185 - ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ ΒΙΚΕΛΑΣ [D.BIKELAS]: De Nicopolis a Olympie, lettres a un ami. Paris, 1885

ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ ΒΙΚΕΛΑΣ [D.BIKELAS]: De Nicopolis a Olympie, lettres a un ami. Paris, 1885 First edition. In 8vo. Original publisher’s yellow paper covers, slightly dusty. Text with scattered light spotting. Complete: [2], 294 p., [1]. Overall in very good condition. A rare travel account of Greece written by a Greek contemporary. Vikelas (1835-1908), an educated writer and poet who later became the first President of the International Olympic Committee, traveled extensively in Greece. This work records his journey through western Greece in the summer of 1884, starting from Preveza, Arta, Lefkada, and continuing along the western coast to Patras and Olympia. As a native Greek, Vikelas had the immense advantage of language and cultural intimacy, allowing him to interact directly with local inhabitants and capture invaluable observations about provincial Greek society of the 1880s. Having lived in Paris for many years, he published several of his works there in French, but this lengthy travel account is absent from all major collections.