case Western Reserve University who attempt to transform them- Poetry from the Heart,” resides in Apostolides chose the island of with minors and music and theater. Lipsi’s Daughter selves into Western style supermod- Maryland with her husband and Lipsi, not only because it is the She has co-authored several med- els and try to cultivate a hyper- sex- son. She was born in Piraeus, birthplace of her parents, but be- ical articles and is currently co-au- By Patty Apostolides ualized “come-hither” look, Ipatia Greece and immigrated to the cause, she explains, “I wanted to thoring a paper on cancer with her iUniverse, Inc., 299 pages, wears her hair in a bun and black U.S. when she was about five write about purity and innocence husband. Her husband, however, is $18.95 paperback mourning clothes for her parents years old. She and her four sis- of youth, about faith and religion far more than a professional col- who died when she was a child. ters grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. and somehow I could not see it league. She describes him as her Even when her traditional grandfa- happening in today world, in the soul mate and as the reason she ther urges her to take off the black, relationships with relatives and U.S. The island’s tranquil, religious chose the romance genre as her she refuses, so deep is her love and friends of all ages and finds fulfill- setting was a perfect backdrop to medium of artistic expression. respect for her parents. ment in her studies and her music. the story and a perfect environ- “I had always wanted to write a Ipatia is pure, not only in a sexu- On occasion, she wishes she had ment for Ipatia’s character.” Lipsi is novel, but with a busy career al sense, but in her sincerity and in more curves, but basically she is a Dodecanese island located south- schedule ... I could never find the the depth of her loyalty to those content with her body and doesn’t west of the island of Patmos and time to write a 300-page manu- whom she loves and to the spiritual think much about it. Similarly north of the island of Leros. Al- script. I wrote poems and articles values of her faith. Even more pro- Tony, a former university econom- legedly, in ancient times, this little instead. The opportunity to write a foundly, she is loyal to herself – her ics professor, has friends and solid piece of paradise was called Calyp- novel presented itself when I be- intellect and her emotions. Similar interests outside of his ever-deep- so and was much larger than the came a stay-at- home mother with to her namesake, a famous female ening attraction to Ipatia. Both Ipa- Lipsi of today. Apparently part of time on my hands. ... As I wrote, I mathematician and philosopher tia and Tony are good-hearted peo- the island sunk into the water realized that I needed to decide the named Ipatia who lived in Alexan- ple who strive to be emotionally where divers continue to find ar- genre. I felt that the love in my dria around the year 400 or so, the honest and live up to their ideals. chaeological evidence of Lipsi’s marriage was a great inspiration Ipatia from Lipsi loves learning and Meeting Tony, however, chal- past. Approximately 700 families for a romance story. So the decision wants a university education. Un- lenge’s Ipatia’s ideal of remaining a reside on the island. Yet it boasts came naturally; it would be a ro- like other village girls, she shuns modest village girl who wishes to almost 40 churches, most likely be- mance novel,” she states. marriage, arranged or otherwise. avoid contact with the opposite cause in early Christian times Lipsi She plans to continue writing She wants more for herself – until sex. In her dream life she sees her- was ruled by the monastery of Pat- romance novels, not only because she meets Tony, the handsome son self marrying and being physically mos, where St. John wrote the they compose over 50 percent of Candelit Journey: of a shipping magnate. It’s love at close to Tony. These dreams unset- book of Revelation. the fiction market today, but be- first sight, for both Tony and Ipatia. tle her, but they also elate her. Although Greece is the perfect cause she believes that “we were Poetry from the Heart Yet Ipatia is not willing to forsake Tony is conflicted. He wants to location for a romance novel, not born to love” and that love is an By Patty Apostolides her plans to go to school or her be a good son, but he is reluctant to many writers have Apostolides’ inti- “uplifting positive experience... grandfather’s strict teachings about follow his father’s wish that he be- mate knowledge of island life as it that brings people together.” Her iUniverse, Inc., 91 pages, relationships with men. Tony awak- come more involved in the family was, and as it is today. Readers, second romance novel, “The Lion $11.95 paperback ens her sexuality, but she warns him business and marry a wealthy both those of Greek origin and and the Nurse,” set on the island of not to kiss her. heiress to help promote it. Meeting those who are not, frequently com- Kos, was recently published by iU- Those unfamiliar with the ro- the unmaterialistic Ipatia only com- ment on the book’s compelling and niverse. For further information on mance genre often mistakenly as- plicates Tony’s internal conflicts, as authentic description of Lipsi’s Apostolides’ works, visit her web sume that in romance novels, the does his father’s failing health. physical beauty and its people. In page: www.pattyapostolides.com heroine is a spineless beauty who Although “Lipsi’s Daughter” is a one particularly touching scene, the The theme of love, as well as the lives only for love and that the romance, it is not erotic romance. night before Ipatia is scheduled to spirit of the Greek islands, also per- hero’s only assets are his looks and Indeed, Apostolides’ aim is to leave Lipsi in pursuit of a university vade Apostolides’ book of poems, his sexuality. However, in true ro- “bring sweet romance back, with education, she says goodbye to her “Candelit Journey: Poetry from the mance novels, the heroine is a self- moral and values, without the goats as she milks them for what, Heart.” For this reviewer, it felt as if confident woman who is able to graphic details seen in certain cate- perhaps, might be the last time. She these poems could have been writ- stand on her own two feet and has gories of romance.” In “Lipsi’s and her grandfather then sit down ten by Ipatia, the heroine of “Lip- a rich life independent of the man Daughter” there are no sex scenes. with a cup of warm fresh goat milk, si’s Daughter,” some 20 or 30 years she adores. Ipatia is such a heroine. Yet Eros drives the plot, an Eros so their parting words to one another down the line, who although hav- Although she longs to be with strong that it survives the ongoing are moving and poignant. Apos- Tony, she has strong and satisfying pressures Tony’s family puts upon tolides aptly weaves traditional vil- Continued on page 21 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 11

ΝΙCHOLAS J. BOURAS 25 DeForest Avenue, Summit, NJ 07902 • We would like to Congratulate All the Greek American Writers Who are Making Literary Contributions to Society 12 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 A Happy Life Punctuated By Special People Immigrant’s Son Recounts his Memories of a Childhood in the Greek Community of Baltimore, through his Navy Years and to the Challenges of Practicing Law

By George years, and finally to the challenges some 90 life experiences. Although of practicing law. With brief en- each one of these episodes can By Harris “Bud” George, edited by counters to the streets of Athens, stand alone, they come together to Clarinda Harriss the harbors of Hong Kong and give a glimpse into the philosophy, 248 pages, BrickHouse Books, $20, Manila, and the mountains of challenges and humor that punctu- paperback Kythera, I’ve tried to capture my ate George’s life. fondest memories of a happy life George’s father’s positive out- punctuated by special people and look and gumption shows itself in By Elaine Thomopoulos amusing predicaments in which I his son, who packs the book with Special to The National Herald found myself.” uplifting messages. His father, an In the delightful book, “By orphan, immigrated to the United hat started out many George,” Harris “Bud” George has States at age 16. He worked in a years ago as notes jot- done just that -- with vivid word New York restaurant and sent mon- “Wted down during my pictures and anecdotes that enliv- ey home to support his brothers naval service has grown in time to en the people that have had an im- and sisters. be a glimpse into my life — from a pact on him. His matter-of-fact In 1912, he became the first childhood in the Greek community prose and liberal use of conversa- Greek businessman in Towson, of Baltimore, through my Navy tion make this book an easy read of Maryland. His gratitude to the United States is noted in this letter sent along with his first income tax payment: “Sir; I enclose a check for my income taxes plus an additional amount as sincere thanks for being in this wonderful country. Respect- fully, James T. George.” In his later years, James George kept defying the doctor’s predic- tion of death. In one case, he was out walking two months after they pulled his life support. James T. George married Tassea in an arranged marriage. Here is an excerpt of the letter that James T. George received from his elder brother: “I have taken it upon myself to write to Mr. Souris, suggest- ing that you would visit the family in Missouri in order to meet his daughter and, further, that your in- tention is marriage.” A lot of the book is focused on George’s experiences as a naval officer. One story after another recounts life aboard the ship and the adventures in various ports. I like this book because George can laugh at his own mistakes. For example, he is asked to issue the command to “Light the Ship” after a period of enforced darkness. In- stead he says, “Lighten the Ship.” After the order is broadcast throughout the ship, the response via phone comes, "Would you pre- fer that we jettison personnel or gear in lightening the ship.” He also recounts his triumphs. He encourages two dropouts from Harris “Bud” George explains this cartoon regarding U.S. Navy Offi- Brooklyn under his charge to com- cer Candidates’ School: “The cartoon was drawn by someone who plete their G.E.D.s. He gives them lived on the deck below the deck occupied by Section K-5. The car- Harris “Bud” George, author of “By George,” graduated from Duke one word each day to replace the toonist showed 3 K-5 section mates as causing the noise that kept the University. After leaving his tour of duty as an officer in the Navy, he swear words he initially heard section below awake at night -- Lundegaard, Greene, and George served as a law clerk to the Honorable Hall Hammond, and then from them and introduces them to (me).” worked for a Baltimore City law firm. He opened his legal office in literature. A few years later, he is Townson Maryland in 1960. He continues to practice in a multifacted rewarded by this letter: “I owe to school drop-out could ever have.” who have been in the embarrassing practice which has ranged as widely as foreclosing a chattel mort- you and to the U.S. Navy my Uni- The section entitled “A Second situation of using the Greek lan- gage on a herd of cattle to defending the accused in Maryland's first versity degree and my clear shot at Language Comes in Handy” was guage, wrongly thinking that the savings and loan scandal. the brightest future a poor high especially relevant to those of us other people around us would not THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 13

Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Demetrios JAMAICA DAY SCHOOL

84-35 152nd Street Jamaica, New York 11432 Tel.: (718) 526-2622 Fax: (718)526-1680 REGISTER NOW FOR OUR TUITION FREE UPK CLASS FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2009-2010

Mission Statement Our mission at Jamaica Day School of St. Demetrios is to profoundly affect the lives of our students. By providing an environment steeped in the moral This is Section K-5, U.S. Navy Officer Candidates School, Newport, values of the Greek Orthodox Church, we seek to develop individuals who Rhode Island, class of February 1954. learn and grow in an atmosphere characterized by self discipline, respect for others and, most of all, a strong moral fiber. We teach and serve with an enthusiasm born of special competence and a singular devotion to our students, which ignites within them an enduring passion for learning and a special desire to serve their community. Harris George sits in the middle of his sisters Mary (to his left) and Boo in 1956. Why should my child attend? Saint Demetrios celebrates the the uniqueness and talents of every child. Our school offers a nurturing environment with a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, standards-based curriculum to maximize the intellectual, social and emotional curriculum to maximize the intellectual, social and emotional growth of all children. Our administrators, teachers, parents and children work together to achieve excellence and a love of learning.

• Advanced Early Childhood Program Full and Half Day • Kindergarten - Full Day • Standards Based program • New York State Certified Teachers • Grades 1 to 8 • Greek Language Program Fully Equipped Computer Lab • Extracurricular Activities • Exciting Field Trips • Small Class Sizes with Personalized Attention • Strong Emphasis on Discipline and Moral Values • Excellent Preparation for Specialized and Parochial High School Entrance Exam

Harris George, author of “By George,” served as a legal officer aboard the U.S.S. Forrestal in 1955. know what we were saying. from Australia at age 60, after she George gives this example: “My was diagnosed with a terminal ill- This family photo shows Harris George (middle) with his sister Mary Navy buddy, Chris Sakellis, and I ness and given only six months to (left), brother Theodore and sister Boo in 1932. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STUDENT AT SAINT DEMETRIOS were bachelors in a Jacksonville, live. Aunt Mary, who was now 75, JAMAICA DAY SCHOOL? Florida hotel lobby, waiting for an suggested that the family go on a proclaiming, ‘Today the blessed characters caught in real life situa- • A student at Jamaica Day School elevator. A curvaceous young lady picnic to the “miraculous” springs waters have united the George tions, which at times are more a of Saint Demetrios has pride -pride in his/her school, his/her joined us. Chris murmured to me, that had given her life. George’s fa- family from America with those scream than the best TV sit-coms. community, him and herself. ‘Tee o-ray-o Ko-ma-tee (What a ther decided to stay behind. who welcome them to their ances- It can be ordered through Itasca- • A student at Jamaica Day School lovely piece.)’ Glowering at Chris, George, who was 6’2” in tral home of Karava.” As George books.com, subject: Biography. of Saint Demetrios has honor -honor in working to make him/ the young lady interjected, ‘Allah stature, towered over the others on describes it, “A smiling Aunt Mary, herself a better person and in o-hee yia ta don-tee-a-sou (But not the journey. George, lugging two putting her arm around Dad’s Elaine Thomopoulos writes sharing that honor with for your teeth.)’” watermelons as he laboriously shoulder, shouted to me, ‘Bud, about the Greek American expe- his or her school. • A student at Jamaica Day School In 1969, the 13 members of the walked up and down the hills, had your father has been blessed and is rience. She is curator of the ex- of Saint Demetrios has courage George family traveled to the is- difficulty keeping up with the frail now fully rested. Grab some water- hibit, “The Greeks of Berrien -courage to stand out for what is land of Kythera to see family from looking but sprightly Aunt Mary. melons and let’s have another pic- County, Michigan,” now on per- right when it seems that everyone else is doing the opposite. whom they had been separated After the picnic, an exhausted nic.’” manent display at the Annuncia- • A student at Jamaica Day School since 1933. They met Aunt Mary, a George carried a container of For me reading this book was a tion and St. Paraskevi Greek Or- of Saint Demetrios has love a childhood friend of George’s moth- spring water back. The priest picnic. It is filled with delectable thodox Church in New Buffalo, -love for his fellow human beings so that we all may have er. She had gone back to Greece blessed the family with the water, treats in the form of well-defined Michigan. a better world to live in. 14 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Gods, Heroes, Monsters, Bells and Whistles: Greek Myths and Legends Come to Life for All Ages

Mythology: Gods, Greek myths written by his friend ful Things, Lady Hestia Evans, a devotee of For I have Come to the Land of Heroes, and Lord Byron who had recently taken Greece the same voyage.” To Speak of Her Myths and Her Monsters of Ancient An adventurous, androgynous Mystery. Greece woman, “Lady Hestia” is portrayed STYLE DAZZLES, BUT CONTENT in a small frontispiece painting IS KING By Lady Hestia Evans and Dugald wearing an “Albanian disguise” of Beyond the jewel-bedecked, A. Steer, editor flowing silks and headdress. She gold-plated cover, and in addition Candlewick Press, 32 pages, $19.99 appears to have been a kind of to the gorgeous illustrations, paint- dashing Philhellene — a cross beings, etchings and other period- tween Margaret Meade and Indi- style renderings of mythological ana Jones. Her relationship with deities and beasts, is a very intelli- By Nile Southern the book’s diarist, the “nobleman” gent and refreshing telling of the Special to The National Herald John Oro, is unclear, but appears to major myths and legends. We are be an innocent and a mentoring informed, for instance, how the ythology: Gods, He- one. Oro’s handwritten journal en- Gods, “drew lots” to decide upon roes, and Monsters of tries form an escalating narrative their dominions: “Zeus … drew the “MAncient Greece” is a that reveals his visiting many an- sky and all the distant regions of fresh, exquisitely produced explo- cient sites and inventing his own the heavens. Poseidon drew the ration of an ancient subject — “methods” for divining oracles. sea, becoming lord of all the crea- Greek myths. An ideal gift for chil- Besides the nobleman’s ill-ad- tures that lived there. Their broth- dren over eight and adults with a vised summoning of Zeus, the er Hades drew Tartarus, the dark love for Greece and classic story- Gods are invoked with poetic rev- underworld far below the Earth. telling, it is one of the best- pro- erence throughout the book — No God became ruler of the Earth, duced books of the ‘OLOGY’ series. such as in the opening invocation, for she was a goddess in her own This series includes “Pirateology,” written in Athens by “Lady Hestia right: Gaia.” In the section entitled “Wizardology,” “Egyptology,” Evans” herself, in which she cap- “Monsters and Mythical Beasts,” “Dragonology” and “Monsterolo- tures not only the spirit of Lord By- the Sphinx is presented as a most gy.” These large-format books are ron — but also summons the good chimerical and intelligent monster: in a league of their own, with high will of the Gods for the creation of “With the face of a woman, the levels of art direction, and engag- her book: body of a lion, and the wings of a ing, unexpected, thoroughly re- O Muses, bird, it terrorized the city of searched content. Famous for their Who Sing of a World Long Gone Thebes, strangling anyone who is man: crawling out of bed (on Underworld, and Theseus and the “novelty items,” the OLOGY books Of Mighty Heroes, Olympian Gods, could not answer its riddle: ‘What four legs), later walking (on two), Minotaur, complete with Mino- contain elaborate inserts. “Mythol- Of Terrible Monsters and Fabulous goes on four legs in the morning, and using a cane (after much danc- taur’s maze. ogy,” is an ingenious “facsimile re- Beasts, two at noon, and three in the ing, no doubt). The level of detail is impressive production” of a well-thumbed Help Me to Tell of These Wonder- evening?’” The answer to the riddle The “Origins of Mankind” sec- and sparks the imagination. Take, 1825 edition of a classic student tion admits that the myths “do not for instance, the explanation con- primer on mythology. It features an agree whether it was Zeus himself” cerning Zeus’s post-Titan battle assortment of ancient Greek and who created humans, “or a Titan with the Giants, and how he “de- 19th century artifacts, including a named Prometheus,” and explains feated them too, burying them gold “obolos” coin to pay the River how human beings were thought deep in the Earth … Legend has it Styx ferryman, oracle leaves for di- “to stand upright so that they could that Zeus … imprisoned one of vining the future, a card game fea- gaze up at the heavens, while most them beneath Mount Etna, a Sicil- turing the12 Olympic gods, a pop- animals gazed down at the earth.” ian volcano that still spews forth up Pandora’s box (with hope still The dazzling layout here includes a lava whenever he writhes in rage.” inside), a piece of the Golden fold-out Pandora’s box — (‘DO The myths are also informed by Fleece, and a miniature death NOT OPEN!’) and the myth of the poets of antiquity, including mask “found in the chamber of a Prometheus — eternally punished Homer and Hesiod: warrior king.” The only items not for giving fire to mankind. It also “According to Hesiod, the an- included in this book are plane includes how Deucalion’s son cient Greeks believed that if an tickets to Greece — an oversight Hellen (not to be confused with anvil were dropped from Heaven, that hopefully will be corrected in Helen of Troy!), survived Zeus’s it would take it nine days to reach a subsequent edition! devastating flood, which was de- the Earth …. After being ferried LADY HESTIA EVANS: signed to wipe out the human race, across the River Styx and receiving ADVENTURER, and emerged from the arc after judgment, heroes and righteous ARCHAEOLOGIST, HISTORIAN nine days at Mount Parnassus to people would obtain their reward … FAKE?!? become ancestor of all Greeks. in the Elysian Fields, while the Lady Hestia Evans is a clever lit- All Olympian Gods are profiled, wicked would be punished forever erary invention by Dugald Steer, and let’s not forget them lest we in the fiery regions of Tartarus, the visionary genius behind all the rouse their anger! — Zeus, Hera, which was, according to the Iliad, a OLOGY books. As Candlewick Poseidon, Ares, Aphrodite and further nine-day anvil fall from the Press explains at the Hephaestus, Apollo, Hermes, main area of Hades.” candlewick.com website: “In the Demeter, Athena, Artemis, and “Mythology” artfully presents early nineteenth century, an Eng- Hestia. Other significant deities mythological summaries to help lish nobleman embarked on a tour and heroes are also vividly de- any scholar get a handle on this of the sites of ancient Greece. He British author Dugald Steer wrote "Mythology: Gods, Heroes, and scribed, including Hercules, Jason vast subject. It includes a massive brought as his guide a primer on Monsters of Ancient Greece." and the Argonauts, Hades and the map of Greece depicting ancient THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 15

wonderful antiquities, but does not report them to the museum — keeping them for himself, instead. By August the humble narrator has gone completely mad, after having consulted the Oracle at Delphi seeking Zeus’s approval for “looking after” his stolen antiquities. His entry reads: “August 26th, Arcadia: I have decided that I will not trust anyone with my relics. Zeus led me to them: they are mine. And the more I travel, the more I shall sure- ly find!” Greed overtakes the man — a tragic theme in Greek mythology, and through his duplicity, he has upset not only the Gods but possibly a body just as grave: the Athen- ian museum! After casting Midas’ spell upon himself, the only thing left of our humble narrator John Oro is his di- lapidated copy of Lady Hestia’s book (which forms the template for “Mythology”), and his yellow feather quill pen — still glistening with golden, tell-tale signs of his fate. A replica of the pen is included so that the reader may write notes to friends (and presumably museum curators) on the handsome 19th century stationary con- This full page spread from "Mythology; Gods, Heroes and Monsters of Ancient Greece," features the Minotaur's maze (right), the Twelve veniently enclosed. Labors of Hercules (left) and (far left and right) the handwritten journal entries of the mysterious John Oro. He was the supposed owner of The book ends with an apt the original edition. Each page in "Mythology" features gorgeous paintings, etchings and other period-style renderings of mythological romantic coda from Byron: deities, heroes and beasts. The isles of Greece! The isles of Greece! sites from Troy to Macedonia; an grew up in Surrey, studied Eng- who devotes a whole part of “Don Where burning Sappho loved and abridged version of Homer’s lish literature and philoso- Quixote” to its supposed earlier sung, Odyssey; an architectural ‘plan’ phy, then taught English edition’s piracy, and E. A. Poe who Where grew the arts of war and and mini-history of the Parthenon; as a foreign language spends much time setting-up his peace, an ancient Greek primer with in Spain for five years novel “The Narrative of A. Gor- Where Delos rose and Phoebus Greek alphabet, featuring the before becoming an don Pym” as a bona fide “factu- sprung! names and phonetic pronuncia- editor at Templar al account.” In terms of imple- Eternal summer gilds them yet, tions for all the Gods; a secret Publishing. It is menting the story-within-the- But all, except their sun, is set. study revealing Atlantis’ possible his work as an story illusion, “Mythology” Here we have an artistically location (Santorini?); and a ge- author at Can- pulls out all the stops, of- rich, very entertaining encapsula- nealogical family tree of Gods, dlewick that fering a parallel flashback tion of the Greek mythological he- Monsters and Heroes of Ancient has made him narrative in which one of roes, monsters and deities, and Greece. “Chaos” seems to be the a publishing the most tragic of Greek how their complex interweaving mother of us all. sensation, myths comes to life. All ultimately forms an entirely self- A young reader could take any with his ‘olo- Midas touched turned in- contained view of the world — one number of these extra features and gy’ series to gold, rendering the that helped fertilize western arts initiate a whole world of educa- seemingly things and people he and philosophy. tional play — for instance, there never-ending loved useless. This is a “Mythology” is one of the are the knowledge cards, which in inspiration brilliant myth through strongest of the OLOGY books and display the characteristics of the and deft exe- which to construct a nar- is recommended for any student of Olympians, and are designed to be cution. Steer’s rator with whom we can Greek mythology, young or old, for carried by the serious student of identity as both empathize and pity at it not only brings to life the ancient mythology “so that he or she may book creator is the same time — as we ob- Greek myths and legends, but does become familiar with the forms artfully down- serve the nobleman diarist so playfully, sparking the imagina- and appearances of these immortal played — partic- (John Oro’s handwritten tion in ways that would have gods.” A game is suggested as well, ularly in “Mythol- notes degenerate into a pure pleased Homer, and, dare we say, one in which the object is not to be ogy” — where we golden smear.) the Gods themselves. left holding the dreaded Hades have an author who John Oro’s journey begins op- Nile Southern is a writer and au- card. is not only dead, but timistically enough with this inno- thor of “The Candy Men; The LEAVE IT TO THE BRITISH whose manuscript ap- cent entry: “June 1st, 1826, Rollicking Life and Times of the The genius of “Mythology” lies pears to be cursed. Portsmouth, aboard the Hyperion: Notorious Novel, CANDY.” He is in the seamless collaboration be- One is reminded of the Off to Greece at last! I aim to currently producing a public ra- tween the visionary author/editor successful search for antiquities to dio series about the Greeks who MYTHOLOGY. TEXT & DESIGN COPYRIGHT © 2007 BY THE TEMPLAR COMPANY PLC. ILLUS- Dugald Steer, a Brit — and his framing de- TRATIONS COPYRIGHT © 2007 NICK HARRIS, NICKI PALIN, & DAVID WYATT. REPRODUCED donate to a new museum immigrated to the Intermoun- American publisher, Candlewick vices for sto- BY PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER, CANDLEWICK PRESS, INC., CAMBRIDGE, MA. in Athens. I have Lady tain West, entitled “Greeks Out Press. Here is an author well- rytelling em- “Mythology; Gods, Heroes and Monsters of Ancient Greece" is Hestia’s book as a guide West; a Story of Migration versed in the classics, philosophy, ployed by an ingenious “facsimile reproduction” of a well-thumbed 1825 and shall make notes as I Through Song.” For more infor- and an engaging sense of theatre. such masters edition of a classic student primer on mythology by the fictic- go.” mation see Steer, who was born in 1965 and as Cervantes, tious Lady Hestia Evans, pictured above. He soon finds some www.kgnu.org/greekswest. 16 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Cooking with Greek History Chef and Anthropologist Suzanna Hoffman Serves Hellenism with Timeless Recipes

The Olive and the The exploration of bread is just lustrated history of “testa” as surprisingly informative. We (behive/bell) ovens, bread “rings,” Caper: Adventures in have Country Bread, City Bread, and a description of how villagers “paximadia” (twice baked toasts) today continue to make the “stub- Greek Cooking and a preface dedicated to Greece’s bornly resistant barley flour” rise By Susanna Hoffman first bread bakers. Those bread through the use of sourdough Workman Publishing, 589 pages, bakers’ lineage dates back to the starter. Neanderthals who, around For pita fans like myself, besides $19.95 paperback 200,000 B.C.E. “had moved into a instruction on making “filo,” the cave in ‘three-fingered’ Halkidiki, author offers many wonderful pie By Nile Southern near where Mount Athos’s monas- recipes. They include: cheese: Special to The National Herald teries now sit.” Soon after, “as the spinach, field greens, fennel, ouzo, earliest farming settlements pop up Epiros cornmeal and greens pie, you’re looking for the one in Knossos in Crete and in Thessaly leek, potato, and olive pie, mush- book which tells the story of in about 7000 B.C.E.,” a new peo- room and retsina, squash and car- IfGreece and Greekness on ple emerge, indeed, the first damom pie, chicken pie, lamb pie, every level, including historical, (Greek) bakers, who planted “free- Byzantine-style shrimp-filled filo cultural, geographical, musical, ar- threshing wheat from Asia Minor, rolls, and meat and cheese chitectural, linguistic, religious and the first sort of wheat suitable for “bourekakia.” The latter, Hoffman even pre-historic — and you’re bread.” points out, have various permuta- looking for an all-embracing Greek As any Greek island-visitor tions, including steaming and cookbook at the same time, “The knows, the “fourno” (bakery) is lit- deep-frying, making them the Olive and the Caper” is the Hel- erally a Byzantine institution with “quintessential finger-food of “The Olive and The Caper” includes all things Greek -- historical, cul- lenic kaleidoscopic “gourmet” ex- myriad offerings. So, when it Greece and all the Near and Middle tural, architectural, linguistic, religious, and even pre-historic -- be- perience for you. “The Olive and comes to bread, there’s much more East.” sides being an all-embracing Greek cookbook. the Caper: Adventures in Greek in addition to pita: various Hoffman’s first-person accounts Cooking” by Susanna Hoffman fea- koulouria, olive garlic bread, (resembling pages cut out of a uate studies in Philosophy and was Many of Hoffman’s sidebars tures stories of Greece’s first peo- Cyprus-style olive flatbread, Easter, journal) round out the historical an avid reader of Greek Mythology, provide spotlights on dishes and ples, the Minoans and Myce- Christmas and New Year’s breads. analysis by providing an intimate and I find things here that I did not Greek regions famous for them, in- naeans, as well as classical Greeks, We are also reminded of forgotten portrait of the know. The reference to the mysteri- cluding: the potatoes of Larisa, the the Byzantines, the ‘klefts,’ the Ot- trimmings, such as the ancient tra- anthropologist/chef’s gradual inte- ous Scythians, a culture which ducks of Mikri Prespa, the mezedes tomans, and modern Greeks. It ex- dition of candied ginger coins to gration into village life — critical lived in Hellenic times above the of Crete, and the goats of Arcadia, plores the origins of words as well ring-in New Year’s Day. To add to her absorbing the ancient wis- Black Sea, shows they had culinary “Constantinople Quail Pie,” and as mythology and archaeology. It is more zest, the author gives us an il- dom of Greek cooking: and trade connections to the the Greek Jewish dishes of Thessa- as much a history and anthropolo- “When I first lived in Greece I Greeks, before they were erased loniki. Dishes with ancient roots gy book as one about preparing de- noticed that the older village from world history by the Tartars are also provided, often with licious food. women often carried a little bread …. I also find practically no over- quotes from classic texts, includ- Over 250 recipes are inter- in their apron pockets. The bread lap between this book and Diane ing; “Archestratos and his Fish,” spersed with thoughtful and infor- could be a bit of pita or country Kochilas' classic, “The Glorious “Aesop’s Morals with the Meal,” mative explorations of traditions loaf, but more often was from Sun- Foods of Greece.” and the outrageous “utopian (contemporary and ancient, reli- day’s “prosforo,” or holy bread. Fresh, in-depth explorations of meals” imagined by Plato and gious, urban and village), regional Then I saw new mothers placing a Greece’s history are provided in Socrates. The author’s literary allu- variations and sometimes com- smidgeon of bread under the mat- tasty historical nuggets — whether sions enable one to re-create pletely unexpected contextual of- tresses of their babies’ beds and un- concerning the Minoans, the rise of epochs and fateful meals, such as ferings. The title itself belies a der their own pillows …. I was told Pericles and Athens’ Golden Age, or “Lavish Palate of the Ancient Per- whole way of thinking about how that both customs were to ward off the invasion of Cyprus. What do sians,” or, as inspired by Homer: Greek cuisine and culture have al- the evil eye …” (145). these events have to do with Greek “Odysseus’s Roast Pork Welcome.” ways intermingled and enriched In addition to being a cookbook, cooking? Most of Hoffman’s histor- Hoffman intersperses her color- each other, at times metaphorical- Hoffman’s tome is an informed cel- ical flourishes feature a culinary ful “adventures” in Greek cooking ly. As Hoffman explains in a recent ebration of Greek taste that ex- angle. throughout the book, such as cook- interview, “The title is a sort of plores the cultural and historical For example, she explains the ing fresh shrimp with a taverna homage to the nature of Greeks. lineage behind the growing, prepa- Ottoman occupation’s influence on owner in Corfu, giving rise to the Having, on the one hand, a long, ration and enjoyment of Greece’s cuisine: boldly-flavored “Shrimp with Fen- and very refined history -- like the savory, myriad foods. By revealing “Influenced by Mongol and Chi- nel, Green Olives, Red Onion, and olive, which the Minoans domesti- the lineage of each dish and its in- nese foods, the Turks had acquired White Wine.” With her neighbors cated from the wild trees in gredients (some going back to dumplings and stuffed vegetables. on the island of Santorini, she Greece. On the other hand, there is Alexander the Great’s time and be- As they passed through Persia they gathers herbs and wild greens, to the totally wild caper: capricious, fore), it becomes clear that a pow- had picked up dishes from that complete “Big Beans with Thyme tough and tenacious.” erful ‘thread’ through the times still land. They had yoghurt and made and Parsley,” and “Field Greens Hoffman leaves no Greek horti- connects people to the soul of their various cheeses; they acquired and Ouzo Pie.” On Santorini, she cultural resource unlauded — even land and its mythic history, and “yakni” stews, kebabs, and pilaffs, hunts down the last of the barley- water is given its due. “No word DARLENE RUBIN that this culinary heritage will con- as well as the Arab taste for egg- ring bakers in Pyrgos and takes fa- can describe what water is to the Susanna Hoffman, author of tinue to be enjoyed by future gen- plant and spinach. As they spread va beans with some locals to a man Greeks; more than “osios” “The Olive and the Caper, ” is an erations of Greeks. across the Byzantine empire, they who rigs a two-stroke motorcycle (blessed). It is the word from anthropologist and cook who With over 250,000 copies of her adopted a great deal from the engine to split them. which we derive “pious.” To Greeks has lived and worked in Greece book in print, “Olive and Caper” Byzantine menu and the foods of While at first glance the book water is life … Greeks compare the on and off for more than 30 has received a great many positive the Greeks. They began to make might appear to be a jam-packed water of different towns and foun- years. Today she divides her reviews, such as a lengthy one on honey cakes, macaroons, fritters, hodgepodge, it is well-organized tains, describing in detail the taste time between Colorado and the amazon.com by a reader/reviewer flower and fruit preserves. They and has a wonderful rhythm in and clarity as they would wine.” Greek island of Santorini. B. Marold, who writes; “I did grad- adopted wheat and olive oil.”(563) three parts. Part One features THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 17

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE OLIVE AND THE CAPER BY SUSANNA HOFFMAN (WORKMAN PUBLISHING) Here are the ruins of a Minoan palace built c. 1900 B.C. at Malia on the northern coast of Crete.

ried about the replanting because Greeks so rely on tourism now. Few are continuing agriculture. They need to replant barley (they had a lot of famine in the past and not Artemios carries a bushel of just gathered wild capers, balanced on enough wheat and barley to feed his back with one hand. the people), but also citrus trees and vegetables. The herbs and the “Honored Drinks” (including books together) and co-owner with capers will return on their own. mountain waters, wine, potons and Hoffman of Chez Panisse restau- TNH: What’s your ideal Greek ‘tsikoudia’) as well as “Meze, and rant, reconstructed the recipes “oreo trapezi” (grand meal)? Savory Pies.” Part Two, “The Ban- and, coaxing Hoffman, they began Hoffman: Well, for starters, quet of Dishes,” includes breads, the project anew, together. Greek water and wine are excep- soups, salads, eggs, grains, vegeta- When not in Santorini or on the tional! For appetizer, I would have bles, fish and shellfish, meat, birds, high seas giving food lectures and olives, fried cheese, a bit of octo- wild game, sauces, toppings and presentations, Hoffman resides in pus, and a spinach-like pie of wild marinades, and fruit. Part Three, beautiful Telluride, Colorado. Here greens or leeks. Crusty bread, “Confections,” covers sweets, from are a few thoughts she kindly pro- chickpea soup, “roka” (arugula) syrups to “filo” concoctions, cere- vided in answer to questions I had salad with walnuts, retsina mari- monial sweets, fried pastry, masti- about her book: nated sultana raisins, and cheese. ka, cookies and puddings. The TNH: What interested you in For entrée I would have my fa- book is eye-popping, with pho- telling the story of Greece and vorite, “papoutsia” (meat- stuffed tographs, maps, drawings, mo- Greek cuisine? eggplant slippers) and maybe a saics, and illustrations appearing Hoffman: I simply adore the “skorthostoumbi” (a beef stew with on nearly every page. Sixteen full- people and the culture. With my 100 cloves of garlic). I'd have two color pages start off the book, invit- anthropology background I sauces — “skordalia” and “tzatizi.” ing the reader to “savor an array of learned a lot about Greece and Then, of course, a platter of fresh dishes that have welcomed visitors Greeks from the most ancient time fruit in season. Served with just a for countless centuries.” The pub- to now, and I thought that wrap- paring knife. Later, well into the lisher’s favorites in this section in- ping this love and information evening, I'd have a cup of Greek clude: “Chicken Neo-Avgolemeno,” around the glorious food of the coffee, a slice of ancient style and “Fall-off-the-bone Lamb country would be not only a labor sesame cake, and maybe a pear Shanks seasoned with garlic, of love, but the best way I knew poached in chamomile and topped thyme, cinnamon and coriander,” how to convey the knowledge. Fi- with mastic ice cream and “siren-like sweets, from world- nally, most people around the TNH: And your ideal Greek renowned Baklava to uniquely world spend their days doing three spring meal? Greek preserves.” things: procuring food, preparing Hoffman: My ideal spring meal The book’s production history is food and eating food. I learned Susanna Hoffman’s friend Kyria Markenzia holds a tray of koulouria would be: Herculean: The Oakland-Berkeley most of the life and customs of ready for the oven. Shrimp just from the sea, lightly firestorm of 1991 destroyed the Greece in the context of these three poached, original manuscript, which was a activities, so it seems right that I re-seeding, and making the best of Olive trees have only a single Pie of baby leeks, life-long project. Hoffman lost her should represent them in this fash- the situation? taproot and do not hold the soil. Sesame soup for Lent, house, work and possessions. Vic- ion. Hoffman: The most important Trees that have root systems and Greek fried egg in a sea of olive toria Wise, her long-time collabo- TNH: Since the terrible fires in thing to re-plant is trees. And not hold the soil need to be planted rator (they’ve written three cook- Greece, what are your thoughts on olive trees. and the Greeks know this. I'm wor- Continued on page 24 18 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Scarce Food and Brutal Restrictions in Greece During the Occupation Caused Life and Death Struggle for Survival

Famine and Death in stranded in Athens, finding it diffi- cies to control trade in food and cult to go home. Then, as if this how the occupation powers extort- Occupied Greece, suffering was not enough, England ed vast levies from the Greek gov- treated Greece as an enemy territo- ernment. In a real sense, the occu- 1941-1944 ry, blockading it and diverting piers tried to kill Greece. Hionidou By Violetta Hionidou ships carrying its imported wheat is right that the occupiers dismem- Cambridge University Press, 261 elsewhere. bered Greece, their policies bring- A combination of scarce food ing about anarchy and the “cessa- pages, $90 and brutal restrictions by the occu- tion of all traditional trading pat- pying powers precipitated a famine terns and routes.” The “inevitable” By E.G. Vallianatos that became a life and death strug- black market in food became the Special to The National Herald gle for survival, especially for universal means of buying and sell- Greeks living or caught in cities. ing whatever food the farmers Easter Sunday 1943, The occupiers used food as a raised. Under such conditions, my mother and aunt weapon to kill Greece. Hionidou says, inflation reached Onwere roasting a lamb Despite the importance of this “intolerable levels.” For example, when, suddenly, two Italian sol- singular struggle where occupation in 1939, two pounds of bread cost diers rushed to the kitchen and de- became synonymous to famine and 11 drachmas; in August 1944, that manded the entire lamb. The famine to occupation, neither the same amount of bread cost 72 mil- women did not understand the sol- Greek state nor scholars have done lion drachmas. diers. However, they were not it justice. In contrast to the silence Chapter 7 goes into foreign ef- about to give the lamb away and of Greece, Ireland will never allow forts to stave off or, at least, lessen watch their children go hungry. England to forget it was responsi- the effects of famine in Greece. The They started screaming and put ble for its violent famine in the relief down to the fall of 1942 was themselves between the lamb and 1840s. all about “setting up of soup the soldiers. Their screams brought Violetta Hionidou, teaching kitchens.” After 1942 the Joint Re- my father to the kitchen. He imme- Modern Greek history in England, lief Commission, working closely diately grabbed one of the soldiers, is bringing the Greek famine where with the British and the occupiers, putting a knife to his throat. The it belongs, the light of history. Her replaced the soup kitchens and other soldier aimed his gun at my “Famine and Death in Occupied tried to control Greek agricultural father, but he hesitated to shoot Greece” is extremely interesting, production, essentially continuing knowing his colleague would also telling a story that goes to the core the policies of the occupiers. Cana- die. The deadly confrontation end- of the violence of the occupiers. da, the United States, Sweden and ed without deaths because my 10- Her book is illustrated with pic- Switzerland funded the food relief year-old sister rushed to the police tures of hungry and dead Greeks, in Greece. By March 1943, that re- station and brought an Italian offi- famished women, malnourished lief reached about half of the Greek cer who knew my physician grandchildren and corpses. She also uses population, about three million mother who spoke Italian. The offi- figures and tables, statistics illus- acerbating the famine. The Greek these administrative regimes in people. cer drew his pistol and ordered the trating the impact of the military War Relief Association, a Greek Greece, and the disappearance of Chapter 8 is about internal mi- soldiers out of the house. occupation on the economy and American organization, was instru- the power of Athens, resulted in gration, escaping from regions of This incident in a village of the lives of the Greek people. Her book mental in convincing President the “administrative anarchy in the hunger and famine. For example, Ionian island of Kephalonia under is an academic study, which, how- Roosevelt to urge the British to occupation years.” thousands of Greeks from Chios Italian occupation during World ever, speaks eloquently to all, espe- abandon their blockade of Greece, Chapter 4 deals with the “requi- and Samos landed in Turkey, which War II mirrors an extraordinary cially Greeks. which they did in February 1942. sitioning of foodstuff,” how the did not want them. With funding food crisis and famine that threat- Hionidou used the documents Chapter 2 looks at the impact of Germans, Italians and Bulgarians from the Greek government in ex- ened the very survival of Greece, of the International Red Cross scarce food supplies all over confiscated food from the Greeks. ile and the British and American which was rarely food self-suffi- Committee about the food relief Greece, connecting the arbitrari- Hionidou, however, says that governments, these refugees were cient. On the eve of the war, operations in Greece. She enriched ness and violence of occupation to “plundering by individual sol- shipped to Cyprus, the Middle East Greece, overwhelmingly rural, im- her narrative with the politics of the different coping mechanisms of diers,” like the Italian soldiers who and the Belgian Congo until the ported 20 percent of its most im- feeding Greeks after England end- Greek rural and urban communi- tried to steal the food from my end of the war. portant food, wheat. ed its disastrous blockade of the ties. family, rather than plundering by Chapters 9 to 11 examine the Once the Germans were in country. She also focused her study Chapter 3 is about the adminis- the occupied forces “reduced the demographic effects of death by Athens in April 1941, they and on what happened in Syros, Chios tration of Greece, how the occu- availability of food” in Greece. She starvation. These chapters give a their allies, the Italians and the and Mykonos because those piers used a puppet Greek govern- does not deny that the invaders of- chance to Hionidou to show off her Bulgarians, divided the country in- Aegean islands have reliable data. ment in Athens to run the country. ten stole the little food Greeks had. skills in the esoteric statistics and to zones of military occupation, She also interviewed survivors of Soon that government had no au- She supports rather that the occu- fancy theories of demography. Nev- freezing everything under their the famine in those islands. thority outside of Athens: Greek piers grabbed only stored “cash ertheless, the lessons of this story control. They confiscated or pur- Chapter 1 examines the histori- citizens, including in some in- crops.” are clear: Some five percent of chased at low prices all available cal background, the crises Greece stances civil servants, ignored the In Chapter 5, Hionidou chal- Greeks died. During months of olive oil, raisins, figs, tobacco, cot- lived through, especially the severe edicts of this government. The Ger- lenges the assumption that the famine deaths would increase by ton, leather and most pack ani- dislocation more than a million mans, Hionidou asserts, were for famine was largely a result of low 300 to 1000 percent. Adult males mals. They prohibited fishing. Greek refugees from Turkey had on “minimal intervention” in contrast food production in 1941-1944. She died faster than adult females, and They took over all means of trans- the economy of Greece in the to the Italians taking over Greek suggests that during the occupa- old people died at higher rates port, including bicycles, and all fu- 1920s. Then Hionidou summarizes authority surreptitious, especially tion Greek farmers concentrated than children. el. These measures effectively the early effects of the occupation in the Cyclades and Ionian Islands, on growing wheat and certain In Syros, Mykonos and Chios, brought all movement of goods of Greece by Germany, Italy and which they intended to annex. In pulses and, otherwise, they did as starvation became the main killer. and people to an end. Add to this Bulgaria. mainland Greece, the Italians fol- well as in “normal” years. The upper classes, bank employ- strangulation, many of the demobi- The British blockade made the lowed the Germans’ minimal inter- Chapter 6 examines failed and ees, civil servants and farmers did lized Greek soldiers became Greek food crisis worse, in fact, ex- ference. Hionidou argues that all extreme Greek government poli- not suffer as much from the wors- THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 19 J. Mavrovitis Traces His Roots From Soyzopolis to Brooklyn

Continued from page 7 Mavrovitis is drawing on an actual family history. Moreover, he is not indicate people are still speaking to afraid to assert an uncomfortable one another in Greek or if the words truth: his characters miss the old are just remnants of Greek that re- world to some degree but not that main among people who are now much. They reminded me of many speaking English. Nor does immigrants of that same era whom I Mavrovitis have anyone speaking in knew well while growing up in De- Gringlish or with the awkwardness troit. In their twilight years, they of a person new to English. What all liked to visit the old country, but al- this means is that the transition ways with the idea of coming from being a Greek speaker to being “home” to America. an English speaker is never ad- Perhaps the charm of “Remem- dressed. More generally, all of the ber Us” is best captured by the six characters have the same speech photos on the front cover. They are patterns, whether Greek or Italian, printed in deep sepia tones that sug- American-born or an emigrant. gest a treasured family album. We At the onset of “Remember Us,” see well-dressed immigrants at a we think certain males will domi- picnic, a woman attired in an ele- nate the tale, but as the novel pro- gant evening gown, a loving couple NEWCASTLE UNIV. PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICE gresses, Eleni Zissis becomes the with their arms around one another, Violetta Hionidou, author of single most important individual. a young man sporting a white hand- “Famine and Death in Occupied She will defy traditions in the old kerchief in the pocket of his double- Greece,” is a lecturer in Modern world and the new. Her abilities as a breasted suit, a large family sur- History at the University of New- seamstress will allow her to create a rounding a seated patriarch wear- castle upon Tyne. She has taught small business empire in the United ing a fez, an abandoned building. I at Southampton, Crete and the States that aids all who touch her. would have been delighted if inside Ionian Universities. She has pub- Most importantly, she remains the captions identified exactly who and lished widely on the demograph- moral center of the tale and is piv- where these people are. But the ic and social history of modern otal to the fate of all the major char- anonymous nature of the photos ac- Greece. acters. Eleni is not without blemish, tually facilitates using them as a Jason Mavrovitis' father Jimmy courts his mother, Lily, in the garden but she always retains her dignity springboard for thinking about the of her mother's house in Bay Ridge,Brooklyn, in 1927. ening famine. and kindness, never degenerating many Hellenes who left for America To conclude, Hionidou’s book is into a greedy shrew obsessed with from homes in what had been the war and poverty. The photos give us at the Center for Byzantine and a timely, informative, and thought- material wealth. Greek women are last domains of the Ottomans. their images. “Remember Us” tells Modern Greek Studies at Queens ful study of a tragic period of Greek often the center of Greek families These Hellenes were profoundly their story. College-City University of New history when invaders brought the but too often they remain peripher- grateful to become accepted by a York. His most recent book is “My country to the verge of death by al figures in Greek fiction. Mavrovi- nation that provided them salvation Dan Georgakas is director of the Detroit: Growing Up Greek and starvation. The pain of famine, tis must be commended for putting from seemingly endless cycles of Greek American Studies Project American in Motor City.” who lived and who died, and the Eleni center stage where she right- use of food as a weapon exacerbat- fully belongs. ed existing class division in Greek “Remember Us” can be frustrat- society, all of which exploded in ing at times. During the episodes set the civil war. on the edge of the Black Sea, a map Read this book. It opens a page of the region and the cities dis- of Greek history many would cussed would have been extremely rather forget. It’s a look at the for- useful, all the more so as these are eign occupiers’ hatred for the places that often carry different Greeks and the Greeks’ antago- Greek and Slavic names on various nisms for each other. maps and are spelled in a variety of systems. We want to know more E.G. Vallianatos is the author of about these Greek-speaking areas in “This Land is Their Land” and Bulgaria. We want more details “The Passion of the Greeks.” about the political dramas at hand. In that regard, “Remember Us” may be judged to be very successful in stirring interest in a region rarely dealt with in English-language fic- book Ø worm. - tion. Mavrovitis is certainly far less Full and Half days available for Nursery and Pre-K noun successful in dealing with the com- 1. One who spends plexities of Greek political life in much time reading these times, but he has boldly cap- or studying. tured the feelings of Greek speakers 2. Any of various insects, especially beyond the traditional state who booklice and silverfish, that infest Bus Services available books and feed on the paste in the preferred a new world of opportuni- bindings. ty to old worlds of torment. Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the When depicting immigrant life in English Language, Fourth Edition America, Mavrovitis emphasizes the The National Herald upward pulse of events, the colle- giality of other immigrants, and the OPEN HOUSE Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 6:15 p.m. Bookstore ultimate acceptance of the foreign- OPEN HOUSE Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 6:15 p.m. (718) 784-5255 born by native Americans. Perhaps [email protected] there could have been more about Scholarships provided by the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation the hardships involved, but 20 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 The Point of View of a Third-Generation Greek American: Family History and a Woman’s Quest for Roots

The Priest Fainted ities. The forces pulling the genera- turing intergenerational links. “I the thick fluidity of olive oil or hon- tions apart are easy to identify. can fall into the rhythm of this ey.” Or, “The words in Greek sound By Catherine Temma Davidson Dramatic class mobility propels the speech and believe I understand even more lovely than in English: Henry Holt and Company ethnic family away from the eco- the meaning of the words,” the ‘Glyka,’ ‘Glykoula.’ Sweet, Little 261 pages nomic anguish of its immigrant narrator lets out. “Almost, almost, I Sweet One, does not convey the past, landing the daughter “in the am about to break into the blue taste in the mouth of … the sticky lap of luxury,” as the New York world of the old language. I can rind of melon marinated in sugar By Yiorgos Anagnostou Times’ review of the novel puts it. feel my grandmother rising up in that the Greek words evoke.” Sig- Special to The National Herald At the same time, assimilation cre- me, a perfect wave.” Yet the narra- nificantly, in a thread unexplored ates new tastes, rendering a host of tor does not always embrace the in the novel, it is Greek poetry that “The Priest Fainted,” old-world traditions irrelevant, ancestral language. Early on in her continues to offer a source of con- Catherine Temma David- even repulsive. The narrator rebels life, she accepts with relief the op- nection with Greek culture once Inson tells the stories of against certain ethnic practices tion offered by the parents not to the narrator’s quest for belonging three women in a Greek-American such as attending Greek language attend Saturday language classes, in Greece shatters into emptiness. family, the grandmother, mother school while she experiences oth- which interfered with weekend With an equally sensual delight, and daughter. We enter the plot of ers as fundamentally alien. “To eat leisure. the narrator attends to another line their lives through the perspective a Greek ‘magiritsa’ is like poking Through formal study in college of continuity, one associated with of the latter, a third-generation through a corpse trussed up with and immersion in the language, food habits in the family. In this American ethnic of Greek and Jew- onions,” the narrator lets out. “Was the narrator eventually develops route, time-tested recipes travel ish ancestry. The narrator inter- it any wonder that when it came to an astute appreciation of the value through generations of women and MICHAEL FOX weaves stories about her own quest eating the real ‘magiritsa’ I and poeticity of Greek. Her ap- across geographical spaces, in the Catherine Davidson lives in Lon- for roots in Greece with stories gagged?” Immigrant food ways are praisal of the sounds, flow and sub- diaspora. “Throughout the Lev- don with her husband and two about her mother – a Greek New unpalatable here, erecting a barrier tleties of the language is lyrically ant,” she writes, “on any given day, children. She is the author of Yorker who eventually relocates to to the third generation’s quest for sensuous and intimately affection- the aroma of ‘imam’ rises, a scent “The Priest Fainted,” a novel, California – and her maternal roots. ate: “(My mother’s) mouth takes of onion, and oil, garlic and toma- and “Inheriting the Ocean,” a grandmother, an immigrant whom But certain connections persist, the names of her aunts and turns to.” Stories surrounding these collection of poetry. Her novel the narrator never met yet with meandering their way through the them into endearments, flowing in- recipes posses the dreamy quality was a NY Times and LA Times whom she holds an imaginary dia- bulk of layers of discontinuities. to their language … She has deep of half-fact, half-legend; but their Notable Book of the Year, and logue throughout the novel. The Take for example the power of the bells in her vowels; consonants message is unambiguously clear. In she has won several prizes for protagonist pieces together frag- immigrant language to animate the form round roofs in her mouth. the narrator’s family, “Imam Baildi” her poetry. She currently teaches ments of family history, offering in- presence of the grandmother, nur- The sentences wash together with means “The Priest Fainted.” “Per- writing and is working on a nov- sights on how and why she finds haps the priest was given a bite of el about mixed marriage, called meaning in ethnicity. bitter and sweet pleasure, and the “The Floating Bride.” Two parallel events organize power of everything behind the the novel, whose primary female dish pushed him off his rock in the making of ethnic food earns protagonists remain anonymous. (where he was mediating), just for her cultural knowledge while forg- The first event takes place in the a moment.” Women are aware of ing intergenerational links. In this 1950s, when the mother’s college the immense power food possesses kind of activity, smells, touches, career is brutally interrupted by to stir the senses; families attach scars, memories and images leave McCarthyism. Her horizons nar- creative nicknames to these recipes inedible marks in her body. Ethnici- rowed by tight family finances, she accordingly. ty experienced in this manner – escapes her impasse when she joins In exploring the social signifi- family members coalescing around a wealthy friend in her relocation cance of ethnic food, the narrator a shared practice that engages all to Greece. Once in the country, she turns, for a rare moment, into a the senses – is deeply felt and re- yields to the pull of the ancestral staunch defender of the ways of membered. Tacitly, the narrator of- village, visiting with relatives. But the past; she advocates the tradi- fers a template, a sort of cultural she also participates in a different tion that recipes are best transmit- lesson, to those readers who search kind of social world. Residence in ted orally, taught through example. for ways of transmitting ethnicity her friend’s exclusive enclave of- Listen to the undercurrent of as- to their children. fers her a voyeuristic taste of the sertiveness in the following string The paths tracing the narrator’s privileged life of wealthy, cos- of sentences: “Recipes are passed connections with food and lan- mopolitan Athenians. hand to hand, mother to daughter. guage crisscross within a larger Three decades later, the daugh- Girls helping their mothers to pre- route, the narrator’s quest for roots ter visits Greece. As an Ivy League pare simple meals acquire an un- in Greece. This journey underlines college student first and a learned spoken knowledge in their palms the depth of the longing to connect traveler later, she sets to explore a and fingers.” “My mother’s … with the places and people associ- society that once shaped the thump after rolling grapes is criss- ated with family history. But the women in her family. Leaving be- crossed with calluses that with- seemingly irresistible urge that ini- hind her Beverly Hills milieu she stand the brine.” “Looking at my tially pulled the narrator to Greece enters the social world of ancestral own hands, (I see that) the skin gradually loosens its grip; it even- villages and towns where her rela- along the fingers is starting to tually dissipates as the quest for tives live. Not unlike her mother, pucker and go tough.” Additional roots leads the narrator to places she immerses herself in Athenian passages in the novel remarkably where it is cultural distance that cosmopolitanism, this time inhabit- evoke how the modern tendency of she experiences, not the desired ed by foreign models, American ex- writing down recipes represents a connection. The longed-for union patriates, and a repatriated, abu- convenient shortcut that violates with the family’s origins remains sive Greek American lover. the ethos of communal food prepa- unfulfilled; the quest for a home in The narrative interweaves the ration, irreparably damaging ties the ancestral past remains elusive. women’s lives, illustrating genera- across generations of women. Ultimately, the deep thirst for roots tional continuities and discontinu- For the narrator, full immersion turns into profound alienation. The THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 21 narrator ends up setting in motion Greek views of history entangle ality earn women free drinks and a biting cultural critique, particu- with her quest for identity? The flirtatious partners. Is this a kind of Straight From the Heart larly of Greek patriarchy, eventual- fact that the novel consciously or- female empowerment, as some ly leaving Greece. Not unlike her ganizes itself around loosely con- have argued, or is it untroubled experience with the “magiritsa,” nected fragments; and the narra- conformity to the rules of the beau- Continued from page 10 den) of Rhodes and last, but defi- the yearning for full belonging via tor’s position that knowledge of the ty and desire industry? nitely not least, the Philoptochos. roots will never materialize. past is fundamentally incomplete, One must also attend to the ing grown in emotional maturity I met Apostolides quite by acci- What is then the significance of should not grant the license for novel’s undercurrents of silence. and life experience, had retained dent at a local book fair. I was lis- the past for the narrator? I will on- convenient narrative closures, and Unexplored remains the thread of her faith in love and life and her tening to the presentation of an- ly trace a single trail along these the reduction of serious issues to the grandmother’s political ac- reverence and delight in her Greek other author when next to me ar- lines, one that intersects with the glittering aphorisms. tivism, tantalizingly evoked: “My heritage, the beauties of nature, rived a lovely woman whose large novel’s feminist dimension: the Enter the book and be prepared mother says she still has her moth- her family and her own talents and expressive eyes, thick dark hair narrator’s resentful accusation that for additional challenges. The er’s union card; she promises to potential. The poems in Section 1, and other features instantly made Greek official histories as well as telling of the story may disorient send it to me. … (a) promise unful- Spiritual Reflections, revolve me wonder if she was Greek. With mythology exclude, silence or mis- some readers. To be sure, the mem- filled.” It is hard to miss the explo- around the themes of gratitude, her were her husband and son. As represent women. The author has a oir-like aspect of the novel will an- sive silence clothing this trail. The the brevity of life, and the love and we spoke, I was struck by the sense score to settle in particular with chor your reading experience. narrator’s search for roots does not serenity than can flow from faith in of peace and unity in the family, as Greek ancient mythology, which, Structured as a series of poetic en- include the interest to excavate the God and Christ. Some of the poems well as by Apostolides’ excitement as she poignantly charges, portrays tries in a diary, parts of the narra- story connecting the grandmother are like prayers. The poems in Sec- and belief in her works. Like any women as passive and weak. tive are crisply clear. But lucidity with labor struggles. Her quest for tion 2, Reflections of Love, are so true writer, she found (and contin- The narrator ventures to rewrite works alongside with ways of roots centers on the display and powerful they might restore even a ues to find) fulfillment in the the myths in order to correct their telling that may exceed a reader’s overcoming of personal wounds, cynic’s faith in the reality and pow- process of writing, as well as in her misplaced representations. In her comfort level. A mere couple of not the telling of economic abuses, er of love. The poet dedicates sev- finished products. I was also struck retelling, the versions portray pages into the novel, you will find past and present. Clearly, the agen- eral poems to her husband. by her clarity of vision about what women as strong, wise and power- yourself in a shifting literary uni- da of self-empowerment does not In Section 3: Journey through matters in life to her, the very val- ful, mutually supportive and inde- verse. The narrative is laced with include attention to the wider so- the Seasons of Life and Beyond, ues embodied in the heroine Ipatia pendent. In this respect, she in- abstract metaphors, often fired up cial structure. The grandmother’s Apostolides writes about mother- – personal integrity, spirituality, vents an ethnic past that women in rapid succession. Buckle up for participation in the labor move- hood, aging, art, music, nature, the close caring relationships and re- can use as a model to empower additional challenges. As the novel ment cannot possibly square with loss of family members, and spect for all forms of life. themselves and craft their own life lacks linear plot, you will have to the daughter’s passion for self-dis- Alzheimer’s. In “Environmental Ig- trajectories. Hence her motto, meander through a narrative that covery in Athenian expatriate norance,” “Environmental Dignity, Aphrodite Matsakis, Ph.D. is a “Every woman needs a story.” Posi- moves back and forth through time hubs, the ancestral village, and the and “Survival of the Fittest,” we counseling psychologist and the tive stories about the past offer a and across space. Be ready to Greek islands. To recover the dra- hear the village girl who grew up on author of “Back From the Front: tapestry upon which women may stretch your reading alertness in mas of working-class immigrants fresh goat’s milk and homegrown Combat Trauma, Love and The draw to weave their own stories of order to connect the various narra- as well as alternative cultural con- vegetables lamenting the deteriora- Family” (www.backfrom personal fulfillment. tive fragments. nections one must look elsewhere. tion of the environment and the cor- thefront.org). She has also writ- If the reader wonders why the As this novel encourages porate pollution of our foods. In ten 13 books on a variety of psy- narrator allows herself to be sub- women to fashion lives of their Yiorgos Anagnostou is associate Section 4: Greek Reflections, My chological topics and “Growing jected to an abusive sexual rela- own making, it will no doubt earn professor of modern Greek at Roots, the poet celebrates Alexan- Up Greek in St. Louis” (Arcadia tionship, it will help to recall the the praise of some feminists for its The Ohio State University and der the Great, Greek Easter, the mu- Publishing, 1998). Visit narrator’s view of her story as a de- agenda to empower women. Yet the author of numerous articles sician Yianni, the Olympics, the www.matsakis. com for further liberate construction, not a reality the narrator’s brand of feminism on the anthropology, history and “Petaloudes” (The Butterfly Gar- information. in itself. One could attribute a di- may unsettle feminists of a differ- popular culture of Greek Ameri- dactic purpose in the recounting of ent persuasion. In weaving a story ca. His book “Contours of White this experience, in all its shocking of self-liberation, the narrator Ethnicity: Popular Ethnography details. The lesson to be learned haunts Athenian “clubs favored by and the Making of Usable Pasts may have to do with the profound models,” hunting, as she puts it, in in Greek America” is forthcom- power of erotic desire to reconcile places where good looks and sexu- ing from Ohio University Press. Scholarships available itself to the exercise of male abuse. The narrator underlines the vital The Hellenic University Club of New York need to overcome such passion ANNUALLY OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS though her telling of this process remains on the surface. Once it is TO STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS OF HELLENIC ANCESTRY read against the narrator’s refer- ences to Greek mythology, the Awarded to high school seniors (3) who reside traumatic affair cautions women Undergraduate in the New York Tri-State area. Must be top 10% about the dangers of certain rela- of class or over 1900 SAT and family annual tionships, urging alertness against income under $80K. oppression. Deadline for applications is May 1st, 2009. “The Priest Fainted” may dazzle readers with its insights and rich- Graduate The Dr. Fred Valergakis Research Grant (several) is presented annually to researchers and graduate ness of language. In a novel where students of Hellenic ancestry who are studying the narrator stresses the power of Medical, Biological or Social Sciences stories to shape identity, the author at an accredited institution. invests in the craft of writing accordingly. But this book may equal- The Dr. Papanicolaou Heritage Grant (1) ly irritate and annoy for the super- is presented annually to a researcher who is studying ficial treatment of many of its in- Classical and Byzantine Hellenic Culture. sights. There are simply too many threads, too many trails that are Minimum monetary grant is $1,500 only touched on the surface, fleet- ingly mentioned, trivially engaged For further information and applications visit our web site at: with, and then forgotten; their pos- www.hucny.org or request application by mail: sible interrelations remain sus- HUC Scholarship Committee pended, unexplored. How does, for Offer for USA only 2002-2008 George Kiriazides Bessie Lygnos instance, the narrator’s ability to PO Box 6882, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150 • E-mail: [email protected] discern distinct American and 22 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 THE NATIONAL HERALD BOOKSTORE

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THE MIRACLE THE UPROOTED SHALL WE SING LOVE POEMS THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A TRUE STORY Author Gabriel Panagiosoulis, FOR YOU? Dionysia Nick Garbi writes sim- CONSTANTINE Constantinople-born Leonidas born on Kefalonia, tells the story Sing Christmas carols with fa- ply and plaintively of Kephalo- THE GREAT Koumakis chronicles and docu- of merchant seaman Maki, his mous Greek pop artists! nia, and others things close to By Prof. D.G. Kousoula. ments a century of abuse at the 20-year maritime odyssey, his A great holiday gift for family her heart. “Vivid...” One of the most de- hands of the Turks, and tells the brush with American McCarthy- and friends. tailed biographies of Constan- story of his family’s 1964 depor- ism, and his belief in the Ameri- tine The Great. tation from their homeland. can Dream. * In paper-back - 2nd Edition (718) 784-5255 • Fax (718) 472-0510 Please send your order by check to the following address: The National Herald, Inc. 37-10 30th Street, L.I.C., NY 11101 or charge your credit card: ❏ VISA ❏ MASTERCARD ❏ AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD No: ...... EXP. DATE: ...... SIGNATURE:...... RECEIVER’S NAME:...... ADDRESS: ...... TEL: ...... CITY: ...... STATE: ...... ZIP: ...... BOOKS: ...... THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 23 Award-Winning Cookbook Packed with Pleasure Greek Americans Add Their Unique Adaptations to Traditional Recipes

The Grecian Plate forms us. This and other tidbits of sections entitled “Spices, Herbs history and tradition are scattered and Flavorings;” “Wines and By Joan Marino, Lena Mousmoules throughout the book, along with Liqueurs;” “Cheeses and Olives;” and Helen Paliouras, Editors the easy-to-follow recipes. “Substitutions;” “Equivalents,” and Hellenic Ladies Society of Saint Greek Americans added their “Menus.” Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, own unique touches to the way The chapter “On the Light Side” Greek cuisine was prepared. A few looks light-heartedly at “dieting 253 pages, $21 of the recipes use bouillon cubes without deprivation.” Here the instead of meat broth or garlic recipes offered have been altered By Elaine Thomopoulos powder instead of whole garlic. to eliminate approximately 1/3 of Special to The National Herald Other recipes make use of store the calories (by reducing fats, bought pita, although a detailed starches and sugars) while preserv- y hosting fun “tasting par- recipe for homemade pita is also ing the wonderful taste, texture ties” at their homes, the included. At times the addition of and nutritional quality so charac- Bwomen of the Hellenic non-traditional ingredients, e.g., teristic of Greek cookery. Ladies Society of Saint Barbara “Baklava with Apple,” give the Really fun to me were directions Greek Orthodox Church of Durham dishes a unique flavor. The Ameri- on how to read coffee grounds to and Chapel Hill, North Carolina can influence is also evident in tell your fortune, as well as how to carefully selected which recipes to non-Greek recipes such as “Bunder brew Greek coffee. I also enjoyed include in “The Grecian Plate.” Nuss Torte” or “Chocolate Oatmeal learning that the “koufetas” (sug- This award-winning book, edited Cookies.” ared almonds) that we handed out by Joan Marino, Lena Mousmoules Other creative recipes infuse to guests last fall at our youngest The Hellenic Ladies Society of Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church and Helen Paliouras, is packed traditional American daughter’s wedding could be his- of Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina received the prestigious food with a Greek torically traced to 177 B.C., when a R.T. French Co. Tastemaker Award for best community cookbook in character. Do they patrician Roman family used hon- the nation in 1984 for "The Grecian Plate." From left to right are edi- serve “Ouzo Stuffed eyed almonds at the marriage of tors Lena Mousmoulen and Joan Marinos, typist Erie Cocolas and ed- Eggs” in Greece? It is their daughter. itor Helen Paliouras. The photo was taken in Paliouras' kitchen in described as, “a dif- Holiday and special occasion 1984. ferent, aromatic fare is included. This Easter I am taste and very going to try “Mayeritsa Apli,” made four times! Housekeeping Magazine. The Cheese triangles Greek.” Here is the with lamb shoulder and lamb “The Grecian Plate,” now in its awards are well deserved. The recipe: “6 eggs bones, instead of the heart, liver, 10th printing, received the presti- book can be ordered by sending a hard boiled, lungs and intestines of young gious R. T. French TASTEMAKER check for $21 to The Grecian Plate, peeled; 1 table- lamb. I remember my yiayia care- Cookbook Award and was selected 1298 Wildwood Drive, Chapel Hill spoon ouzo, 1 ta- fully cleaning the intestines many as Cookbook of the Month by Good NC 27517 or calling 919 942-6883. blespoon minced decades ago. Not for me – a girl fresh parsley, born in America. 1/2 teaspoon The recipe for “fakies” (lentil minced fresh soup) explains: “This soup is the Paideia Studies in Greece mint, 2 table- only food eaten by devout Ortho- spoons mayonnaise, watercress dox Christians on Good Friday. The 2009-2010 (optional) Slice eggs in half vinegar is symbolic, recalling that lengthwise, scoop out egg it was given to Christ on the cross.” yolks and blend with ouzo Several recipes are offered for to make a smooth paste. Easter Bread, Christmas Bread and Blend in remaining in- “Prosphoron,” which is distributed gredients. Fill egg to the church congregation each whites; sprinkled with Sunday after the liturgy. additional fresh pars- To make “kolliva” (boiled wheat ley. Garnish with wa- kernels, raisins, almonds, spices tercress around and powdered sugar) takes three eggs, if desired.” days! The book explains that the Eligibility: GPA 2.5 The first chap- serving of the “kolliva” at a memor- Semester/Year: Students can study at the National and Kapodistrian ter contains ial service signifies that the dead University of Athens, Aristotle and Macedonia Universities in mouthwatering will rise again just as the wheat Thessaloniki, University of Aegean and National Center of Marine with 300 favorite recipes of parish yet easy-to-pre- when planted in the earth sprouts Research in Rhodes. Many classes are available with the less members and local restaurateurs. I pare appetizers, such as the one for and bears fruit. The various sweets expensive program a student can find in Greece. found it fascinating reading and cheese triangles, which is made added to the “kolliva” signify that filled with recipes that reminded with 1/2 pound of crumbled feta after Resurrection life will be sweet Dates: Fall/Spring semesters with an optional early/late program for me of the dishes by mother and yi- cheese, 1/2 pound soft ricotta and blissful. History and Archaeology of Ancient Greece in Dion or Rhodes with a ayia used to make. cheese, 1 tablespoon minced pars- One of my favorite foods is “Fra- partial PAIDEIA scholarship. Today’s nutritious Greek food ley, dill or chive, and nine slices pa Glyko” (grapefruit rind pre- has its origins in ancient times, thin sandwich bread, trimmed. Af- serves), a sweet-bitter delight. For Summer/Winter Intersession students can study in Rhodes, Dion, with many of the same ingredients ter you spread the mixture on the years I have enjoyed this delicious Thessaloniki, Athens, Heraklion, Delphi, Sparti, Ikaria, Kalamata, used, such as olive oil, garlic, yo- bread, it is baked at 450 degrees bittersweet delicacy prepared by Kozani, Mytilini. gurt and honey. “We are indebted for 10 to 15 minutes. my “koumbara” Effie Gekas. Little to the unknown Greek chef who The book also includes recipes did I realize the hours she spent in Contact: Center for Hellenic Studies [email protected] or more than 20 centuries ago created for soups, salads, sauces, vegeta- preparation: sewing the rolled Univ. of Connecticut www.studyabroad.uconn.edu the versatile white cream sauce so bles, entrées, pitas, breads and rinds together in a row, soaking Tel/Fax: (860)429-8518 • http://paideiaonline.org widely used today,” the book in- desserts. The Appendices includes them overnight and boiling them 24 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Cooking with Greek History

Continued from page 17

oil (eggs would finally be available), A beet salad with feta, Lamb stew with artichokes and dill, or, Swordfish in Muscat wine and kumquat, Baby lettuce fritters, Apricot (the name means early ripening, same root as “preco- cious”), Easter cheese tartlets. Who else, but an “Amerikana” such as Hoffman (Ph.D. in anthropology, 30-year bi-continental resi- Leek, Potato, and Olive Pie dent of Santorini) would take the time to ponder and explain the un- spoken history and tradition behind Greece’s most touchstone dishes? I highly recommend “The Olive and the Caper” to anyone looking to broaden their understanding of Greece’s great history and superb taste.

Nile Southern is a writer and author of “The Candy Men; The Rol- licking Life and Times of the No- torious Novel, CANDY.” He is currently producing a public radio series about the Greeks who immigrated to the Intermountain West, entitled “Greeks Out West; a Story of Migration Through Song.” For more information: Roasted Lamb Shanks with Gar- www.kgnu.org/greekswest. lic and Thyme, Warm Greens.

“Sizzled in the greenest olive oil, no egg in the world can top a newly laid egg, fried in the Greek style.” This is the description given by Su- sanna Hoffman in her book, “Olive and Caper.”