- The Observer, Sunday 4 June 2000
The story of the resistance is extremely complex, and whereas the communists massacred entire villages in some places, I understand that in others they set up drama classes... so one's interpretation will depend entirely upon which part of Greece one is talking about.
In Greece these issues are still very much alive, and there is still much vehement hatred bubbling away just beneath the surface. Whereas my opinion about all this doesn't matter too much outside Greece, it matters very much within it, and it was never part of the purpose of Corelli to stir up bad blood. Corelli is about other themes, and I wouldn't want the book to be distorted for Greek readers, which is why I agreed with my publishers and translator that some of my language and opinions should be moderated. The Greeks don't need some foreigner sticking his oar in when they can, and do, perfectly well argue among themselves.
I would like to add that whereas, in my opinion, the behaviour of the communist resistance left much to be desired, the persecution of communists after the war was an absolute disgrace and gave them back any moral high ground they might have lost. I believe in the traditional democratic freedoms, and would defend them impartially against Left or Right alike.
