Myth and Memory in the Mediterranean

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Nicholas Doumanis

   Pages 1-13

3. The Dodecanese in 1912: The Physical, Social and Historical Setting

   • Nicholas Doumanis

   Pages 14-33

4. Italy’s Aegean Possession: The Dodecanese Islands, 1912–47

   • Nicholas Doumanis

   Pages 34-59

5. Protest and Proto-Nationalism: Explaining Popular Dissent

   • Nicholas Doumanis

   Pages 60-89

6. The Poetics of Patriotism: Italian Rule and Greek Nationalist Consciousness

   • Nicholas Doumanis

   Pages 90-124

7. Colonialism and Modernity: Cultural Imperialism and Popular Memory

   • Nicholas Doumanis

   Pages 125-162

8. Italian Colonialism, Italian Character: Sex, Friendship and National Character

   • Nicholas Doumanis

   Pages 163-197

9. Epilogue: After the ‘Redemption’

   • Nicholas Doumanis

   Pages 198-201

10. Back Matter

    Pages 202-243

    PDF

This book examines the relationship between coloniser and colonised among the Italian-held Dodecanese Islands between 1912 and 1943, and is based on an oral history project conducted between 1990 and 1995. Italian power is described as having been negotiated, resisted and modified by locals, who admired many aspects of Italian rule without according the regime any legitimacy. This ethnographic history challenges standard views on Italian colonialism and Greek nationalism, and reflects on contemporary questions regarding historical memory, political culture and social identity.

• colonialism
• empire
• fascism
• history

'This subtle and complex picture of a neglected period in Greek and Italian history deserves a wide readership beyond Mediterranean studies, and will reward anyone grappling with questions of nationalism, history 'from below' and the social production of historical memory. It not only fills in the gaps of previous histories, but creates a distinctive historical vision.' - David Sutton, South European Society & Politics

'...use oral accounts of 'everyday life' under Italian colonial rule in the Greek Dodecanese islands, from 1912-1943...this is a provocative and challenging piece of historical research.' - N.E.Carter, History

• University of Newcastle, Australia

  Nicholas Doumanis

NICHOLAS DOUMANIS