The island enjoying the biggest revival of late, however, has to be Corfu. In the 1930s, it was home to the eccentric Durrell family, namely the brothers Lawrence and Gerald, who became known for The Avignon Quintet (which includes the Booker Prize-nominated Constance) and modern-day classic The Corfu Trilogy respectively. Gerald was effusive in his love for the island, saying: “My childhood in Corfu shaped my life. If I had the craft of Merlin, I would give every child the gift of my childhood.” But even if you do not like reading, there is no need for literature to lure you here.
Venetian heritage and architecture combined with Greek warmth, hospitality, cuisine and sunshine? Take us to the island of Corfu, right now, parakalo
The average Asian traveller might answer, without hesitation, “Santorini” or “Mykonos”, when asked to name an idyllic Greek island. But the literati would probably take longer to think of a reply, given the dizzying number of locations that have both produced renowned writers and poets, as well as inspired them, over the centuries. Top of mind would be Ithaca, the home of Homer’s Odysseus and hero of his seminal Odyssey. There is also, of course, Lesbos, immortalised in Sappho’s lyric poetry to the point she became known as “the Tenth Muse” while, much later, Spetses in Attica provided the setting and inspiration for John Fowles’ Phraxos in his 1966 novel, The Magus. And although Athens does not fall under the category of “holiday island”, it nevertheless enchanted Lord Byron enough to join the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, where he ultimately lost his life at the age of 36 while leading a military campaign.
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