Very Good Greek, Modern (post 1453) Original half morocco with four raised bands to gilt spine. Second compartment has title 'Ali Pasha' in Greek. All edges marbled. Text block slightly stained. A clean copy, with minimal wear on extremities of boards and spine, with no restorations of any kind. Marbled end-papers. Demy 8vo. (21 x 14 cm). In Greek (Modern). 272 p., engraved portrait of Ali Pasha on frontispiece. This historical novel is written by Konstantinos Ramfos (1776-1871) and published in 1862, "accompanied by a new articulation of the enunciative and denotative position", is one of the most interesting cases of intertextuality in MG prose-fiction. Constantinos Ramphos was originally from Chios, he devoted himself to trade, was a member of the Hétairie, and took part in the fights of the Greek war of independence before participating in the politics of his country. He was a diplomat, and then a journalist, from 1860 he began to publish stories devoted to the heroes of the insurrection, Katsandonis, "Despot l'Epirote", Ali Pasha for example, and the most famous Halet Efendi. He mixed in his novels realism, dreams, patriotism against a historical background. Ali Pasha of Ioannina [or, Tepedelenli Ali Pasa, Tepelena or of Janina, the Lion of Yannina], (1740-1822), was an Ottoman Albanian ruler who served as pasha of a large part of western Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territories, which was referred to as the Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina, and the territory he governed incorporated most of Epirus and the western parts of Thessaly and Greek Macedonia. Ali had three sons: Muhtar Pasha, who served in the 1809 war against the Russians, Veli Pasha, who became Pasha of the Morea Eyalet and Salih Pasha, governor of Vlore. Ali first appears in historical accounts as the leader of a band of brigands who became involved in many confrontations with Ottoman state officials in Albania and Epirus. He joined the administrative-military apparatus of the Ottoman Empire, holding various posts until 1788 when he was appointed Pasha, ruler of the sanjak of Ioannina. His diplomatic and administrative skills, his interest in modernist ideas and concepts, his popular piety, his religious neutrality, his suppression of banditry, his vengefulness and harshness [.] Western writers and poets such as Alexander Dumas, Lord Byron were inspired and influenced by Ali Pasha in their works. Only two copies located in OCLC 835283685 (Institut français d'études Byzantines and Sorbonne Université). A fine printing and a very early "historical novel" example in the Greek literature. First Edition. Very scarce.
