In those difficult times for the country and our people,
the rich educational power
of the Cretan History will show us the way.
For forty years the Cretan philologist -History researcher- Mrs. Anna Manounasi-Metaxaki is engaged in the historical research mainly of the municipality of Herakleion-Crete. Her research prompted her in book writing contributing, therefore to the cultural and social development of Crete.
Her new book will be a monograph of the member of the Resistance, associate and politician George Psarakis coming from Arkalochori in Herakleion the main focus will be given to his participation in the Resistance.
Question: To what extent has the writing of your book contributed to the cultural and social life of Crete?
Answer: I would really like to contribute with all my power to the substantial progress that undoubtedly our society needs.
My publications, which are approximately 600 newspaper and scientific articles, presentations in conferences, literary texts in anthologies and book reviews, have a historical and social content.
The historical material which is the fruit of a research regarding the History of Crete, surely helps so as historical awareness is not lost through sources and evidence within the framework of today’s era of globalization and the difficult situation we face. The social issues are inspired by the current situation. My writings, 35 years now, express a great deal of love for the Man and my Country, aiming to contribute to the awareness and the moral perfection namely, to the civilization of the soul. This is what we need today; at a time when the Spirit and the Soul demand their rights, as knowledge only serves the insatiable desire of the material progress of the «Mazanthropon» and the intellectual people are silent either due to alienation or despair.
My minor attempt regarding History and civilization was parallel to my job as a philologist and Junior and High School Director in the municipality of Herakleion, member in the Board of Associations and scientific societies, like the Union of Philologists of the municipality of Herakleion as well as to my family, my two boys and my partner.
I soon realized the need to investigate the very important decade of 1940, to have the survivors who bore the burden of the war along with the Occupation registered and also have their information interbred with other sources. Starting from the oldest survivors I have registered about 150, mainly from the municipality of Herakleion. The communication with the narrators was impeccable and refreshing not only for them but also for me. I am, you see, born and bred of Crete and I am aware of their soul and thought. Those pure and clean narrations about the war, the Resistance and the civil war – primary historical material – are waiting to be published.
Question: When was your first book published and how did it change your life?
Answer: My first book was published in May 2011 by the municipality of Herakleion for the 70 years from the Battle of Crete. The title of the book is «War Diaries of Antony Farakos and G. Koutedakis». Two important dairies were, thus, preserved written by two heroes of the Resistance, which started in the South Herakleion just after the capitulation of Herakleion with the Germans and the delivery of arms in Peza Pediados on the 30th of May, 1941, after the most controversial battle in the History, the ten-day Battle of Crete.
Through many years of research, the historical information provided in the diaries was intersected with written and oral sources and were fully commented, so as to constitute a source of study of this difficult period that was left in the dark, probably deliberately, as the memoirs of Churchill, Panayiotis Kanelopoulos and others suggest.
The information contained in the book, coming from the few texts we have by the protagonists, deals with a vast area – the districts of Vianno, Eastern Monofatsio and Asterousia which are places of special interest that although offered a lot, are not included in the bibliography. Additionally, the high moral standards of those who supported the Resistance in South Herakleion as well as the popular anti-occupation feeling of the people are presented.
Question: What is your new book about?
Answer: My new book will be a monograph of the member of the Resistance, associate and politician George Psarakis who comes from Arkalochori in Herakleion. Here as well, the main focus will be given to his participation in the Resistance-he was a member of the Communist Party-and mainly to his sabotage at the airport of Kastelli Pediados (7-6-1942), maybe the first in Europe against the Axis. Because in those difficult times for the country and our people, the rich educational power of the Cretan History will show us the way.