Letter from the Editor, Daisy Dunn

It’s finally here: our Greek War of Independence special. This year is the bicentenary of the beginning of this crucial conflict. I gave Roderick Beaton the near impossible task of setting out in just a handful of pages what happened, why and to what significance. He certainly rose to the challenge. His essay (pages 4–7) serves as the perfect opener to this issue. (Continue reading)

Contents

THE GREEK REVOLUTION

Roderick Beaton traces the history of the Revolution
Gonda Van Steen looks back at the past three major anniversaries
Michael Llewellyn-Smith on the colourful and tireless Eleftherios Venizelos
Edhem Eldem reflects on the extraordinary life of his ancestor, Edhem Pasha
Philip Mansel examines life in Constantinople, Smyrna and Alexandria in the aftermath of the Revolution

ANCIENT

Steven Hunt on speaking ancient Greek
Julian Morgan sets a challenge of two Greek word puzzles

THE SOCIETY

Fiona Haarer delivers news from the Hellenic Society
Fiona Haarer explores the Society’s archive

BYZANTINE

Leslie Brubaker on dancing in the streets, Byzantine-style
Dionysios Stathakopoulos on the supremely wealthy Theodore Metochites

MODERN

Caroline Mackenzie talks to John Taylor
Paul Cartledge on body art at the recent Olympic Games

BOOKS

Paul Watkins reports on the London Hellenic Prize and the Runciman Award
A round-up of recent and forthcoming books
Maria Relaki on Vance L. Watrous, Minoan Crete: An Introduction
Tom Fleming on Pat Barker, The Women of Troy
Alice Dunn on Ruth Padel, Daughters of the Labyrinth
J.W. Bonner on Daniel Mendelsohn, Three Rings: A Tale of Exile, Narrative, and Fate