In the spring of 1851, a diligent English cartographer, Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt, arrives in Crete. His journey to the island was a romantic search for ruins and ancient sites. He identifies some of the most significant archaeological sites, such as Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Lato, and the elevated harbor of Falassarna.

At the same time, he provides remarkable testimonies about Cretan society and the historical circumstances in a lesser-known period, between the two great revolutions, of 1821 and 1866. A few decades later, archaeologists from Europe arrive, holding his book in hand, and confirm his keen observations with their excavations, often without giving credit to his pioneering thought.

A restless spirit, he sketches landscapes, reads inscriptions, studies the environment, geology, birds, and plants, talks to people, and describes the conditions under which they live. In addition to the 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 proceed to provide extensive commentary on the original text.