A breath-taking account of personal experiences and memories of a 13-year-old boy who lived the hardships and almost daily atrocities of a full-scale war in Crete -- 1943, 1944. Harsh winters, depleted farmland and an entirely collapsed economy led the whole island to utmost poverty. Living, however, in a healthy society and a family with strong ties kept the writer physically and morally sound, and even helped him to maintain some humour and optimism. This social environment also enabled him to develop crystal-clear judgement on events and the people involved in this tragedy, without resentment or prejudice.