Heinz A. Richter: Greece and Cyprus since 1920: Bibliography of contemporary history / Griechenland und Zypera seit 1920: Bibliographie zur Zeitgeschichte / Ellada Kai Kypros Meta to 1920: Vivliographia Sychronis istorias (Wissenschaftlicher Verlag, Nea Hellas, Heidelberg, 1984), 437 pages.
Heinz Richter has set himself a herculean task, namely to compile a bibliography of contemporary history on Greece and Cyprus since 1920. He has risen to the challenge extremely well, for there is no national bibliography, either in Greece or in Cyprus. Lack of resources, and perhaps erroneous priorities on the part of the responsible agencies, defective organisation end institutional framework, make It difficult If not impossible, for a new generation of well- qualified and trained Greek and foreign historians to devote their time to comprehensive bibliographical undertakings. Individual efforts focusing on specialised subjects or particular periods of Greece’s modern history are not sufficient to close the enormous existing gap.
Given these constraints, it comes as no surprise that It is a foreigner, namely the French Emile Legrand (1841-1903), who is rightly considered the father of Greek bibliography. His monumental and much acclaimed work will undoubtedly remain for ever a constant point of reference for titles on Greece published In past centuries. Nor Is it accidental that today a foreign institution, the Instltut Francais in Athens, has since 1945, been producing the most comprehensive annual bibliography of new publications on Greece {Bulletin Analytique de Bibliographie Hellenique).
Against this background, Dr. Richter’s bibliography constitutes a colossal achievement and an invaluable contribution, which Is certainly here to stay for many years, If not for decades, to come. This formidable work comprises 11,405 titles from which 1,732 refer to Cyprus end 1,763 to the Communist movement in Greece. The apparently disproportionate and preferential treatment of Communist affairs arises from the author’s personal interest and specialisation as an historian. This apparent aberration should be excused not only on personal but also on historical grounds. The Communist-led Resistance movement during the occupation of Greece by German, Italian and Bulgarian forces (1941-44), and the ensuing bloody civil war (1946-49), profoundly marked and influenced the country’s post-war political development. Dr. Richter’s scholarly works Griechenland Zwischen Revolution und Kontra revolution and the recently published British Intervention in Greece: from Varkiza to Civil War (Merlin Press), have done a lot to shed light on some crucial aspects and issues of that turbulent and traumatic period.
The bibliography is not strictly confined to historiographic material. It contains publications relevant to contemporary history ranging from war memoirs to history of ideas, and from economics to geography and anthropology. Chronological sub-divisions in accordance with the main periods of Greece’s contemporary history makes the material easier to find and use although duplication is often not avoided. This is surely a good idea which students of Greek History will greatly appreciate. And although thematic classification is regrettably missing, apparently for reasons of cost, the informed user is amply compensated for by two thoughtful additions at the end: an index of periodicals and another of names and corporate bodies, both extremely useful in identifying unsuspected sources of Information and for tracing throughout the book, various publications of the same author or organisation.
Recently, there have been sufficient indications pointing to a real revival of European and American interest in scholarly studies of Greek affairs. This, I suspect, is not only due to Greece’s accession to the EEC, five years ago now, and to the need felt by many for a fresh historical look at the troubles of Cyprus, but also to the political change in Greece, where the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) of Mr. Andreas Papandreou swept the polls in 1981 and subsequently won a second term in office at the June 1985 general election, convincingly enough to make friend and foe, at home and abroad, to discuss more seriously what had — previously and superficially — been considered a passing phenomenon.
Students and teachers alike will find Dr. Richter’s bibliography an indispensable and irreplaceable guide to a variety of publications and sources providing a richness of background to the latest developments in both Greece and Cyprus.
The problem with bibliographies is that once you have started it Is difficult to stop. I hope that Dr. Richter’s interest will be maintained and that enough devoted disciples will be encouraged and motivated by his example to carry it further. In the meantime, our gratitude rests with the author and the very courageous publishers who have taken the risk of producing such an excellent book. I hope that enough prospective buyers amongst institutions and interested researchers worldwide will prove the risk worth taking.