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Biography & Memoir· Greece

Eleni

by Nicholas Gage
Aggregate Editorial Score30/100
#27,822of 99,626 books
Published 1983English
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About This Book

Few works of biography & memoir have earned the sustained critical attention that Eleni (1983) by Nicholas Gage continues to receive. Eleni is a poignant memoir by Nicholas Gage, recounting the harrowing story of his mother, Eleni Gatzoyiannis, during the Greek Civil War. The book details her courageous efforts to save her children from the communist guerrillas, ultimately sacrificing her life. It is a powerful narrative of love, sacrifice, and the impact of war on families. Themes of sacrifice, family, war run through the work.

Book Details

AuthorNicholas Gage
Published1983
Country of Origin🇬🇷 Greece
LanguageEnglish
Category✍️ Biography & Memoir
ISBN978-0345410436
Editorial Score30/100
About the Category

✍️ Biography & Memoir

True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

Explore all Biography & Memoir books →
Country of Origin

🇬🇷 Greece

This book is part of Greece's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Greece →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 1983, Nicholas Gage's Eleni is a work of biography & memoir that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with sacrifice, family, war, courage gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Critics and institutions have consistently placed Eleni among the notable works of its period. Our aggregate score of 30/100 is compiled from 1 editorial sources that range from Nobel and Booker committees to leading literary journals. What distinguishes Eleni is how it handles its central concerns — sacrifice, family, war, courage — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Nicholas Gage's role in the literature of Greece is well established. Eleni can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

NYT Best Sellers
notable · global
19830
✍️
About the Author
Nicholas Gage
Greece
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Nicholas Gage is a Greece author whose work in biography & memoir has earned recognition from readers and critics alike.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Eleni about?

Eleni is a poignant memoir by Nicholas Gage, recounting the harrowing story of his mother, Eleni Gatzoyiannis, during the Greek Civil War. The book details her courageous efforts to save her children from the communist guerrillas, ultimately sacrificing her life. It is a powerful narrative of love, sacrifice, and the impact of war on families.

Who wrote Eleni?

Eleni was written by Nicholas Gage, from Greece. First published in 1983.

What awards has Eleni won?

Eleni has received the following recognition: notable critical recognition.

Is Eleni worth reading?

Eleni is a well-regarded book with an aggregate editorial score of 30/100 on 50 Best Books. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in sacrifice, family, war.

Where can I buy Eleni?

You can buy Eleni on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Eleni?

Eleni is classified as Biography & Memoir. True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

What country is Eleni from?

Eleni originates from Greece's literary tradition. Explore more books from Greece on our country page.

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