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Landscapes of Western Crete by Jonnie Godfrey and Elizabeth Karslake (Sunflower Books) has very little of the information dealt with in Lonely Planet's "Crete" and concentrates instead on tours (by car) and walks (around 30 of them) in West Crete. The descriptions are accurate, the photos are very nice.
Great book if you want to walk. They also have a book on East Crete in the same series.
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Crete - The White Mountains by Loraine Wilson (Cicerone Press) has just been published and is a must for anyone planning to walk in the White Mountains. This book contains far more information on walks in and around the White Mountains than all the other books put together. Some walks are not covered, such as the gorges of Tripiti, Klados and Eligas or the mountain route from Omalos to Agia Roumeli and I find that it is the responsible thing to do as they are too difficult. You will find most of the rest.
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Lonely Planet's "Crete" by Jeanne Oliver has a very comprehensive general information section with over 100 pages of advice and information. The rest of the book is divided into 4 geographical sections and I found those pretty good too, with good maps and a wealth of information. Of course, in a book presenting Crete in around 250 pages there is a limit to the depth of information. Don't forget that I am comparing this to Fohrer's "Kreta" which has 700 pages.
The book was published in April 2000 so the information is up-to-date and on the whole pretty accurate.
I also noticed with pleasure that the spine of the book is stitched and not glued. A nice touch of quality and important in Crete where books subjected to the sun and heat tend to fall apart really quickly. Buy this book from Amazon
Rough Guide. Positioned on one of the world's premier shipping routes, Crete could support itself without tourism. But lucky for us, the island has long welcomed travellers. Whatever it is you're looking for, this updated fifth edition covers it, from the popular seaside resorts to the remote mountain villages and secluded, unspoiled beaches, all presented with Rough Guides' mix of savvy travel reporting and eye for value.
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"Crete The Battle and the Resistance"
This book recounts the fall of Greece, the invasion of Crete by the Germans and the Resistance. The book is based on interviews with both the Allies and the Germans who took part. It gives insights into the invasion from the air and explains how Ultra intelligence played a key role. It also reveals how General Freyberg actually misinterpreted German coded messages to devastating effects.
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"The Cretan Runner: His Story of the German Occupation
George Psychoundakis, Patrick Leigh Fermor (Introduction)"
An account of the Resistance in Crete during the German occupation in World War II, written by an active participant. Psychoundakis was part of a group of Cretans who tried to keep up morale and endangered themselves by acting as intermediaries between groups of British on the island.
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"The fall of Crete" by Alan Clark
Another book about the fall of Crete during the invasion of the German army on 1941.
Synopsis
The epic story of one of the most bitter and dramatic battles fought between German and Allied forces during the whole of the Second World War. The decisive action took place within five days, and twice its outcome hung in the balance. By the third day, the number of German dead exceeded their losses in all other theatres since the outbreak of hostilities. The German parachutists were confined for supply and reinforcements to a single airstrip at Maleme, yet on this one foothold they managed to land over eight thousand men, who defeated an Allied army nearly five times as numerous. With its vivid and compelling description of the battle for Crete, Clark confirmed his reputation as a military historian first recognised with The Donkeys, his account of the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1914.
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Some other also interesting books about Crete is the masterpiece of “Zorbas the Greek” by the Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis . Portrait of a modern hero whose capacity to live each moment to its fullest is revealed in a series of adventures in Crete.
50 Worthwhile walks along the coasts and in the mountains of Western Crete, including Northwest, Southwest, the White Mountains, Ida massif and Gavdos. With exact route descriptions, very clear walking maps 1:50.000/ 1:100.000 and numerous tips for places of interest and excursions. This book comes with a protective coating from the outside and has the ideal size for taking it with you on a trip. With many beautiful and unique pictures.
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