Museum’s Virtual Bookclubs, Films Take Readers Back into Greek History

Greek history
The story of Princess Alice of Battenberg, the mother of Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, is part of Greek history. Credit: Riera on ca.wikipedia/Public Domain

Chicago’s National Hellenic Museum is now taking readers back into Greek history with a series of virtual bookclubs, where people all around the world can take part in immersing themselves in the great works, and producing historical videos that bring the great stories of the past alive.

A program of book club get-togethers is planned for May 20 and Jun 17, when participants learn all about bestselling works by Apostolos Doxiadis and Natalie Haynes.
In addition, the Museum, the largest repository of Greek-American history and artifacts in the world, is now showing a new video on the life of Alice of Battenberg, the mother of the late Prince Philip.

NHM Resident Scholar Dr. Katie Kelaidis and Manager of Programs & Events Cairo Dye discuss the life of Her Royal Highness Alice, Princess Andrew of Greece.

National Hellenic Museum Bookclub and videos bring Greek history to life

Princess Alice, the mother of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was born in Windsor Castle, but her life proved to be anything but that of a conventional princess. Everyone should know more about this remarkable Princess and her story full of resilience, compassion, and strength of conviction. |

Princess Alice, used to a life of great privilege, was deeply traumatized by the family’s expulsion from Greece. Her family was taken away from her and she spent years in an asylum in Switzerland.

It was only after the death of two of her children that she was reunited with Philip. She ended up founding a convent of Greek Orthodox nuns in Athens who devoted themselves to taking care of orphans and the poor. She also sheltered Jewish children during World War II, earning her the title of “Righteous Among the Nations,” which was bestowed by the country of Israel.

The NHM’s video of her incredible life may be watched on the NHM’s Youtube channel, here.

Upcoming Book Club events on mathematics, Trojan War

The Museum’s Virtual Book Club livestream featuring the work “Uncle Petros & Golbach’s Conjecture,” by Apostolos Doxiadis, will be shared with the public for free on May 20 at 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM.

This international bestseller, translated into English by the author, tells the story of Petros Papachristos, a mathematical prodigy, who has devoted his life to proving one of the greatest mathematical challenges of all time: Goldbach’s Conjecture.

He now enters old age having seemingly accomplished nothing and is viewed with shame by his family. That is, until his nephew, an ambitious young man in his own right, intervenes. The nephew’s decision to help his uncle takes him, and the reader, on a fascinating voyage through the world of genius.

Click here to register for this program.

On June 17, the NHM’s Virtual Book Club takes readers far back into Greek history with a discussion of “A Thousand Ships,” by Natalie Haynes. This program will also run from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

A short-listed title for the Women’s Fiction Prize, A Thousand Ships recasts Homer’s famous Iliad from the perspective of the many women caught up in its monumental events. From long-suffering Penelope to the Amazonian warriors who fought on Achilles behalf, this is not just the Homeric epics from “a woman’s perspective” but a truly feminine epic that seeks to understand the lives of women in the midst of great events.

Click here to register for “A Thousand Ships.”

NHM Virtual Book Club, which is free to join, is held on the third Thursday of each month at 7 PM CST, 8 PM EST.  Click here to register for free. You can follow the National Hellenic Museum on their Facebook page, here.

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