Call Me Stratos: In conversation with the author

Call Me Stratos follows a man profoundly impacted by Greece’s financial crisis. The novel offers a powerful glimpse into the country’s recent turbulent history—from the Olympic Games to the economic collapse—highlighting the struggles of the working class.  
 

After a dramatic divorce, and at the age of forty-two, Stratos Achtidis returns to his family home to live with his mother and brother. Humiliated and feeling isolated from family and friends, he turns to alcohol and reminisces about an over-glorified past. Through Stratos’s eyes, the reader witnesses the social and economic transformations that have shaped Greek society over the past twenty-five years. The novel explores the struggles of ordinary working-class Greeks, who have faced profound existential and financial challenges, and the resulting shifts in their way of life. 

Georgoula delivers a pitch-perfect portrayal of the male psyche—particularly a certain kind of Greek male—with often brutal authenticity. Call Me Stratos is not just a compelling read; it is a powerful depiction of some of the most significant issues affecting Greek society. 

In collaboration with Istros books.