MELBOURNE is well-known for its vibrant Greek community.
Sea of Many Returns explores one Greek family's ties to Australia, and in particular Melbourne.
- Sea of Many Returns, by Arnold Zable. The Text Publishing Company, rrp $32.95
The book follows the story of an extended Ithacan family who come and go between Australia and Greece. The story is told through the eyes of three members of the family.
One of the central characters, Xanthe, is drawn to the Greek island of Ithaca, the birthplace of her father Manoli and her maternal grandfather Mentor.
As she learns the way of the island she translates Mentor's memoirs of his life in Australia.
Mentor's story covers his time spent in Kalgoorlie during the race riots of World War I, the emergence of the Greek precinct in Melbourne and his longing for his island home in Greece.
Manoli's story has a strong connection to the ocean and boats.
The sea is the only place where he feels at peace.
With his brother Andreas, Manoli builds a boat, Brotherly Love, and it is on this boat that he first feels the lure of travel.
Manoli settles in Australia, raising his family and building his boats.
His dark moods are only lifted when he is on the water. "Life is a hole in the water, nothing matters," he says.
Xanthe returns to Ithaca with her daughter to piece together the mystery of her family and the island and eventually comes to understand both.
