The Cretan Runner: The Story of the German Occupation (Paperback)

~ George Psychoundakis (Author), Xan Fielding (Editor), Patrick Leigh Fermor (Translator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Penguin UK (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140273220
• ISBN-13: 978-0140273229
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #275,554 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cretan Runner. May we never forget., May 23, 2000

By	B. Alex Baier (Germany) - See all my reviews

You will never read a story quite like this again. A true story, 59 years old, so full of inspiration and courage it will never leave you.

A young shepherd boy whose homeland is invaded and ablaze, murder and desperation all around him, does all he can to help end the misery of his people... he runs.

And the island of Crete is like no other place to run. With huge mountains, massive gorges and with no more than centuries-old goat tracks on which to carry him, Giorgo Psychoundakis carries messages to hiding British, New Zealander, and Australian spies, often flirting with not just death - but worse: capture, torture and reprisals against family, friends, even whole villages.

He went on to play a major role in the abduction of the highest ranking Nazi officer on the island, Major General Karl Kreipe. The abductors were to safely transport the General to Cairo 21 days later.

And here, you will read his account of these events. You will read of men whose bravery and valour will live on in your heart forever.

From shepherd boy to national hero, from abject despair to complete victory.

Put simply - you will be stunned. This is truly a story like no other.

"At the going down of the sun, and in the morning. We will remember them".

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Human Perspective, April 6, 2001

By	avlahos (Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

This book thankfully steers away from a cold, isolated perspective of who directed such and such battle under General whoever. This is a wonderful illustration of a shepherd drawn into an international conflict, but quite extraordinarily despite a lack of education is able to illustrate most vivdly emotions, danger and the humiliation of being forced to live under occupation. It has sadness, uplifting feats of endurance, humour and a melancholy tone as one reads of what fate befell the heroic (but not flawless)author after the war.

The only criticism one could level one an is unintended but often seen condascending attitude by English 'Hellenophiles' (although Fermor tries hard to keep the traslation true to the original text) to Greek attitudes on matters such as views on authority, war and government which are contrary to their own.

Thankfully Patrick Fermor's obvious friendship and respect for the cheeky George Psychoundakis shines through in a book which deals with the dangerous and grubby yet inviting subject of spying in a time of conflict.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that makes one brave!, September 10, 2007

By	Dilip Balamore (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this to be one of the most intriguing books that emerged from the Cretan resistance. It is written by someone who is relatively uneducated, but who appears to have a fine literary sensibility. It is not the usual boring "big picture" presented by the generals. It is the pawn's eye view. In his account, however, the pawn doesn't seem to hold a grudge (to paraphrase Bob Dylan). Even his post-war troubles, which appear to be owing to a most unfair Providence, are presented wryly, and without complaint. Reading this book will make you brave--what more can one ask?

It is common for reviewers, especially the younger Greek ones who have led a feckless and cossetted "European" life, to use opportunities such as the publication of a book on Crete to attack the British for their condescending attitudes towards the Cretans. I don't believe that any of the British commandos who so bravely organized and fought with the Cretan Resistance had anything but the highest admiration for the fearless fighting men of Crete. This comes through in the books they wrote after the war, and apparently Churchill declared, on hearing of their exploits, that "we can no longer say that 'the Greeks fought like heroes', rather, we should say 'the heroes fought like Greeks'" No condescension in sight.

I, therefore, don't quite understand what another commentator means by saying this: "is unintended but often seen condascending attitude by English 'Hellenophiles' (although Fermor tries hard to keep the traslation true to the original text) to Greek attitudes"Does he think PLH, the translator, introduced some bias? Does the commentator know that Patrick Leigh Fermor was a comrade-in-arms to the author, and held him in the highest esteem. He (PLH) is also known for his great reverence for the contributions of Greek civilisation, and indeed, he and his friend W. Stanley Moss welcomed the chance to work as what we should call "special forces" officers in Crete, since they thought it would help them better understand ancient Crete. They took along 40 lbs of classics to read in their hide-out. Good books to read alongside this one are "Ill met by Moonlight" by W. Stanley Moss, and "Crete: The Battle and the Resistance " by Anthony Beevor.