The Greek Independence

Captain Julian Blatchley SpeakerNet Sponsor


Region:
North West
Notice Period:
Regular (more than one month's notice)
Type:
Humorous presentations on Sailing, Professional Marine, modern Greek and Historical subjects
Fee:
Paid: Contact to discuss. I will reduce fee if allowed to sell my books at the event.
Category:
History
Updated:
3rd April 2024

The Western World has an awareness of the Ottoman dominance over Greece, but how long did it last? What was it like? And how did it end? Do its effects linger into the present day? The speaker lived over three decades in Greece, and has been fascinated by this subject for every one of those years. Hear about life in Greece under Ottoman rule, and how independence came about. The talk includes some myth-busting and many character sketches of some remarkably colourful protagonists, Greek, Ottoman and foreign. It is a whimsical story of paradoxes, at times incredible, full of passion, at once opportunistic and principled, bloodthirsty and pragmatical, diplomatic and reckless. The talk lasts about 1 hour (longer if you wish) and the speaker is happy to answer questions or debate afterwards.

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About Captain Julian Blatchley

Julian is a professional seaman and latterly an author of humorous travelogues. Raised next to Windermere in the English Lake District, he has sailed recreationally for almost 5 decades, and as a professional seaman for 4. His career has included commanding and piloting supertankers, over a hundred and fifty thousand miles of ocean and offshore sailing, several years as a charter yacht skipper, oilfield management and a very short and alarming period fighting bush fires. He has lived in the Far East, Pacific Islands and, for 30 years, in the Greek Islands. In 2014 Julian moved back to England with his family, and is loving being home. Since March 2019, he has been manager and master of the National Trust's historic steam yacht 'Gondola' on beautiful Coniston Water

Julian has recorded his early experiences in Greece in two humorous travelogue novels, 'Adjacent To The Argonauts' (Troubador, 2010) and 'The Trojan Walrus' (Troubador, 2015). These books have, respectively, 4.8 and 5.0 star ratings on Amazon.

Julian has a fascination with history, and in particular with historical subjects that he feels have been misunderstood or misrepresented. He is a fan of Captain William Bligh, a deep sceptic about the evil portrayal of Richard III, an unhealthy interest in Lake District Norsemen, and a mitigating advocate for Field Marshall Earl Haig. Following on from these historical interests, he is shortly publishing his first novel, 'Ne'er Do Well', which is a humorous tale of a feckless young man's accidental involvement in the War of the French Revolution and the start of a trilogy.

Following on from talks given to expat groups when living abroad, Julian is now available to speak in the UK on subjects such as life at sea on large tankers, the life of a yacht charter skipper, Greek history, lifestyle and cuisine, the fact and fiction of famous shipwrecks, and Steam Yacht 'Gondola'.


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