This Way to Paradise, Dancing on the Tables

by Willard Manus

American author Willard Manus and Scottish wife Mavis went to the village of Lindos on the Greek Island of Rhodes in 1961, intending to stay 3 days. Instead they stayed 35 years! This Way to Paradise -- Dancing on the Tables portrays not only the Greek villagers they became friendly with but such foreigners as the Pink Floyd band, the humorist S.J. Perlman, the novelists Richard Hughes and Martha Gellhorn and many others. The book describes how Lindos went from an island backwater to artists' colony to mass Aegean tourist beauty spot. The reviewer Andrew Horton called This Way to Paradise one of the best books ever written about the Greek Islands.

355 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 1998

Reviews

[J.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both personal and informative, this memoir takes us through more than three decades of island life in Greece, from primitive yet idyllic living conditions to the eventual mass tourism sprawl years later. Full of colorful characters, native customs, scenic delights, and tensions from civil unrest and war, the character of Greece shines through this fish-in-new-water story. This is historical armchair travel with a personal tour guide.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book just prior to going on vacation to Lindos, Rhodes Island, Greece. I found this very interesting to see what life was like in a small Greek village prior to the discovery by Tourists mainly British and the after effects. The characters in the book, from the locals to the eccentric expats, were very entertaining. It sounded like it would have been a wonderful out of the way place to live prior to comercialization.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read about Lindos on Rhodes. Real life anecdotes that take you from the 60s (when Lindos had no running water or electricity) to the 90s.

[Xenia Germeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek history and travel memoire ! Read it before you start travel to Greece!