Amazing book, it should be taught in schools. It teaches you a lot of things about those times and the Asia Minor catastrophe. It tells you both sides, you hear the whole truth. Once you start it, you can't put it down, incredibly moving. Dido Sotiriou has another book that I want to read, "The Dead Are Waiting."

It is truly a "seismic shock"... I have read the 1962 version, I don't know if it matters. It is incredibly descriptive, it creates complete video images in your head and full of feelings of horror for the evil of war. Even if you don't know much about history, you can still follow the historical parts of the book. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT!

A book that I have read at least 3 times and will read again!
Along with "The Dead are Waiting" by the same author, I think that all Greeks should read it to learn about the history of the Asia Minor catastrophe firsthand.
Coming from grandparents who were from Asia Minor, I felt like I was experiencing what they went through.
The writing of Dido Sotiropoulos is wonderful!!

Excellent writing. Not unjustly one of the top authors.
For me, coming from there and having heard it more or less from grandparents, it's simply moving.

For anyone who wants to learn history and what the Asia Minor Catastrophe is, it is one of the best books of its kind and I recommend it without hesitation to all ages! Additionally, the reader will be informed about the entire historical and political background (World War I, Balkan Wars) that led to the uprooting of the Pontic Greeks in 1922, through the experiential, personal story of the main protagonist. And one last thing: those who read it will realize the perennially insidious role played by the Great Powers (Germany, England, France, Italy) turning against Greece, and the extent to which the West essentially contributed to many of the dark pages of Greek history. So that the old do not forget, and the young can learn...

*The only negative: the numerous Turkish words used extensively in the Pontic dialect, for which you will need a dictionary. But without hindering the understanding of the text.

The book was excellent! I liked it very much and I would gladly read it again. I highly recommend it to everyone, it is very genuine and authentic. The only thing I didn't like (and it doesn't concern the story) is that it has many unknown words which are in the glossary and you have to look them up, which interrupts your reading. That's it. Otherwise, flawless!