19 Best Books Set in Greece
Are you dreaming of Greece? Check out these books set in Greece that will take you there!
Greece is a bucket list destination for many people. From the ancient ruins of Athens to the whitewashed villages of the Greek islands, it’s a country full of natural beauty and history.
I fell in love with Greece, like many people do, and was immediately captivated by the otherworldly landscapes of the islands and the ancient beauty of the capital. One of my favorite experiences was reading Circe (one of the books on this list!) while on a quiet Greek island.
If you are looking for the best books set in Greece, I’ve got you covered.
This list includes books set in Greece that are based on Greek mythology, historical fiction set in Greece, other fiction set in Greece, and memoirs about life in Greece.
Here are the best books taking place in Greece to add to your reading list!
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Best Books Set in Greece
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
In this award-winning novel, Madeline Miller reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. This novel takes readers to the mythological Trojan War and is an epic tale of love and friendship.
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
This classic Greek novel translated into English tells the story of two men, their incredible friendship, and the importance of living life to the fullest. Although Zorba and the unnamed narrator are remarkably different men, they develop a strong bond of friendship.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
This memoir shares the author’s experience of relocating from gray, rainy England to the sun-soaked island of Corfu with his family.
Hilarious mishaps and antics ensued in his unconventional household, as they began to settle into their new lives in Greece.
The Summer House in Santorini by Samantha Parks
If you are looking for a feel-good romance novel set in Greece, this is a great book to pick up. It takes place on the island of Santorini and follows a woman who is running away from a failed relationship, a dead-end career, and complicated family life.
She finds herself in Santorini after she inherits a crumbling house from her estranged father. While she is there, she uncovers family secrets and begins to fall in love with both the island and a local Greek man.
Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
This classic novel is set on an island in Greece. It follows Pelagia, a willful, beautiful young woman, and the two suitors vying for her love: Mandras, a gentle fisherman turned guerilla, and the charming, mandolin-playing Captain Corelli, an Italian officer living on the island.
The Island by Victoria Hislop
This novel follows a woman who visits her mother’s hometown in Greece and discovers surprising secrets of her family history on a nearby island that was a leper’s colony.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Another novel inspired by Greek mythology, Circe tells the story of one of the few female characters from The Odyssey. This engrossing novel dives deep into the life of Circe, a skilled witch who was banished to a Greek island by Zeus because he is threatened by her power.
One Summer in Crete by Nadia Marks
This novel follows a woman who is on the run from heartbreak when she is sent to Crete to write a magazine article. There, she learns of something that will change her life forever.
The Iliad by Homer
One of the most enduring works of Western literature, The Iliad is Homer’s epic poem about men and gods in the mythological Trojan War. If you are looking for a classic Greek tale full of gods and heroes, this epic work from the ninth century is one to pick up.
The Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller
The famous American author Henry Millers penned this travel book after journeying through the Greek countryside with his friend, sharing his observations and experiences.
A Separation by Katie Kitamura
In this suspenseful story of intimacy and infidelity, a woman has learned that her unfaithful husband has gone missing in a remote region of southern Greece.
Reluctantly, she joins to search for him, discovering that she knows less than she thought she did about the man she used to love.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
This novel inspired by Greek mythology follows the life of Ariadne, the Princess of Crete and sister to the monstrous Minotaur. It offers an engrossing, nuanced backstory for a female character from Greek mythology that was not fully developed in the ancient works.
The Girl Under the Olive Tree by Leah Fleming
If you are looking for a World War II historical fiction novel set in Greece, this is a good one to check out. Taking place on the island of Crete, The Girl Under the Olive Tree is a story about family secrets, betrayal, and redemption, spanning from 1941 to the present day.
The Thread by Victoria Hislop
This is another historical fiction novel set in Greece. It is a magnificent story of a friendship and a love that endures through catastrophes and upheavals in the turbulent city of Thessaloniki, Greece. Covering over one hundred years, this is an epic story that leaves an impact.
The Messenger of Athens by Anne Zouroudi
A remote Greek island cut off from the rest of the world is shaken up when an investigator from Athens dives deeper into the death of a woman that was originally ruled an accident. This is a great book for crime and mystery fans who are looking for a story set in Greece.
Her Mother’s Secret by Jan Baynham
This novel follows a young woman who has journeyed to a sun-drenched Greek island to retrace the steps of her mother, whose diary she inherited. As she unravels more of exactly what happened on the island during the summer of 1969, she faces shocking revelations.
Moti on the Water by Leylah Attar
For a fun romantic comedy set in Greece, look no further than Moti on the Water. It follows an Indian-American woman whose cousin is engaged to a Greek man. As part of the destination wedding festivities, she has to spend two weeks on a yacht in the Greek islands with her eccentric family.
What she doesn’t bargain for is falling for the handsome onboard chef along the way…
The Magus by John Fowles
A young Englishman accepts a teaching post on a remote Greek island in order to escape an unsatisfactory love affair. There, his friendship with a reclusive millionaire evolves into a mysterious and deadly game of violence, seduction, and betrayal in this psychological thriller.
Night of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy
This novel is set on a Greek island where several tourists are having lunch in a tavern. The lives of these four strangers are forever altered when they witness a sudden tragedy in the harbor below, bringing them closer together and forming connections with one another.
What Are Some Of Your Favorite Books In Greece?
Have you read any of these books set in Greece? Do you know some great books that I’ve missed? What is your favorite book set in Greece? I’d love to hear your thoughts on your favorites in the comments below!
More Great Books
Start by checking out all our books set in destinations around the world, or if you’re after more set in and around Europe, try these books set in:
France | Spain | Italy | Ireland | Scotland
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