An exceptional two-book lot for collectors of modern Greek literature, twentieth-century Greek history and rare editions relating to the Asia Minor Catastrophe. The lot comprises two early editions of Dido Sotiriou's celebrated historical novel Ματωμένα Χώματα (Matomena Chomata / Farewell Anatolia), one of the defining works of modern Greek prose. 1. Dido Sotiriou – Ματωμένα Χώματα/Farewell Anatolia Kedros, Athens, 1962 First Edition 21.5 cm x 14.5 cm 313 pages The genuine first edition of Sotiriou's best-known novel, published by the historic Greek publishing house Kedros in Athens in 1962. This edition features the distinctive cover artwork of A. Tassos (Anastasios Alevizos), one of the most important Greek printmakers and artists of the twentieth century. The copy bears the author’s signature at the end of the book. A printed statement on the final page explicitly reads: “Παν γνήσιο αντίγραφο φέρει την υπογραφή της συγγραφέως” (“Every genuine copy bears the signature of the author”). 2. Dido Sotiriou – Ματωμένα Χώματα/Farewell Anatolia Editex, Geneva, 1969 275 pages 21.5 cm x 14.5 cm A scarce first edition thus published in Geneva in 1969 by Editex, during the period of the Greek military dictatorship (1967–1974). The cover was designed by Irene Czitron. The Geneva edition is of particular historical interest because of its publication outside Greece during the Junta period and provides an intriguing companion to the original 1962 Greek edition. Both books measure approximately 21.5 cm × 14.5 cm. About the novel First published in 1962, Matomena Chomata is widely regarded as one of the major works of modern Greek historical fiction. The novel recounts the experiences of Manolis Axiotis, a Greek farmer from Asia Minor, against the backdrop of the Balkan Wars, the First World War, the Greco-Turkish War, the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the subsequent refugee exodus. Sotiriou based the narrative on the recollections of a real Asia Minor refugee, giving the novel the immediacy of an eyewitness testimony while transforming it into a powerful work of literature. The novel is notable for avoiding a simplistic division between Greeks and Turks and instead portraying ordinary people caught up in war, persecution, displacement and political upheaval. This humanistic perspective has contributed to the book's lasting reception in both Greece and Turkey. The work became a major bestseller and cultural landmark. Modern publishing sources report sales of more than 400,000 copies, while the novel has been translated into numerous languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian and Turkish. Condition Both books are in very good vintage condition, commensurate with their age. The original softcovers show minor edge wear, gentle creasing to the spines and light shelf toning. Internally, the books are clean and well preserved. The bindings remain firm, with no loose leaves or significant staining noted. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition description and show the exact visual condition of both copies. Collector's note This is an especially appealing pairing because it brings together the original Athens first edition of 1962 and a rare overseas edition from 1969, allowing the collector to compare two important moments in the publication history of one of the most significant novels of modern Greek literature. A highly recommended lot for collectors of Greek literature, first editions, modern Greek history, the Asia Minor Catastrophe, Greek publishing history and twentieth-century illustrated book design.