British philhellene’s former home ready for new life

All of us hope to lead one good life. The fortunate seem to pack enough into their time to live twice over. But Sir Patrick (known in English as "Paddy") Leigh Fermor led three full lives. As a young man he undertook an epic walk from Holland to Istanbul, having adventures, falling in love with penurious countesses, and creating a considerable personal legend.
During the Second World War he was an agent in the Special Operations Executive, aiding the Resistance in the mountains of Crete. And in the post-war years, he become one of the greatest English traveler-writers of the 20th century. Opinions differ about which is his greatest work, but "Mani" (1958) and "Roumeli" (1966) have had the greatest impression on me.

Since his death, Leigh Fermor's life and works continue to expand. Two new volumes of his letters are in print, his account of the kidnap of General Kreipe...