Beneath the Fig Leaves: A Memoir of Food, Family and Greece by Olympia Panagiotopoulos
In 1955, in a village in Greece that was marred by war and poverty, Giannoula and Fotios Panagiotopoulos dreamed of providing a better life for their children. Australia, it was rumoured, was a land of opportunity where hard work brought reward. Leaving behind family and friends, they set off to make a new home on the other side of the world.
Half a lifetime later, under the shade of a fig tree and in the dappled Melbourne sunlight, Giannoula regales her youngest daughter, Olympia, with stories of her homeland and journey. An evocative exploration of the ties that bind, Beneath the Fig Leaves weaves an irresistible tapestry of family, food and history to stir the heart and senses.
About the Author
Born in Melbourne to Greek parents, Olympia Panagiotopoulos comes from a long line of storytellers who inspired in her a love of folklore, myths and legends. Themes of identity and belonging are central to her writing and she is a strong advocate for celebrating bold female characters – in story and in everyday life. When she is not writing, Olympia can be found tending her garden and experimenting with new recipes in her kitchen and watching classic movies from the 30’s and 40’s. Her debut memoir, Beneath the Fig Leaves, is a vibrant and compelling tribute to her heritage and parents’ journey.
Paperback | 288 pages
Dimensions (cm): 23.4 x 15.3 x 2.5 | 440g
31 Mar 2020
Affirm Press
Mulgrave, VIC, Australia
English
1925972666
9781925972665
Condition: Good
A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including very minor scuff marks and some obvious creasing, especially on the front cover, but no holes or tears. All pages are undamaged with minimal creasing but no tearing. No pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text, no writing in margins. No missing pages.