'a vivid and intoxicating account' - Victoria Hislop
'This is a beautiful and well researched book documenting in superb detail the rugged charm, changing landscape, and the tumultuous history of the Dodecanese islands. You can almost smell the wild oregano... a must read for anyone visiting the area, and for anyone interested in modern Greek history.' - Atulya K Bingham
'I started your book this morning and couldn't put it down, which is the first time in years that's happened... Your book makes me almost want to trace your footsteps through all the places you've visited. They sound amazing' - Mark
'I just finished reading... and wanted to let you know I really enjoyed it... I've spent this year solo travelling and working around the globe and your book really inspired me' - Rebekah
'It's such a source of inspiration, I really feel that you have put in words many thoughts and ideas of mine. I'm from Halki... This year I made the decision to quit my job in Athens [and moved back to the island]... You have motivated and empowered me to make this decision.' - Electra
'a delightful serendipitous journey along paths less well trodden... a must read for anyone who loves the Greek islands' - Richard Clark
'Adored this absolute gem of a book... I dare you to read it and not immediately want to move to Greece' - Charlie Carroll
If you can hear any traffic now, erase it. Turn off any television or radio, any devices that hum or beep. Replace them with the rhythmic stroke of sea on pebbles, or with the cry of a goat or an owl.
While most of the world rushes to fill spaces to house a growing population, for the last hundred years a cluster of Greek islands at the southeast edge of Europe has been doing the opposite. A century ago, the Dodecanese were thriving; since then, a sequence of calamities at home and opportunities elsewhere has left swathes of the archipelago half-abandoned, reclaimed by the wild.
Walking with her dog and a backpack, Jennifer Barclay journeys through the islands exploring steaming volcanoes and labyrinthine forests, rugged mountains and spectacular beaches. She discovers rare beauty in the ruins, the emptiness and silence, and inspiration in the people she meets. From ghost villages to cave-houses, from the crumbling villa of a Fascist dictator to the simple dwellings of displaced Muslim fishermen, these empty places speak of history and lost knowledge, of people who went to the other side of the world and back, of resilience and hope.
A manifesto in praise of deserted places, Wild Abandon shows us the value of what has been lost and, in paying attention to what is so often forgotten, reveals the enduring human potential for renewal and regeneration.
On Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Abandon-Deserted-Dodecanese-Literature-ebook/dp/B087X5NCFZ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
On Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Abandon-Deserted-Dodecanese-Literature-ebook/dp/B087X5NCFZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YG8P1T2QYZUD&dchild=1&keywords=wild+abandon+jennifer+barclay&qid=1593840981&sprefix=Wild+Abandon+Jenni%2Caps%2C375&sr=8-1