Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis

by Nicholas Gage

The love affair of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis scandalized and fascinated the world from the moment it began in 1959 during a cruise on the fabled yacht Christina. In the decades since, dozens of books have been written about the incandescent diva who transformed opera and the Promethean tycoon who revolutionized international shipping, but none has focused on the tempestuous relationship between them, which is widely thought to have collapsed following Onassis' celebrated marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968.

Now, Nicholas Gage, author of the acclaimed international best-seller Eleni and a former investigative reporter for the New York Times, gives us the first and only full account of this fateful romance, presenting startling new information he has uncovered. Gage was able to persuade the couple's associates, relatives, and close friends--some of whom had never spoken before--to share their most intimate recollections. He also gained access to some of Callas' most private papers, which provide an utterly new view of her personal life. His narrative shows us that the Callas and Onassis relationship, far from being a passing dalliance, was in fact the deepest and longest-lasting emotional commitment either of them ever knew.

Gage meticulously reconstructs the events leading to the affair, from Callas and Onassis' first meeting at a masked ball in Venice in 1957 to the tycoon's pursuit of her throughout Europe, culminating in the 1959 cruise. It was during this three-week summer holiday, hosted by Onassis and his wife, Tina, that Aristotle and Maria's daily encounters ignited passions before the alarmed eyes of the crew and other illustrious guests, including Sir Winston and Lady Churchill. We follow the couple through the ensuing press hysteria and the rancor of their shattered marriages; the days of bliss and battles on the island hideaway of Skorpios; the agonizing deterioration of Callas' voice; and the strange covert courtship Onassis conducted prior to his marriage to the widow of the American president, a surprise that stunned the world once again and nearly destroyed Callas.

Within days of his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy, Onassis was back at Maria's door. Although they were never to marry, the relationship between the tycoon and the diva, Gage reveals, would continue and deepen, through tragedies and trials, until the end of their lives.

Penetrating the mass of published misinformation concerning his subjects, Nicholas Gage gives us the most reliable account ever of these legendary figures, a brilliant dual biography of two icons of the golden age of glamour. Greek Fire is an operatic spectacle of desire and loss, certain to transform our understanding of some of the most compelling personalities ever to capture our imagination.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Music, Greece

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Nicholas Gage (born Nikolaos Gatzoyiannis; Greek: Νίκος Γκατζογιάννης) is a Greek-American author and investigative journalist.
Gage started out as an investigative reporter for the New York Times, and later wrote for the Wall Street Journal. His experiences as a reporter were the basis for the television show “The Andros Targets”.
He is most famous for two autobiographical memoirs, the best-selling Eleni (translated into 32 languages, and adapted into film) and A Place for Us.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek Fire.. More like Greek Tragedy!

I've read a little bit about the love affair between Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas in books about Jackie Kennedy Onassis. But I always wanted to know more.

Ari and Maria's love affair was an epic and heartbreaking one. When they met Maria was the most famous Opera singer in the world. Ari was the mysterious billionaire Greek shipping magnet. Both were married to other people and the affair started while they were on couples cruise with Winston Churchill and his wife. This "romance" was a toxic mess from the beginning and it only got messier. Despite Maria being his "Ride or Die" Ari continuously cheated on her, belittled her and then he married Jackie Kennedy behind Maria's back. Through it all Maria continued to love him till the day she died.

I haven't even told y'all half the crazy stuff that happens in this book. There are suspected murders, possibly faked suicides, stolen cremated remains, someone marries their sisters husband who may have killed the first sister, and family curses. This true story is wilder then most fiction books I've read.

If you like rich peoples drama, than Greek Fire is the book for you!

[Sutton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really lengthy and not quite juicy enough...

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a little too detailed. But a good read.

[MarionaRebull · Rating 5 out of 5]

300 últimes pàgines plorant. És un mal diumenge i l’amor és en blanc i negre i té gust a mar.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched by Nicholas Gage. I knew from also reading“Eleni” by Gage, it would be satisfying reading. I could get lost in Gage’s articulation and expressive writing. This book seemed to boil down, in essence to this: you can have billions and it won’t buy happiness. Happiness in relationships means setting aside emotions and facing the truth about yourself and your significant other. Maria was in love with a rock and there was no reciprocity.

Lots of fascinating places and history in this part of the world which has launched a new obsession to explore books on Greece and Rome. I couldn’t put it down.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

How sad! The spoiled diva and the spoiled tycoon don't manage to end up together. Some interesting/disturbing background on war and atrocities in 20th century Greece and Anatolia. Essentially reads like a long Vanity Fair article, which I can't put down but don't feel great about reading.

[Jordan Maloney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is either two or three stars for me. I knew nothing about Maria Callas or Aristotle Onassis going into this, and I felt like I learned something. I appreciated the author's prose and the clear effort that it took to produce this book.

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

OKAY, THIS WAS AMAZING.

[Michael Del Guercio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard about the affair/romance of Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas when I read, Nemesis: The True Story of Aristotle Onassis, Jackie O, and the Love Triangle That Brought Down the Kennedys by Peter Evans. In that book (which was more like a conspiracy theory book) the impression I got from the romance between the shipping magnate and opera singer was one of a one sided romance where Maria was obsessed with Aristotle and Aristotle just kept Maria around as a notch on his belt of his many lovers. After reading this book though it shows that there was a deep connection these two people shared with one another. Yes, while Maria Callas was more focused on the relationship than Onassis was that doesn’t mean he didn’t care for her. Both of these people had intertwined soles that gives the feeling that there is someone out there for all of us. It was also written by a man who is Greek and knowledgeable about Greek customs which helps with understanding the cast involved within this story. But while it was very romantic, this book does make it clear that no person or relationship is perfect and the tragedy that comes when you lose out on something that was right in front you the entire time.

[Eileen McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best biography of a celebrity I have ever read. The author Nicholas Gage's original name was Nikolaos Gatzoyiannis. Born in Greece and living there until he was 10, he was able to interview the many Greek friends and acquaintances of Maria and Aristotle in their native tongue. This is not a gossip driven book. Instead it is a serious work by an investigative reporter. As an opera lover, I know Ms Callas was one of the greatest operatic artists of the 20th century. Her relationship with one of the richest men in the world was one of the scandals of the mid-20th century. Add the widow of an assassinated American President and how can anyone resist this? I couldn't put it down.

[XandreRL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinaria biografía doble de dos figuras claves del socialité y el mundo de la farándula del S.XX. La mítica artista lírica y el todopoderoso millonario vivieron un romance tumultuoso a la altura del brillo de. sus estrellas. Este ensayo recoge aquella época con los precedentes y las consecuencias, en un trabajo perfectamente documentado y con multitud de referencias. Imprescindible para entender el calado de sus figuras en la sociedad de aquel tiempo y su influencia.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good but rather stodgy read,the first part of the book deals with the cruise that brought them together.then deals with their tempestuous relationship.the author tends to get bogged down
With disparaging other authors who have gotten their facts wrong.all I can say about the cast of characters they deserve one another,fame or wealth does not equate to happiness.

[Alan Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fairly stodgy read...Really lengthy and not at all juicy enough...obviously the author has done his research well and all the information is here ...facts and history lessons thrown in but it all reads rather bland and not very exciting or as explosive as I'd imagined....

[Barbara Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best work- there’s only so much we really want to know about two married people having affairs with each other.

[Anne]

Enjoyed this book, but felt very sad that so many lives were ruined because of family values and the power of money.
Thank goodness we live in a time where women have more of a voice

[Pamela Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it.

[Sarah Louth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugely enjoyable.

[Trish Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend!!

[Katina Critopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! I appreciate the author's attention to detail and fact checking!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sad and tragic story of the ill-fated Callas Onassis affair.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of two famous and interesting Greeks, Maria Callas and Ari Onassis.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A passionate & toxic affair. It’s oddly compelling. Ultimately, a sad love story.

[Tabatha · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting things I never knew about Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas (whom I had never even heard about prior to this, what? was I living under a rock? I would really like to hear her Medea...)

[Marianne Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative. Gossipy. Maria Callas lived a sad and difficult life inspite of her great talent. Aristotle Onassis ended his life sadly in spite of his great wealth. As they say, money can not buy you happiness

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful, fast moving, exciting book about the tumultuous relationship between Maria Callas (opera star) and Aristotle Onassis (shipping tycoon). Amazing how people can be so very wealthy and so very unhappy.

[Riccardo Paterni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to read this book for some light reading in depth intercultural insights of the characters involved, the author is of Greek origins too and it makes it all even more insightful and culturally intriguing...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant book about two great personalities whose star-crossed love ignited scandal. Although the author's work has been discounted, particularly on Callas's Wikipedia page, he seems to have some good sources and tells the story compellingly.

[Emily Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about a soap opera! Talk about domestic violence...on both sides! Those crazy kids!

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, fast read

[Andrew Singletary · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting account of the relationship between Callas and Onassis