Utah Historical Quarterly reviews
Philip F. Notarianni, Utah State Historical Society
Helen Papanikolas is truly a precious gift to Utah history. As the recognized dean of ethnic and cultural historians in the state, she continues to blend keen historical insights, documentation, and understanding with an incredible command of the English language. The rhythms and tones of Greek culture (Romlosini) resonate loudly in this her current work, clearly succeeding in illustrating “the humanity of these early immigrants who helped build America.” Her remarkable use of oral history captures the essence of each immigrant, who “had come from a great oral tradition”. The author also describes how Greek mothers pinned amulets to their sons‘ shirts, having enclosed in them “a piece of holy scripture or a sliver of the True Cross, a dried basil leaf or thyme for remembrance, a bit of garlic or blue bead to withstand the Evil Eye, and a pinch of Greek earth”. This imagery exemplifies, in microcosm, the story of Greek immigration.
The book is divided into three main sections: “Ancient Lore and Lost Greatness,” “Nationhood and Exile,” and “Americanization.” Each subsection poignantly describes the immigration process: from leaving the places of origin, to the sojourn to America, to the accommodation to life in a new land. For the reader unfamiliar with Greek culture, “Ancient Lore and Lost Greatness” illuminates the vital and critical role of religion, values, and traditions. “The contemporary Greek was born to his religion”. Greeks had “a vital, dramatic folk culture”. For non–Greek readers and historians, these chapters set a tone and framework for understanding a culture rich in folklore and oral tradition.
Part II probes “Nationhood and Exile,” where Helen Papanikolas explains “the Greeks developed Romiosini, an identity in which vestiges of ancient Greece, lost Byzantium, the Great Idea to regain lands taken by the Turks, Orthodoxy, language, and folk culture melded”. The dilemma to adhere to the Classical image of ancient Greece continues to the present day. As young Greeks prepared to venture out of poverty, “the sojourners‘ intangibles of history, faith, and folklore, combined to give them the Romiosini culture they would take with them”. Again, the author‘s use of oral history produces insightful results, skillfully weaving together a tapestry of Greek American history.
Helen Papanikolas uses Part III, “Americanization,” to illustrate the accommodation process of Greeks to life in America. The analysis that “many immigrants became citizens, but they were indelibly Greek at heart”, best exemplifies this point. Greeks were worried about losing their culture—a concern echoed by many contemporary ethnic and immigrant groups in Utah. World War II signified the end of the immigrant era. The younger generation was “veering away” from their culture. Tensions arose between new and old Greek immigrants. Thus, Papanikolas points to internal conflicts that aid the reader's understanding of the totality of the Greek experience.
An Epilogue, “Vestiges of Rorniosini” helps to tie the package together, to complete the image. Here, the author examines how Greek culture is changing in the caldron of time. She maintains that “how Greek Americans relate to the Orthodox Church varies greatly”, and keen observation that, “the loss of language is a more passionate fear the closer a person is to his Greek birth and to the immigration experience”. Here, the pull of Americanization and accommodation proved great.
The book contains a variety of photographs depicting the geographical distribution of experiences, and illustrations that show two and three–dimensional objects important in Greek life. Here, the value of the collection held by Hellenic Culture Center in Salt Lake City becomes evident.
Solid documentation forms the basis of the book‘s analysis, which draws significantly on the author‘s earlier works, In fact, this reader identified specific individuals undoubtedly used in the author‘s first work of fiction, Small Bird, Tell Me. Those interested in immigration and ethnic history, Greek American history, and Utah history will find this volume a must and pleasurable read. Helen Papanikolas documents, educates, and entertains—An Amulet of Greek Earth is worth the time.
Utah Historical Quarterly
