First published 2013
Gianna Angelopoulos stands alone in the VIP box as the 2004 Olympics begin, dancing to celebrate what many thought impossible. The world doubted Greece could pull off the Games. Now she watches her country prove them wrong. Born on Crete, Gianna fought her way through male-dominated legal and political circles to become one of Greece's most powerful women. She balanced motherhood and business while climbing to the upper ranks of international society. When the 2004 Olympics faced catastrophe, she stepped in to rescue them. Her efforts transformed the Games into what critics later called an unforgettable dream. But Greece would soon abandon the Olympic lessons and plunge into economic crisis. Gianna's memoir traces both her rise from rebellious island girl to Olympic torchbearer and her country's journey from triumph to devastation. She hands out basil seeds on Athens streets and entertains royalty in London. Her Cinderella love story unfolds alongside her public service career. This is the story of a woman who changed the world and the Greece she fought to save.
Genres: historical-fiction, contemporary, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: against-all-odds, inspirational, overcoming-adversity
Setting: Athens, Crete, Greece, London
Period: 2004
299 pages · Hardcover · Greenleaf Book Group Llc