Just what is it about Greece that turns many visitors into authors and poets? And some become residents? If you ask Award-winning, Bestselling Author Peter Barber, he’d tell you it’s not just the sun and sea—it’s the people and their rich heritage and culture.
The London native visited Greece as a tourist, but not until marrying his “fiery” Greek wife Alexandra, did he come to appreciate the country for more than its scenery. He said that being immersed in a Greek family gave him a unique perspective, changing not only his address, but his entire life.
Their story reads like a romance: a chance meeting in London as teenagers. He quickly falls for her. Then her family returns to Greece and he doesn’t see her again. But he can’t get her out of his mind—because this love story was meant to be. Twenty years later, “an incredible coincidence” led them to meet when she visited London on holiday. They both had married young. She got divorced, he lost his wife to illness. And so began a whirlwind romance that landed Barber in a foreign land, without knowing the language, or even what was in store for him. But with Alex as his guide, his course was set for a life of love and adventure.
Sounds lovely, but a good story needs conflict, right? Enter Greek life. One so different from anything Peter had experienced before. But he was determined to live like a local. And with Alex’s sense of whimsy—teaching him inappropriate words to tell people—and her indelible spirit, he embarked on a great escapade.
After two years of delays and frustrating situations, the building was complete. Any of us would have lost it, but Barber tapped into his signature wit to get him through. And along the way, decided that this story—along with his introduction to a Greek family—had to be told.
A Parthenon on Our Roof: Adventures of an Anglo-Greek Marriage (Ant Press, 2022) is the first book in ‘The Parthenon Series’. Barber reveals his cultural and language flubs, to dealing with Greek bureaucracy—including the story of why they built a Parthenon on their roof and his subsequent arrest for it—with humor and love for his adopted homeland. An Amazon bestseller, it has garnered multiple awards, including Global Book Award 2022-Gold medal in biographical travel, and hundreds of five-star reader reviews. One reader said it reminded him of ‘The Durrells’.
With their home complete, the couple set out to explore Greece. While on the island of Evia, Alex fell in love with a property in Pefki. She had always dreamed of having a home on a Greek island. Even though they had just finished a massive project, they thought it a way to recapture the simplicity of village life. So, they bought the land to build a home. What could go wrong? Well, there were some hiccups along the way—and another Parthenon. But Barber found the humor in these situations, too, and thus, another book was born.
A Parthenon in Pefki: Further Adventures of an Anglo-Greek Marriage (Ant Press, 2023) follows the couple as they build the home. And whatever can go wrong does. The book became an instant Amazon bestseller and has received many five-star reviews. It’s also the recipient of Literary Titan’s Gold Book Award.
The often-madcap adventures continue. Book three is in the works, due this fall.
Barber always looks on the bright side. His humorous stories depict the challenges of a foreigner living (and building) in Greece, and life with his Greek wife. You’ll enjoy getting to know them and following along. And, if you can’t get to Greece, you can live it through his books.
‘‘’The Parthenon Series’ is available wherever books are sold. Read Barber’s blog and sign up for his newsletter at www.peterbarberwriter.com.
Read more:
Sally Jane Smith’s New Travel Memoir Takes Us Back to Greece
Legacy of Chicago’s Greek American Community Services Preserved in New Book
