Captain Corelli's Mandolin
By Louis de Bernières

Is love an antidote to the horror of war? A novel like this would almost have you believing that.

This book is beautifully written and is very funny in parts, sad and moving in others. As the war progresses, horrific. Life on the Ionian Greek island of Cephalonia can be hard but it is peaceful, apart from noisy celebrations of the Saint's day and arguments between a resident monarchist and communist. The island is far from the troubles of Thirties Europe until the troubles appear on their door step.

I recently read a book called Fateful Choices by historian Ian Kershaw. A chapter describes the decision by Mussolini to make his grab for some glory by invading Greece. The background is not glorious and neither is the result: humiliation for Italy, who were forced to retreat by the Greek army and resistance. Hitler was furious at this "adventure" by his partner in war but came to Italy's aid, invading and occupying Greece from the North. Greece was now under the thumb of both axis powers and Cephalonia was occupied by the Italians but with a small German detachment as well. Things can get worse however, as they did catastrophically when the Italian Fascists lost power and the Nazi's overran all Greece, bludgeoning any resistance away in a brutal and bloody manner. As the Nazi fortunes waned though, the communists took their own bloody revenge on the Greek people.

This is a beautifully written love story, but perhaps two love stories: that between a Greek woman and an Italian officer and also between the author and the Greek people. It's funny and moving but gets very sad and brutal as the War turns. The cover shows a still from the film version, with Nicolas Cage as Corelli. It is supposed to be disappointing so I might not bother watching it. The book deserves its accolades however.