The Bottom Line
If you are a woman traveling in Crete, this is essential reading. But scholars of all genders will enjoy Hoe's warm, detailed approach to history, archaeology, literature and the landscape of Crete.
Pros
- Fact-packed yet never, ever boring
- Unusual perspective focusing on the fascinating women of Crete, ancient and modern.
- Detailed, tested, unique itineraries for your own explorations
- Thick but small book is easy to carry with you, and you'll want to.
Cons
- Maps are minimal
- Plain cover makes it easy to overlook
- In print but hard to find - your best bet is from the publisher
Description
- Well-organized book leads the reader effortlessly along.
- In other hands, some of this would be heavy reading, but Hoe's lively style makes it a delight.
- This Oxford paperback has an unfortunately plain, text-only two-color cover.
Guide Review - Crete: Women, History, Books & Places
I admit it, I have a high resistance to reading new books on Greece having devoured so many of them already. And when they pertain to my special passion, Crete, it's even harder to get me between the covers.
But a delightful exception is Susanna Hoe's book "Crete: Women, History, Books & Places", an amazing compendium which is full of insights and itineraries for the ancient island. In 408 pages she covers the history of the island from pre-Minoan times to the present, introduces us to dozens of women who were key to that history, throws in folklore and interesting asides, and wraps it all up with a dozen or so detailed, careful itineraries taking the reader to rare sights throughout the island. One route worth following is entitled "Harriet Boyd and the Americans" and explores in depth the adventure of Boyd's excavations; she was the first woman anywhere to excavate an entire city.
Even what she skips, she includes. On fearing that she failed to appreciate Ierapetra sufficiently, she apologizes: "I had noted nothing about women to take us to the museum; please prove me wrong."
One bit of advice sums up Hoe's attitude: "You should be careful to not try and cram too much into one day - sites are best appreciated in sips."<P>
To which I raise a glass of raki and agree - with the traditional Cretan toast, Yamas!
