Greece is the Word

La Jolla resident Pauline Hager has embraced her Greek roots by writing the historical epic novel Giorgi's Greek Tragedy, describing the struggle for independence, the Greek culture and family dynamics.

Working from her home atop La Jolla's Mt. Soledad, Hager has written several books over the years. Her passion for writing developed early.

"From first grade on, I was an avid reader," says Hager. "I read every Nancy Drew mystery book and was so captivated with her stories that I decided I wanted to be a writer also. I wrote several short mystery stories. Of course, nothing came of them, but the seed was planted in my head. Years later, my first book, Memoirs of an American Housewife in Japan, was a memoir of my experience living in Japan for over two years during the `90s."

Giorgi's Greek Tragedy takes place in the early 1800s during the Greek war of independence from the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire subjugated Greece, along with other Balkan countries, for more than 400 years, which impoverished Greece. After World War II, Greece descended into a civil war between its military junta and the communists. Today, the country continues to struggle, politically and economically.

Hager felt compelled to enlighten the American public about the history of modern Greece and the factors that led to the battle against the Ottoman Turks. With this book, Hager has successfully combined her dual passion for writing and Greek history. Cul+V