History, politics, diplomacy: The books we highlighted

A recent discussion delves into the historical legacy of Ioannis Kapodistrias, Greece's first governor, challenging popular misconceptions about his role. Stavros Panagiotidis, a historian, addresses the common belief that Kapodistrias was the only person who could have successfully founded the Greek state. Panagiotidis argues this view oversimplifies the era, noting that other individuals, like Mavrokordatos, possessed similar statecraft knowledge, and even the Bavarian administration under King Otto proved adept at state organization, leading to Otto's lengthy reign. The conversation also touches upon the impact of Giannis Smaragdis' biographical film on Kapodistrias, with historians pointing out its historical inaccuracies, though acknowledging it may have spurred public interest. Kapodistrias's pivotal role in modern Greek history is attributed to his diplomatic acumen, which secured the widest possible borders for the new nation under the circumstances. The article also highlights new book releases, including "The Lost World of Henriette de Serviana" by Alexandros Moyssis, which reconstructs the pre-war Jewish community of Ioannina using personal memories and rare documents, culminating in the tragedy of the Holocaust. Another reviewed book is Dimitris Karaiskos' "1939-1945 Atlantic: 'Peleas' and 'Diamantis'," part of the "War Stories" series, focusing on the largely unknown adventures of Greece's Merchant Navy in the Atlantic during World War II, detailing significant losses.

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The famous 'one man could have made us a state and we killed him!' It is a misunderstanding of his entire era.