Zorba's Parthenon.
A Taverna by the Sea
Published on 10. November 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
376 pages
978-1-916574-27-4 (ISBN)
Description
In the sleepy Greek fishing village of Telios, life moves at its own pace, somewhere between "mañana" and "maybe next month." But when the village's beloved taverna is forced to close under a ludicrous new "Five-Metre Rule," peace by the sea suddenly becomes a battle for the soul of the community.
Peter Barber and his gloriously Greek wife, Alex, came to Telios in search of tranquillity and found everything but. At the heart of their adopted village stood Zorba's Taverna. A ramshackle haven of gossip, grilled sardines, and arguments that always ended with laughter (and too much tsipouro). When bureaucracy shutters its doors, Alex leads a hilariously improbable mission to reopen it as a cooperative, recruiting an unforgettable cast: Theodora the matriarch, Dimitri the philosopher-fisherman, Maria the gossip oracle, Claude the poetic Frenchman, and one mischievous goat with a sense of entitlement.
As the villagers rally, bicker, and bake their way through inspections, storms, and each other, Zorba's Parthenon becomes a love letter to Greece itself, a place where everything works, just not the way you expect.
Blending memoir and comic fiction, Peter Barber's latest book captures the heart, humour, and humanity of Greek village life: its beauty, its madness, and the impossible charm that keeps you coming back.
If it didn't happen this way, it should have.
More details
Person
Peter Barber is an award-winning author with a passion for Greece and a gift for capturing its humour, heart, and glorious chaos. A British native who traded England's grey drizzle for Greece's sun-soaked unpredictability, Peter has built a devoted readership through his warm, funny, and sharply observed storytelling. His books include A Parthenon on Our Roof, A Parthenon in Pefki, The Parthenon Paradox, and the hit new Zorba series-Zorba's Parthenon, Zorba's Taverna, and the soon-to-be-released Zorba's Embrace.Peter's Greek journey began when he married Alex, his fiery and fiercely independent Greek wife, who took it upon herself to transform him from a polite, rule-driven Englishman into a more heroic (and far less composed) version of himself. Immersed in Alex's warm, loud, and wonderfully expressive family, Peter discovered a world where emotions are lived out loud, laughter is plentiful, and nothing happens quietly.Inspired by the charm and everyday madness of Greek life, Peter began writing to capture his experiences before they blended into routine. His first memoir quickly won readers over with its humour and honesty, proving that while cultures differ, the things that connect us-love, laughter, family-are universal.Peter's books continue to serve as affectionate love letters to Greece. Whether navigating village bureaucracy, surviving passionate family debates, or observing the unpredictable rhythm of life in a small seaside village, his stories celebrate resilience, community, and the art of finding humour in life's surprises.His latest memoir, The Parthenon Paradox, is his most personal yet, chronicling the aftermath of a devastating flood that destroyed his home and the journey to rebuild with humour and hope. Meanwhile, his fast-growing Zorba series introduces readers to the fictional village of Pefki, blending truth and storytelling in the spirit of "if it didn't happen this way, it should have."Peter divides his time between Greece and the UK, continually inspired by the beauty and absurdity of both worlds. Through his books, he invites readers to experience the warmth, comedy, and irresistible spirit of Greece-no passport required.