An admirably detailed, considered account of the uprisings that led to the formation of modern Greece after a lengthy, hard-won battle for independence from the Ottoman Empire. I found the early chapters of Mark Mazower’s book a little dense and difficult to negotiate, simply because of the intricate circumstances he’s outlining and the vast array of key players he introduces. But once Mazower established his territory, this quickly became incredibly gripping and impressive. The Greek revolution began on 21 February 1821. It’s a history of sudden advances and equally sudden setbacks, harsh sieges, atrocities and massacres, regional and local skirmishes. An unlikely convergence of forces and political interests that led to a seemingly impossible success. The Greeks were a minority within the Ottoman Empire approximately three million out of a total population of roughly twenty-three, many scattered across the world. They were outnumbered and considerably outgunned from the very beginning. Even though the Ottoman forces were comparatively small, they were still at least ten times what the Greeks could muster. And yet they prevailed.

Mazower’s meticulously-researched piece covers the plight of Greek communities under Ottoman rule; the rise of secret, pro-independence societies – particularly among the diaspora in Odessa; the varied, often clashing visions of what an independent Greek homeland might be or represent; and the many interest groups involved from wealthy landowners to peasantry to political groupings focused on revolutionary rebirth or the fulfilment of a more religious destiny. I was particularly engaged by his examination of the wider social and cultural impact of the Greek struggle. Initially the Philhellenes including famous figures like Byron, in Europe, and beyond, were drawn to the conflict because of a mix of nostalgia and reverence stemming from associations between modern-day Greeks and their ancient past. This made the Greek fight a fashionable cause for many, rather like the Spanish Civil War over a century later; it was a particularly popular one for younger, European men, steeped in the work of Byron and Shelley, and caught up in growing anti-imperialist sentiments: although among the supporters who flocked to the fight were a number of women and at least one African American. At a later stage in the insurgency outside interest in the Greeks’ future shifted from radical to mainstream inspiring art, literature, even opera, slowly attracting more powerful sources of support and financing.

Mazower manages to capture both the immediacy of the battles between the Greeks and the Ottoman forces, and the wider, political relevance of these events: challenges to the idea of empire, newly-emerging concepts of national identity and self-determination. But he also takes time to look beyond prominent figures vying for power to portray the brutal realities of life for the non-combatants, the local farmers, poor families, and increasing numbers of refugees. I picked this up because I’ve liked Mazower’s writing in the past but was surprised by how interesting this subject turned out to be, or maybe that’s just because of his skilful handling of his material. It’s a memorable, lucid account that doesn’t shy away from complexities, well-written, carefully-structured, fascinating and informative.

Thanks to Netgalley UK and publisher Allen Lane, imprint of Penguin, for an arc