History of the Greek Revolution

Thomas Gordon (1788-1841), a British army officer and philhellene, was actively involved in the Greek struggle for independence during the period 1821-8. This two-volume work, published in 1833, provides a comprehensive account of the Greek Revolution, portraying the war ‘as it really was’ and describing atrocities perpetrated by both sides. In his preface, Gordon acknowledges that the contest between the Greeks and the Turks has been written about a great deal. He sets out his aims to ‘clear away exaggeration, rectify errors and anachronisms, and supply omissions’, and he draws upon insights gained from having lived and fought for several years in Greece. Volume 2 continues the narrative until the decisive defeat of the Turkish fleet by the European allies at Navarino in 1827, but ends on a note of caution that wider European diplomatic manoeuvres may delay the establishment of an independent Greek government.