Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #202381 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Integrating in Zagoria (Greece)
More and more people from the Northwest of Europe emigrate to Greece or buy a second home there. This has lead to a steady release of books from some of those emigrants describing their experiences. Unfortunately most authors seem to have a hard time adapting to the Greek culture, so their stories tend to have a quite grumbling undertone. Roy Hounsell's `The Papas and the Englishman' is the decent exception to this almost rule. It's not like the author experiences an easy way into Greece but by way of his near factual writing he leaves it to the reader to pass whatever kind of judgement.
The story kicks off with Hounsell realising - after having been made `redundant' - that as a 38-year old he will not find another job in marketing. With his wife he emigrates to Corfu hoping to find better soil for living. Looking after pools, gardens and homes on the island they manage to get by very well. During a holidaytrip to the mainland of Northwest Greece however the Hounsells become enchanted by a region known as Zagoria. So, six years after having landed on Corfu, Hounsell and his wife move to one of Zagorias small villages, Koukouli, to start a bed & breakfast. The only thing they have to do is renovate the old house they bought.
The large part of `The Papas and the Englishman' is dedicated to the first year in Koukouli. In a way, one can regard the book as a rough guide into renovating an old home in Greece. But the story runs much deeper, having two other themes also. The observations of the landscape, architecture and practices offer the reader interesting insights about authentic Zagorian life. And Hounsell's literary qualities stand out most in the stories about integrating in Koukouli. No matter their vices and virtues, he portraits the local inhabitants in a most affectionate and humourous way. By varying these three themes throughout, Hounsell has succeeded in making his book a very pleasant and informing read.

A new life in Greece
If you like all things Greek then this is a book for you.The author portrays the Greek way of life in an honest but also affectionate way -warts and all. It is also a heartwarming account of finding a new life in Greece with all the problems of house hunting and house renovation.He introduces the reader to the many characters he meets (some of whom become his friends) along the way. Some of these will seem familiar to anyone who has visited Greece and met its people. He takes you on his journey.You also gain an insight into this part of Greece. It made me want to explore this area more. A very enjoyable read!

Good story shame about the writing.
The Papas and the Englishman: From Corfu to Zagoria

I'm just as keen as the next person to read stories about the Englishman makes good abroad and integrates with the local community. This had all the hallmarks of a good story: interesting location, (not a Greek island), a different helper (the local priest), plenty of local colour. But it is let down by the writing which is simply dreadful. There is no structure and most of it is unedited dinner time stories straight off the dictating machine. With a proper editor this could have been an interesting book, but it was painful to read.