This child survived. So the story would never be forgotten.
The true life story of a Greek boy who lived through Nazi occupation, civil war, and immigration — now told through his books.
Let me introduce myself.
You are about to read my life. I would like you to hear it from me first.
A short hello from George.
Personally Hand-Signed by George C. Kakridas
A rare opportunity to own a signed piece of living history.
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Own a Signed Piece of History
Every copy purchased from this site is personally signed by the author. A book, a signature, a piece of living testimony.
What a five-year-old saw when the Nazis came to his village.
A Boy Growing Up Under the Nazi Boot and the Greek Civil War
Second Edition
The German occupation, the hunger, and the civil war that came after it. Nine years of war in my village near Sparta, as I lived them. Years later, in 1956, I left for America.
Read it in English, give it in Greek, or listen to it.
Or listen on Spotify and Google Play
From a Greek village to the American Dream.
A Journey from Darkness to Sunlight
First Edition
Louisville in 1956, when I could not understand a word the pilot said. Boston. The Air Force. Katie. A company I started with $1,000 of my savings. The life I built in America.
Coming soon.
A Little Boy's Legacy
A Memoir of Survival, Faith, and the American Dream
A Little Boy's Legacy continues the journey of the little boy who survived war, hardship, and uncertainty in Greece and was given a second chance in America. It is about the life that followed: the lessons I learned, the people I loved, and the legacy I hope to leave for my children, grandchildren, and future generations.
Not Sure Where to Begin?
People ask me this at every book signing. Which one should I read first? My answer depends on who is asking.
If you want to know what war does to a child
Start with A Boy Growing Up Under the Nazi Boot and the Greek Civil War. I was five years old when the German trucks rolled into our village square. This book is the nine years that followed. The occupation, the hunger, and the civil war that came after it. It is the hardest book I have written. I left for America years later, in 1956, and that is where the second book begins.
Get the signed copyIf you want to know how a village boy built a life in America
Start with A Journey from Darkness to Sunlight. It begins in Vresthena, but most of it happens here. Landing in Louisville in 1956, when the pilot spoke and I could not understand a word. Boston. Basic training at Lackland with a sergeant I will never forget. Meeting Katie. Starting my own company with $1,000 of my savings. If you came to this country yourself, or your parents did, you will recognize a lot of this book.
Get the signed copyIf you are buying for someone who reads Greek
Choose the Greek edition, Μεγαλώνοντας κάτω από την Μπότα των Ναζί και τον Ελληνικό Εμφύλιο. It is my story in the language I spoke as a boy. It makes a good gift for a mother, a father or a grandparent who remembers those years.
Get the Greek editionWhichever one you choose, I sign it myself. Tell me who it is for, and I will write their name in it.
Also by George C. Kakridas
Tales of Life's Journey
A different kind of book. It is made of short stories, each one a moment from my life. My cousin's wedding in Vresthena in May 1945. Saying goodbye to my family. My Air Force years at Brize Norton in England. A round of golf in crocodile territory. Some will make you smile. Some will stay with you. You can open it on any page.
Invaders and Conquerors: Who Are the Barbarians?
Invaders and Conquerors: Who Are the Barbarians? grew from a question I asked my mother as a little boy during the war: "Who are these barbarians?" That question stayed with me throughout my life. In this book, I look back through history at the invaders and conquerors who came before us and explore what their actions can teach us about war, power, civilization, and humanity.
Tell me when it is readyWatch the trailer.
Praised by Literary Critics
A remarkable work that sheds light on the inhumane reality of the German occupation and the human endurance tested under extreme violence and deprivation.
Renowned Book Critic &
Author of Over 100 Books
A compelling work that effectively bridges the personal and historical, creating a strong emotional impact. A significant contribution to historical literature.
Book Critic, Publisher
& Author
Offering both knowledge and a deep emotional connection with the reader. A must-read for those interested in an honest depiction of history through the eyes of a child.
Author & Literary
Commentator
