Mount Athos: renewal in paradise

In this second edition of this acclaimed study of Mount Athos (for which he was awarded the 2002 Criticos Prize) Graham Speake has taken the opportunity to revise and update his text and also to add a completely new chapter documenting the changes that have occurred in the twelve years since its first publication. The renewal that took place in the last quarter of the twentieth century can now be seen in its historical context and has been succeeded by a period of spiritual and cultural maturity. Not for the first time, in a world beset by political upheaval and economic turmoil, the Mountain stands as a symbol of continuity and stability, a spiritual powerhouse offering refreshment to all who turn to it. GRAHAM SPEAKE holds degrees in classics from Cambridge and Oxford, is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and served for 40 years as an academic publisher. He is founder and Honorary Secretary of the Friends of Mount Athos and a frequent visitor to the Mountain.