Engaging Books about Crete That You Will Love Reading!
If you’re getting ready for your trip to Crete or dream about visiting soon, then this list of books about the island will keep you in good company as you wait for the moment you leave for the island!
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If you’re about to travel to Crete and cannot wait to board that plane, reading a book can put your busy mind to rest for a while and bring some inspiration! Over here, you will find a great selection of the best destination books about Crete, whether you decide to use your time to plan a new holiday for the next season or to discover new stories about the island.
A book about Crete can also help you explore the tastes of the local cuisine or learn about the island’s past. These books about Crete can help you cope until you finally make it to the island.
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Crete Travel Guides
If you want more after reading this blog (or this website) or a deeper insight into places I’ve yet to write about, you can use the following top-selling travel guides to plan your Crete itinerary.
DK EYE WITNESS TOP 10 CRETE (Pocket Travel Guide)
Co-authored by me!
This guide covers everything to do and see in Crete, listing (with accurate detail) the top 10 of everything about Crete.
It’s a brief travel guide for those who want a review of what they shouldn’t miss on Crete—pocket size and easy to carry. Plus, I coauthored this book!
LONELY PLANET CRETE
(Regional Guide)
Lonely Planet guides are among my favorite travel guides. They include the needed information without excessive detail. It’s probably the most useful travel guide—real value for money! The Lonely Planet itineraries are sensible, doable, and well-thought-out.
THE ROUGH GUIDE TO CRETE
(Travel Guide + Free eBook)
I have bought several Rough Guides, and although I find them overpacked with details, they sometimes cover things you can’t find anywhere else.
This guide is the perfect travel mate if you are a fan of the island, mostly for those who want to know all about Crete!
A Classic About Crete
Looking back at all the books I’ve read, and not just thinking about Crete, this is among the ones I’ve loved the most. Nikos Kazantzakis never failed to paint a magnificent, round portrait of life. In this case, Zorba the Greek is a classic, a book as alive and relevant today as it was when it was first published. It is a book that teaches more than a lesson about life, simplicity, and the true essence of ourselves.
ZORBA THE GREEK
Nikos Kazantzakis (1946)
Zorba the Greek is the story of a working man named, a passionate lover of life, and his trip to Crete to work in a mine. It’s also the story of men’s struggles to find their souls and purpose. This memorable piece of literature can awaken an understanding of humanity’s true meaning.
Fiction Books About Crete
Some of the following titles are among my favorite reads about Crete; some have often helped me decide on a place or area to visit, and others have given a frame, a face, or a soul to a well-known part of the local history. Despite being mostly fictional, even though some are based on real events, each can take you on an imaginary trip to the island.
THE RIDDLE OF THE LABYRINTH (Margalit Fox – 2013): This is one of the most fascinating books I’ve read. It is entertaining and very hard to put down. A detective story that will have you glued to the pages from beginning to end. >> GET IT HERE
KRITSOTOPOULA, GIRL OF KRITSA (Yvonne Payne – 2018): Yvonne Payne’s book is a perfect companion for those who want to explore the eastern region of Crete. The book explores one of the saddest chapters of Crete’s history through the life of a young girl, Rodanthe, during the Ottoman occupation of Crete in the early 19th century. It is a historical novel that depicts vivid scenes of Cretan life with raw but vivid colors. >> GET IT HERE
THE LOST LYRA (Richard Clark – 2019): This is a debut fiction by Richard Clark, a well-known writer about everything Greek. Set in the unique landscape of the White Mountains of Crete, this is a modern story that takes you back to the magnificent past of Crete. >> GET IT HERE
RODANTHE’S GIFT (Yvonne Payne – 2018): They say that sequels don’t live up to expectations… this is not the case with Yvonne Payne’s second historical novel, Rodanthe’s Gift. This book is about people and stories that have made Crete’s resilience one of the most distinctive traits in the character of the locals. >> GET IT HERE
THE CRETE CONNECTION (John Manuel 2020): It is a story of intrigue and surprises that connects life in England with life in a village in southeast Crete. John Manuel has written several books about life and other stories in Greece. Some of them account for his personal experience in the country and depict a faithful snapshot of life on the islands. >> GET IT HERE
RETURN TO TURTLE BEACH (Richard Clark – 2020): The author takes you on a journey in which the past and present interact with dramatic results, all brought vividly to life by his intimate knowledge of the island. Who says you can’t travel to Crete with a book? >> GET IT HERE
Books About Crete’s Ancient History
These books have been valuable in helping me understand and appreciate the Cretans’ past and the origin of their traditions and culture.
A HISTORY OF CRETE (Chris Moorey – 2019): My favorite book about the island covers Crete’s history of Crete from the Stone Age to the present. Suppose you want to learn about what was happening in Minoan Crete under the rule of the Mycenaeans, Dorians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, Ottoman Turks, and the Third Reich and about Crete’s contemporary history. In that case, this is a fantastic book I’ve read more than once. >> GET IT HERE
A SHORT POPULAR HISTORY OF CRETE (John H. Freese – 2022): This book is a hidden gem among books about Crete. The author gives an account of Cretan geography and social life. This book offers a fascinating journey through Crete’s turbulent past, crucial for understanding the island’s current position and character within the country’s context. >> GET IT HERE
CRETE (DIRECTIONS) (Barry Unsworth – 2011): Written as a personal travel diary, Barry Unsworth’s visit to Crete in 2004 gives an insight into what people should see on the island and, most importantly, what to expect there. The book thoroughly describes the history of several sites, so I’ve included it among the books about the history of Crete. >> GET IT HERE
CRETE: EARLY HISTORY AND CULTURE OF GREEK PEOPLE (Ranchowwy Nicholson – 2017): It’s another unknown excellent book if you’re interested in Crete’s past. The book offers good insight and detailed information on the island since 8.000 BCE, emphasizing the different civilizations that lived and ruled, from the Minoans to the Ottoman Empire. >> GET IT HERE
THE SEA KINGS OF CRETE (James Balkie – 2015): Although this book is a bit dated, it has a didactic approach to the Minoan civilization and the early excavations in the Minoan Palace of Knossos. It describes the legendary King Minos’s role in Greek mythology. It uses archaeological findings to describe the traits of the Minoan Culture. >> GET IT HERE
Books About Crete’s Modern History
Some of these books have recently become best-sellers due to their accuracy and perfect description of the island’s modern history. Some of them, which could be read as fiction books, are magnificent accounts of Crete’s role and participation in WWII.
THE CRETAN RUNNER (George Psychoundakis – 2009): One of my favorite books about Crete and the Nazi occupation of the island. Psychoundakis was a young shepherd who joined the resistance when the Nazis invaded in 1941. He undertook journeys carrying vital messages, smuggling arms, and guiding Allied soldiers through Crete. “A gripping story of bravery against impossible odds.” >> GET IT HERE
CRETE, THE BATTLE, AND THE RESISTANCE (Antony Beevor – 2005): You don’t need to be a fan of WWII to adore this book! This is one of those amazing readings you only find occasionally. It’s hard to put it down. The author, a well-known WWII historian, puts the Battle of Crete in a larger context while also managing to paint an accurate picture of life on the island during the Nazi occupation. >> GET IT HERE
THE BATTLE FOR HERAKLION CRETE 1941 (Yannis Prekatsounakis- 2017): Many books describe the more famous battles of Chania and Maleme. Still, this rare book focuses on the importance of the battle of Heraklion and the city’s desperate fight against the Nazis. The book accentuates the historical facts without disregarding personal stories and accounts of the lesser-known Battle of Heraklion. >> GET IT HERE
THE FALL OF CRETE (Alan Clark – 2001): The Fall of Crete is hard to find but worth the research. It describes the moments leading to the invasion and the different battles on the island. It’s not the best account of the facts, but it’s pretty easy to read if you have some background about the events. >> GET IT HERE
THE LOST BATTLE: CRETE 1941 (Callum MacDonald – 1995): This book is key to learning about the German decision to invade the island. It provides great and wide background information that led to the terrible events in Platanias, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Maleme, and Chania. >> GET IT HERE
Favorite Books About Crete
CRETE: A NOTEBOOK (Richard Clark – 2012): This was the first book I read by Richard Clark, and after it, I became addicted to his notebooks about Crete and other Greek islands. This book is a great travel companion for any trip to the island, real or virtual, whether it’s your first visit or not! >> GET IT HERE
THE ISLAND (Victoria Hislop – 2006): You might wonder why this book does not appear higher on the list. You probably know about it and the story behind its immense success. If you’ve read my guide to Spinalonga, you probably know what this book is about. If not, buy it and read it. It’s a great picture of Crete. >> GET IT HERE
EASTERN CRETE, A NOTEBOOK (Richard Clark – 2018): This is another must-read to visit Lasithi. His notes are very accurate! >> GET IT HERE
Best Books About Crete for Kids
Children love Crete more when they discover all they can do here! Crete’s mysterious legends and archaeological sites, the myths, and the stories that make any trip to Crete an adventure and a journey into discovery. My kids have read these before and after traveling to the island.
TRAVELS IN TIME: MINOAN CRETE (Mary Black): >> GET IT HERE
TRAVELS IN TIME: VENETIAN CRETE (Mary Black): >> GET IT HERE
CRETE MY TRAVEL DIARY (Stylesyndikat Greece Books): >> GET IT HERE
Crete Travel Maps
You might wonder why I suggest a map with all the wonderful online resources!
As a Gen Xer, I am a big fan of maps. They’ve been my most faithful travel companions when traveling in remote places.
They’ve been my most faithful travel companions when traveling in remote places. But once I got home, I opened my maps a hundred times. They bring as many memories as photos and stories do.
Not just because your Internet connection might not be available. But there’s nothing more fascinating than stopping by the side of the road, opening your map over the hood of your car, and putting everything into a new perspective.
MICHELIN MAP CRETE: I’ve bought this map twice, the first one for my first trip to Crete, the last time just months ago after losing the first one. Although I use a navigation device, I can’t leave my maps back home when I drive in Crete. >> GET IT HERE
CRETE MARCO POLO MAP: I have mixed feelings about this map. On the one hand, its mini-plans for the different important cities on Crete are very useful. However, the letters are (very) small! >> GET IT HERE
My Crete Travel Guides
- I’ve published several small but well-researched travel guides to different areas in Crete.
- They are useful to build a customized itinerary, including beaches, gorges, and off-the-beaten-track areas.
- You can read them before preparing for your next trip to Crete or dream about your next time on the island.
- E-book only.
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Best Books Set on Crete
Gabi, the Crete Insider
Hi, I’m Gabi — your go-to local expert in Crete! I’ve been living in Chania, Crete since 2016, and I’ve turned my love for the island into a full-time passion — guiding travelers, writing for travel media, and curating local experiences.
I co-authored DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete and other guides. I run the blogs The Tiny Book, Greece Planner, and My Cretan Recipe. Through this platform I help travelers design unforgettable trips to Crete.
