I’ve only ever known Greece through the screen, so when my husband and I planned a visit to the country in early 2025, I knew I wanted to start reading quickly! 

I had an idea of what to expect from Greece thanks to movies like Mamma Mia!, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, or The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants that featured whitewashed buildings, delicious food, and dramatic cliffs, or from Hollywood blockbusters like 300 or Troy. But other than Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad, and my childhood memories of reading the Greek myths at bedtime, I had very few literary associations with the country.

Given the importance of Greek mythology and the Homerian epics to western civilization, it’s no surprise that these elements show up across much of modern Greek literature, too. Yet the path from the ancient Greeks to today’s authors was not a smooth one, as local and global wars disrupted everyday lives and the arts. After the World Wars and the Greek Civil War, many writers turned to poetry. Years later, Greece’s domestic writing community was dramatically impacted from 1967 to 1974, when a military junta controlled the country. Censorship was rampant, and many writers were exiled or otherwise punished or restricted. Since then, Greek writers have turned to both prose and poetry to tell their stories, often incorporating elements of loss or trauma from Greece’s long history.

When it comes to modern works, perhaps because Greece is such a dreamy travel destination, the country, and especially the islands, often serve as settings for contemporary fiction by foreign authors. While I’ve included a handful of these in today’s list, I’ve also sought to identify works of fiction by Greek authors available in translation. And as you’ll read in the book list below, many of my chosen titles feature retellings or stories inspired by the myths and legends that have shaped Greece’s long history.

I had two bookstores on my to-visit list while in Greece: the charming Selefais on the island of Syros, which had a small but impressive English language collection featuring local authors, and the famous Atlantis books on Santorini, which I did not end up visiting since a swarm of earthquakes kept us from making it to that island after all. A reason to return? Yes, please. 

Whether you’ve been to Greece yourself or only dreamed of it as a destination, I hope you’ll find a story to inspire you in today’s collection. Please let me know other titles I’ve missed or might want to add to my to-be-read list, too, by leaving a comment below!

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This novel featuring a chorus of four narrators—each a woman working on a remote archaeological dig in Greece—was a delight! Each woman is struggling with her own personal and professional drama; meanwhile, something’s amiss on the dig itself. Can they work together and overcome their differences to discover something truly unexpected? I loved finding out and I bet you will, too. Thanks to fellow Modern Mrs Darcy team member Brigid for recommending this title to me! More info →

A locked room mystery with an unreliable narrator, this story follows movie star Lana Farrar and a group of her friends (and frenemies) during their spring escape to a private Greek island. Long-buried secrets and resentments come to light and culminate in a murder. I loved it for the setting and capturing the intense winds of the Cyclades islands, but the characters and story format weren’t my favorites; it’s told circuitously and some of the twists were a bit much for my tastes. Content warnings apply. More info →

When researching the books I might want to read to prepare for my trip to Greece, I came upon this novel that delves into the folklore, archeology, myths, and culture of Crete and added it to my TBR immediately. Weaving stories of occupation and invasion, self-discovery, and the locals, I’m eager to read this alongside Ariadne and compare more modern perspectives against the mythological history of this iconic island. As the Greek National Tourist Organization said of this book: “Labyrinthine Ways presents Crete at its best; read this book before visiting our island.” More info →

Set on the Greek island of Corfu, this multigenerational story follows best friends Marco and Katerina. Separated as children when World War II comes to their island, they vow to make it back home to each other. Over the course of sixty years, their lives take them each on different paths, colored by Greek mythology, the landscapes of Corfu, and the Greek Civil War. I really enjoyed learning about a part of Greek history that was new to me, along with the infusions of folklore and mythology throughout. Content warnings apply. More info →

Miller’s sophomore novel explores the life of Circe, expanding her narrative beyond the few pages in Homer’s Odyssey. In this beautifully crafted novel, we follow Circe after she is banished to a deserted island, where she grows into her skills and power and comes to terms with her place in a world surrounded by gods, mortals, heroes, and titans. I read this upon its release and anxiously look forward to Miller’s next book: she’s shared it will be a story of Hades and Persephone and I cannot wait to see what she does with those characters. Content warnings apply. More info →

The island of Santorini evokes visions of Greece, with its dramatic views and whitewashed buildings, and this YA novel takes you there. Liv travels to Santorini at the invitation of her estranged father. While they attempt to rebuild their relationship, Liv explores a budding romance. A story of self-discovery and young romance, I enjoyed the plot elements featuring the lost island of Atlantis. My own travels to Santorini were cancelled due to this past winter’s earthquake swarm, so for now I’ll just need to enjoy the destination on the page! More info →

We all know the story of Achilles and the conquest of Troy, but what else happened during the famous siege and battle? Barker’s novel brings us the perspective of Achilles’ prisoner Briseis, and through her, all of the women held captive in the Greek war camp. I enjoyed this story not only for featuring a woman’s perspective but for its grounding in the everyday roles and work that made the engine of conquest possible, from concubines to the women who prepared the dead for burial. Content warnings apply. More info →

After a lengthy travel hiatus following a road accident in Sri Lanka, Sally Jane Smith ventures to Greece in an attempt to rediscover her wandering spirit. Guided by her mother’s 1978 travel diary, she explores Athens, the Peloponnese Peninsula, and several Greek Islands. I appreciated her perspective of traveling as a middle-aged woman on a budget. While several of her destinations overlapped with my own, others didn’t make it into my itinerary, and I enjoyed reading her experiences of both. Travel memoirs can be hit or miss, but I really enjoyed this one, which was also awarded First Prize (Prose in English) in the 2024 Greek-Australian Cultural League Book Awards. A sequel, published in 2024, chronicles her visits to additional destinations across Greece. More info →

Another novel featuring a fresh perspective on a classic myth, Saint’s novel explores the tale of Ariadne, Theseus, and the Minotaur. Growing up on Crete, Ariadne lives the life of a princess until she is promised in marriage to a rough man she does not love. When Theseus comes to Crete alongside the annual tributes given to the Minotaur, Ariadne sees an opportunity to escape. The author has since written additional retellings about famous Greek heroines, which I’ve added to my TBR. More info →

Who is behind the disappearance of journalist Nikoletta Elia on the island of Naxos? That’s the opening question for this mystery in a popular series featuring Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis. As the story unfolds, Kaldis is dispatched to Naxos after an unidentified body is found, and secrets begin to be uncovered. Naxos, one of the larger Greek islands, grapples with the tense relationship between tourism and the traditional agrarian lifestyle, and centers the beautiful setting of Naxos itself. I picked up this book not realizing it was book 11 in the series, simply because Naxos was one of the islands we visited. While I didn’t intend to start in the middle of the series, I still enjoyed the story. More info →

I have a large Elif Shafak-shaped hole in my reading life, and this novel is high on my to-be-read list. Described by the publisher as “A rich, magical new novel on belonging and identity, love and trauma, nature and renewal,” it follows two teenagers who develop a forbidden love: one is a Greek Cypriot and the other Turkish. While Cyprus is not technically part of Greece, it’s been influenced by years of Greek culture and residence. Decades later, a special tree serves as the sole connection between London resident Ada Kazantzakis and her family’s lost history. Shafak’s unique storytelling lens is on display here, as alternating chapters are narrated by a fig tree. I look forward to immersing myself in this creative work of literary fiction in the near future! More info →

This slim memoir from Daniel Klein follows the author on a trip to the Greek island of Hydra, where he immerses himself in the local culture in hopes of discovering the secrets of aging happily. Infused throughout with quotes and reflections from Greek philosophers and his island neighbors, Klein reflects on the simple pleasures available to those who have earned them through time and wisdom. I found this in the slim English-language section of a small Greek bookstore, and found it inspiring and reflective. I can see myself gifting this to several readers in my life. More info →

Widely considered a modern Greek classic, this novel follows Marina as she flees her troubled childhood home on the arm of a Greek sea-captain, accompanying him to the Greek island of Syros. She falls in love with her new home but not all is smooth sailing: when tragedy strikes her husband’s shipping business, she must grapple with major losses and changes to her comfortable life. Athenian author Karagatsis was part of the “Generation of the ’30’s,” considered innovators in the Greek arts. This novel is a departure from my usual reading selections, but when I saw it on the English-language shelf of a charming bookstore on the island of Syros—where this novel is set—I had to bring it home with me. I found the story emotional, resonant, and ultimately a satisfying reading experience. Content warnings apply. More info →

Many of us know the story of Agamemnon and his death at the hands of his Queen Clytemnestra. This story flips the perspective and tells Cyltemnestra’s story from her own perspective. With appearances from well-known Greek legends like Odysseus and Helen, this was a vibrant reimagining that was hard to put down. I read this alongside our travels to ancient Mycenae, where Agamemnon reigned, and the descriptions of the palace and surroundings made for an especially evocative experience. Content warnings apply. More info →

What are your favorite books set in Greece? Please share in the comments.

P.S. 16 recommended reads for those traveling to Aotearoa New Zealand, 9 books to read before (or after) a cruise vacation, and more literary tourism.

About the author

Holly Wielkoszewski is our What Should I Read Next Media Production Specialist. Her go-to genres are Fantasy and Sci-Fi. You can follow Holly on her Substack: A Liminal Life.