In the spring of 1851, an active English cartographer, Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt, arrives in Crete. His journey to the island was a romantic quest for ruins and ancient sites. He identifies some of the most important archaeological locations, such as Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Lato, and the elevated port of Falasarna.

At the same time, he leaves us with significant testimonies about Cretan society and the historical circumstances during a not-so-well-known period, between the two great revolutions, of 1821 and 1866. A few decades later, archaeologists from Europe come, holding his book in hand, and confirm his astute observations with their excavations, often without giving credit to his pioneering thought.

With a restless spirit, he sketches landscapes, reads inscriptions, studies the environment, geology, birds, and plants, talks to the people, and describes the conditions under which they live. In addition to his wonderful description of the Cretan wedding, he records valuable material for the folklore and anthropology of Crete.

150 years later, Nikos and Maria Psilaki retrace Spratt's journey. They visit the same sites, observe the landscape and its changes, and provide extensive commentary on the original text.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]