For our first book of 2027, we look forward to a discussion of Maria Iordanidou’s historical novel Loxandra. It has been called the most acclaimed popular publication in Greece of the 20th century, and has remained continuously in print in Greece since 1963, being reissued ten times. It was also made into a television series in 1980. Because of it Iordanidou was given two of the highest honors in Greek literature: the Gold Cross and Lady of the Ecumenical Throne. In the book Loxandra is a larger-than-life matriarch of a Greek family in Constantinople at the turn of the 20th century, and she is based on Iordanidou’s grandmother. This is a novel about nostalgia, about a way of life now lost. Focusing on her family, food and culture, Loxandra was largely undisturbed by the political changes of the Tanzimat period, when the minorities in the Ottoman Empire were granted rights that made them equal to Muslim subjects. The massacres and uprisings form a distant yet disturbing background for her story placed at the beginning of great changes for her community.

The English edition came out in 2017 translated by Norma Aynsley Sourmeli who has included thorough footnotes, endnotes and a glossary. The translation’s tone, inspired by Sourmeli’s grandparents’ Geordie dialect, rings true to the original Greek.

As this book has very limited availability, HSoM has made arrangements for ordering books for its members. Contact Angela Bournakel to place an order at abour@me.com‍ as soon as possible.

A Zoom link will be sent to all HSoM members before the event.