Cretan Runner: The Ideal Guide to Sounding, Acting and Shrugging Like the French

This book gives a rare glimpse into the war as seen from a young man in the Crete resistance working with the British in WW2. His story begins with harboring British soldiers left behind after the Germans occupy the island and ends with the surrender of the last Germans in 1945. A 40 page introduction by Patrick Leigh Fermor, one of the British officers on the island, sets the stage before you read George's first hand account. PLF is also the translator, and seems to have done a fine job. The book is highly readable, unlike many translated books I have attempted to read!While the book is unique, the story will seem familiar to those who have watched "The Guns of Navarone" or the lessor known British film, "Ill Met by Moonlight". The brave guerilla fighters on the run from German patrols, caching weapons and radio gear in caves in the hills, brutal revenge attacks by the Germans burning whole villages... all things you've glimpsed in the movies. But this is the real story and for such an episodic tale it is highly readable. Even George's visit to Cairo for R&R is described so intensely that you wish you had been there to see the sites yourself!One note, the most notable British mission to Crete was the capture of German General Kriepe and his being taken off the island. This is the story told in the movie "Ill Met by Moonlight" Ill Met By Moonlight (and a book of the same name Ill Met By Moonlight). While this takes place very near the author, he is not actually involved in that event and that story is told second-hand in the book, in a single chapter at the back of the book.

Down to earth journal of the brave people of Crete pushing back against German supression. Well presented.

THE CRETAN RUNNER book is totally brilliant and awe-inspiring. Although this book was written some years ago it is historical in content and full of fantastic information about Crete and the resistance movement. I bought it for my husband for Christmas but we were going to Crete just last week and so I let him have his present in advance ! He is enthralled with it. Its very emotional too as these resistance fighters had such hard times. They describe the local areas and of course we were in and around some of the little villages and towns and could visit particular sites. Its easy to read my husband says and full of information and photographs. I will read it after him. I would recommend this book to you and declare it COMPLETELY EXCELLENT.

Giorgio Psychoundakis è morto da non molto, e seppellito nel suo grazioso villaggio sulle montagne di Creta. Un personaggio unico, che da ragazzo faceva la staffetta per i partigiani cretesi (1941-1945)in collegamento con gli Alleati e gli agenti britannici che lavoravano in incognito sull'isola, occupata in massa dai paracadutisti hitleriani. La popolazione civile reagì immediatamente, mettendo mano agli schioppi da caccia e ai fucili da pastore. Una rete di resistenza si formò quasi subito. Giorgio correva la notte su e giù per le montagne, portando messaggi e materiali per gli Alleati e per i suoi compatrioti in armi. Dormiva nelle grotte, accompagnava gli agenti britannici sulle rive della costa sud dell'isola, a prendere contatto coi sottomarini e le navi inglesi. Questo è il suo diario, straordinario e avvincente, spiritoso e pieno di notizie esilaranti, scritto da un uomo semplice ma non incolto (ha perfino ri-tradotto l'Odissea in dialetto cretese moderno), un uomo quasi inconsapevole del proprio valore umano, civile e patriottico, completamente privo di ogni presunzione. Semplice e simpatico, come lo sono i Greci. Viva Psychoundakis!

A companion volume to Antony Beevor's book about the Battle of Crete and the resistance. This book was written by one of the Cretan partisans