Some of you may have heard of Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor, a.k.a. Paddy, and for some this name might be new. However, being considered Britain’s greatest living travel-writer during his lifetime, I’m sure he is a fascinating name for all.
Paddy was born in 1915 and was a British author, scholar and polyglot. One of his school reports stated he was “a dangerous mixture of sophistication and recklessness”, having problems with academic structure and limitations. However, he continued learning by reading texts on Greek, Latin, Shakespeare and History and later became a great writer, internationally known for his charismatic and adventurous personality, travel books and impressive writing style.
After Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Paddy enrolled in the army and his knowledge of modern Greek led to his placement in Crete. As a soldier, he played a prominent role behind the lines in the Cretan resistance. In the 1960’s, together with his long-time partner and eventually wife, the honourable Joan Elizabeth Rayner, they decided to spend the rest of their lives in Greece. Two of his most famous books describe his travels in Greece: Mani, Travels in Southern Peloponnese (1958) and Roumeli, Travels in Northern Greece (1966). After Joan’s death in 2003, Paddy spent most of his time in Greece. He died in 2011, aged 96, and as his grave’s inscription he chose a quotation from the Greek writer Cavafy: “In addition, he was the best of all things, Hellenic.”
The home Paddy and Joan built is now considered one of the most beautiful properties in Greece. Truly, what an amazing place it is, built in an olive grove near Kardamyli in the Mani Peninsula, southern Peloponnese. In 1996 they donated their home to the Benaki Museum and wished that after their death, their house would remain open to the public and host intellectuals and scholars who wanted to work or study in an inspiring setting. All necessary repair works to the property were completed thanks to a donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and the house was opened in 2019.
A traveller and Greece lover himself, Paddy would be proud to have you in his home, in the beautiful settings of Kalamitsi.
Pictures are a courtesy of the Benaki Museum.
