Occupation Child: WWII Greece

Told through the eyes of an observant and resilient boy, the book begins with the German seizure of Athens in 1941. Grim events of war, displacement, and exile never extinguish the curiosity - even the joys - of his childhood. Compelling writing mixes reality and fantasy to concoct a memorable tribute to the human spirit, from Asia Minor to Greece to Canada. -- Douglas Babington, the Bivouac Prayers.

"The ugliest phases of the Civil War were just beginning. It would pit household against household, village against village, and sometimes, brother against brother. The blood-letting would go on and on. The adults seemed to sense that all of this was going to happen and they only spoke in muted tones." -- Tasouli

With curiosity and humor Tasouli tells us about his life, including stories about his cat the Resistance hero, the intricate relationships between a young Jewish physician, German offi cers, and Greek partisan communists and their British captives. A strange character appears in his dreams, sometimes supportive, sometimes terrifying, and they develop a strong bond. Occupation Child is ultimately about how a child views hunger, language, politics and love.

Tassos Anastassiades grew up in Athens during WW II and came to Canada with his parents in 1950. He is an Emeritus Professor at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. T. Styppas is his nom de plume.