Greek Eyes on Europe: The Travels of Nikandros Noukios of Corfu

Andronikos Noukios wrote a travelogue in the middle of the 16th century, describing his journey from Venice to England with a diplomatic mission. He provides vivid impressions of northern Italian cities, Germany, the Rhine, the Low Countries, and England, including London and Henry VIII. The book is the first complete English translation of a lively travelogue and is of interest to historians and students. It is also an important landmark in the development of Modern Greek literature.

Format: Hardback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This is the first complete English translation of a lively travelogue written by Andronikos aka Nikandros Noukios, a Greek from Corfu, who accompanied a diplomatic mission from Venice to England in the middle of the sixteenth century. He describes some of the great northern Italian cities, gives vivid impressions of picturesque Germany, of sober but enthusiastic Lutheran church services, and of cities on the Rhine. In the Low Countries, he visits the commercial centers and in England gives a real sense of the excitement of London and its sights. He rather liked the English (even giving a recipe for beer), and is clearly fascinated by Henry VIII, his attacks on the monasteries, and his break with Rome. He then surprisingly joins up with a troop of Greek mercenaries, but finally leaves them and returns to Italy through France with glimpses of Fontainebleau and Francis I. We leave Andronikos after he has visited Rome on his way back to Venice.

The book is an almost unknown source for the sixteenth century and will certainly be of interest to historians and students. It is also an important and little-known landmark in the development of Modern Greek literature, especially relevant to the burgeoning modern interest in travel writing. It is accessible and a good read.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032191218