Mrs. Lasithiotaki, one of the readers

A book of short stories, written in the Cretan dialect, was featured at a literary and musical evening, the second event in a series sponsored by the Gournes Association “Development and Environment”.

The book, Stories of My Village and My Country, by George Alexaki, a noted attorney from Anopoli, was published in 1982, 10 years before his death.

Passages from the book, which expressed the author’s humorous and serious insights into local life, were read by educators Dimo Karayianni and Popi Lasithiotaki.

Because it was written in a heavy Cretan dialect, the book contains a 12-page glossary section which translates the Cretan words into contemporary Greek.

The event, held at the Παραδοσιακό Taverna in Kokkini Hani, also featured Cretan musical interpretations by musicians Nikos Savakis, lyra; Vasilis Tzourmpakis, lute, and Panayiotis Trimintzio, clarinet.

More than 40 people attended the entertaining evening, including dignitaries Gouves Town Councilmen Yiorgos Travayiakis and Mihalis Pratsinakis; Iraklion Prefecture Councilman Kostas Xylouris; Nikos Mbelivanis, president of the Iraklion Committee for the Development of the Old American Base; Mrs. Yiota Strataki, wife of Parliament Member Manoli Strataki and noted author Kostas Mouthatsos.

The emotion of the evening was summed up best by Mrs. Lasithiotaki:

 “Surrounded by people who love culture and tradition, I had the honor to read passages from the book by Mr. Alexaki,” she said.  “And, as I did, old sweet memories from an early young age, and images from stories that I heard by the light of an oil-lamp sitting near the fire place, unraveled on the canvas of my mind.

“As the evening passed, the voices and images got stronger. The present and past met, as the people met in a ceremony of word, music and memory,” she added. “Among the book’s heroes, I sought and found my people, my neighbors, my ancestors, my fellow-villagers.”

Concerning the vivid local language employed by the author, a member of the audience was overheard telling her companion: “sometimes you just have to say it in Cretan to really get the true meaning of the message. It’s like listening to pictures.”

(Editor’s note: The Khronicles Education Columnist, Vasiliki Alexaki-Hronaki, daughter of the author, reviews the book here)