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THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022
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A Cultural Immersion: New Book ‘Modern Greece’ Unveiled BY ALEXANDER FATOUROS
ne of the world’s most fascinating “The fifteen chapters, as well as a timeline, destinations—Greece—is an exemplary photographs, tables, sidebars, glossary, and subject for ABC-CLIO’s “Understanding index, enable the reader to gain a comprehensive Modern Nations” series. In the understanding of contemporary Greece. The chapters new book “Modern Greece,” editor include geography; history; government and politics; Elaine Thomopoulos, PhD, and a team of notable economy; religion and thought; social classes and contributors tap into rich networks to unlock the ethnicity; gender, marriage, and sexuality; education; essence of contemporary life in Greece. Alongside a language; etiquette; literature and drama; art and vibrant modern art scene and cutting-edge cuisine, architecture; music and dance; food; leisure and ancient traditions continue sports; media and popular to flourish. On-site fieldwork, culture.” stellar photography, and Nicknamed the “new sound journalism make this Berlin,” Athens is becoming 401 page book a must read. an important player in the Spanning cosmopolitan global art market. Not to attractions, legendary be missed is the Common histories, and cultural Expressions section (pages treasures, this latest volume 208-211), which feature embraces the authentic commonly used words character of Greece—the and quirky phrases Greeks birthplace of Western use to express themselves. philosophy and democracy. Knowledge gems delight An extraordinary array and surprise at every of options is at your turn. Happenings in the This periptero (kiosk), just off Syntagma Square fingertips thanks to thematic railway, seaport, and airport in Athens, brims with souvenirs, candy, soft drinks, encyclopedic entries and sectors are revealed in the newspapers, magazines, postcards, tobacco, water, and phone cards. These iconic commerce one-of-a-kind curated privatization of transportation centers can be found throughout Greece, in remote content. entry. Did you know the villages as well as seaside resorts, where they add “Modern Greece” analyzes Chinese company China sandbox toys and beach towels to their dizzying complex issues now facing Ocean Shipping Company array of merchandise. The revered periptero, an Greece with a down-to-earth (COSCO) obtained a 51 essential part of the Greek way of life, has been around for more than a hundred years. Photo by approach. It explores topics percent share of the Piraeus Alexander Fatouros. such as government and Port? China views the Greek economics in an easy-toport near Athens as a vital read format without jargon distribution hub of its Belt and brings a lighthearted and Road Initiative (BRI). approach to chapters such In 2019, the Greek-owned as etiquette (what gestures ships ranked number one in to avoid so as not to offend), the world as to the value of leisure (how Greeks celebrate its fleet, worth 105.2 billion holidays), and language dollars, besting Japan. (what “opa” means). No other book on Greece is homopoulos organized like this thematic amassed encyclopedia, which has distinguished nearly 150 entries on topics correspondents ranging from Archimedes with a passion for This Greek ferry carries passengers and their to refugees, and a “Day in storytelling to develop a book cars or trucks back and forth from the mainland the Life” section, thus giving that that not only blends art to the Ionian island of Zakynthos. Situated in the reader a vivid snapshot and culture harmoniously, the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece is a maritime center whose ships range from huge tankers that of life in Greece,” said but also embraces the natural transport goods across the oceans, to smaller rollThomopoulos. beauty of this world-class on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels like this one. Photo by She continued, adding, destination. “It was thrilling Elaine Thomopoulos.
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to work with the 19 distinguished scholars who wrote entries for this book, scholars from throughout the United States and Greece. Without their expertise and research, the book would not have been possible. One of the contributors was Alexander Fatouros. He wrote several chapters and provided stunning photos that he had taken while traveling in Greece. I also am indebted to those, many of them from Berrien County, who helped me with editing or providing photographs,” said Thomopoulos. The contributors include: Beatriz BadikianGartler; Angelyn Balodimas-Bartolomei; Alexander Billinis; Nikos Christofis, PhD; Harriette CondesZervakis; Kosta Dalageorgas, MA (Univ. of Chicago); Alexander Fatouros, MA (Univ. of Chicago) MS (Columbia Univ.); Georgia Giannakopoulou, PhD; Katherine Kalaidis, PhD (Univ. of London); Marianthe Karanikas, PhD; Aphrodite Matsakis, PhD; Daphne Nicolitsas, MPhil (Univ. of Oxford) PhD (Univ. of Manchester); Nick Poulakis, PhD, Anna Poupou, PhD, John Psiharis; Evaggelos Vallianatos, PhD; Angeliki Varela; and Theodore G. Zervas, PhD. Elaine Thomopoulos lives in Bridgman, Michigan. She wrote the local history books “Images of America: St. Joseph and Benton Harbor,” “Resorts of Berrien County,” and “Legendary Locals: St. Joseph and Benton Harbor,” which were all published by Arcadia Publishing. Thomopoulos is also the author of “The History of Greece” (Greenwood Press), and the curator of the exhibit “Greeks of Berrien County,” which can be seen at the Annunciation and St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church in New Buffalo, Michigan. “High school and college students, teachers, scholars, those who will be doing business in Greece, as well as the general public, especially those who are planning a trip to Greece will profit from reading this book. It is a must-read for anyone of Greek heritage, since it will inform them about the history of Greece, as well as what is happening in presentday Greece,” expounded Thomopoulos. To get a first-hand look at “Modern Greece,” a cultural immersion guaranteed to soothe and Modern Greece, the latest volume in the invigorate the senses, drop Understanding Modern by: https://www.abc-clio. Nations series published com/products/a5372c/ by ABC-CLIO.
