159 - ΕΛΕΝΗ ΓΚΙΚΑ [Eleni Ghika - Dora d’ Istria]: ΠΕΡΙ ΤΩΝ ΕΝ ΤΗ ΑΝΑΤΟΛΗ ΓΥΝΑΙΚΩΝ (On the Woman of the Levant). ΑΘΗΝΑΙ (Athens), 1861

ΕΛΕΝΗ ΓΚΙΚΑ [Eleni Ghika - Dora d’ Istria]: ΠΕΡΙ ΤΩΝ ΕΝ ΤΗ ΑΝΑΤΟΛΗ ΓΥΝΑΙΚΩΝ (On the Woman of the Levant). ΑΘΗΝΑΙ (Athens), 1861 First edition in Greek. In 8vo, contemporary leather over boards, slightly trimmed at edges, complete two volumes in one, text clean and bright with very few scattered spotting in some pages, complete 371p., 436p., one portrait, overall in very good condition. A landmark of mid 19th century Levant accounts. ΕΛΕΝΗ ΓΚΙΚΑ (Ghika) (1828-1888) an Arromanian important intellectual and writer was of Greek and Albanian descent. Her mother was Αικατερίνη Φωκά (Ekaterini Foka) and her father Μιχαήλ Γκίκας (Ghika) from the famous Ghica Fanariot family, which ruled the Romanian Principalities during 18th century. The Ghika family originated from Zagori, Greece but most probably with an Albanian or Vlach origin. Eleni received a high education from Greek teachers but was a multi language and cosmopolitan lady. She took the pseudonym Dora d Istria and wrote several works on many Balkan matters, trying to overpass the heavily nationalistic atmosphere of her time. Nevertheless she provided help to the Cretan rebels during the 1866 revolt, but later openly supported an Albanian origin although she could not speak any words of Albanian. Her principal work was this publication regarding the position of women in the Levantine societies. It is a highly regarded book as Eleni Ghika was a woman from the Levant and had easy access to a huge amount of information speaking several languages of the area. It is divided in chapters, according to the nationalities of the Balkan (Oriental) Peninsula. She accurately describes women's position in Romanian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Albanian, Greek and Turkish societies all around the Levant. The Greek chapter is divided in two periods ,in the status of the women up to the Revolution and after the arrival of King Otho. Ghika was convinced that only the German mentality can offer equal rights to the women and was very positive towards Othon recently adopted legislation in Greece. The first edition was published in French in 1859-1860. It had an instant huge success and was published in Greek just after. The Greek edition is extremely rare. A very early and praised work on the social conditions of women in Levantine societies, a matter very rarely touched during the 19th century in the Levant.