ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on three categories of books produced by Greeks in America in the first half of the twentieth century: poetry collections, anthologies with scripts of theatrical productions, and schoolbooks for elementary schools. Their investigation shows the prevalence of some recurring themes and leitmotifs regarding the perception of the Revolution. First, the narratives focus on the prerevolutionary time, which is surrounded by an aura of excitement and inspiration leading to the “resurrection” of the enslaved nation. Second, the actual history of the Revolution is fragmented into stories about heroes and their heroic deeds, emphasizing their self-sacrifice.
This chapter argues that the main narrative in these early-twentieth century representations of the Revolution oscillates between history and mythology and contributes to the national pride necessary for the coherence of Greek American immigrant communities.
