In 1966, John Waller takes a break from a stressful career to visit the island, accompanied by his Danish wife. In the days before charter flights and package tours, Corfu is ‘heaven on earth’ and it quickly enchants the young couple. Taken under the wing of George Manessis, member of an influential local family, they explore an island which has few proper roads and no development, swimming off deserted beaches and eating simple food in a handful of tavernas. Further visits cement their relationship with George and with Corfu, and at the start of the 70s, though a military dictatorship rules Greece, they buy a plot of land above undiscovered Agios Gordis on the west coast. The building of their own modest summer home parallels the construction, encouraged by the Colonels, of large prestigious hotels, among them George’s own venture at San Stephano near Benitses, and both parties discover the sometimes high financial and emotional cost of possessing Greek Walls. The book also chronicles with some regret the development of tourism and the changes it brings to the island.
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Not one, but 26 years in Corfu ….. Often funny, always informative. -- Corfiot, June 2004
From the Publisher
Greek Walls has been likened to A Year in Provence. However, John Waller’s first book is about "not one, but 26 years in Corfu". It moves from love of the island in the 60s, to the 70s and their construction of a small villa, which nearly slips down the mountain, through the 80s and fights with his neighbour, who pumps sewage onto his land and into the other neighbour’s well, to the 90s and reconciliation with the island. The sequel Avrio (tomorrow) Never Comes, which tells of regaining control from the neighbour and a frenetic construction project to bring the villa into the 21st century and a road up the mountain, will be published early in 2005. The illustrations by John Chipperfield will delight the reader with their humour.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
A delightful book which I picked up in a bookshop in Corfu this year. Mr Waller's love affair with Corfu is beautifully described. The ups and downs of finding a place to build a house and the characters who help and hinder him make for a fascinationg read.
The Goings on in Corfu are inter-twined with the author's career, family life and political ambitions over a generation.
If you know Corfu you will find it brought to life in this book; if you don't know the island you will want to visit.
Highly recommended.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
This is a passionate and intimate account of a family's love affair with a (still) beautiful part of Corfu, and one that I could not help but read in a single sitting.
The author's love of Corfu, its people and culture; of the fascinating history of the Balkans; and, indeed, of life itself abound throughout this book. Like any love affair, it has its ups and downs and I cannot wait for the 2005 sequel to read on about the outcome of one of the more significant downs
My copy took a while to reach me, but it was well worth the wait. A first class debut!
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
My ex-wife Jill, with whom I lived in Corfu, bought this book for me and told me that I will enjoy reading it!
It is a delightful book and I had to read it non stop, because it brought back memories as I recognised all the characters in it. It describes life in Corfu very accurately, in those pre-tourist years.
Life then, in Corfu, was very idyllic, captivated every visitor and the writer succeeded bringing it back to life, for me at least!
I can't wait for the sequel "Avrio never comes" to arrive.
I highly recommend this book.
It is a delightful book and I had to read it non stop, because it brought back memories as I recognised all the characters in it. It describes life in Corfu very accurately, in those pre-tourist years.
Life then, in Corfu, was very idyllic, captivated every visitor and the writer succeeded bringing it back to life, for me at least!
I can't wait for the sequel "Avrio never comes" to arrive.
I highly recommend this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
greek walls
we now live in Corfu and I have the copy of this book here. Loved it, though I thought he was a bit pompous, ok he came from near Richmond in Surrey and so did we. Read more
Published 1 month ago by frankie53
4.0 out of 5 stars
A DECENT READ
This is a good account of the trials and tribulations of life in Corfu, but not as good as James Chatto book on a similar footing. A good read though
Published 20 months ago by J. E. Ashe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Greek walls
If you love Corfu, you'll love this. Especially if you've been to Agios Gordios. You'll be trying to think where the locations are. A good read
Published on 18 Dec 2009 by M. Clarke
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