Eleni (book)

Eleni is a book by Nicholas Gage, centered around his early family life in Lia, Epirus, Greece and especially the execution of his mother, Eleni Gatzoyianni, during the Greek Civil War.

"Eleni", has been translated into 32 languages and was awarded first prize by the Royal Society of Literature of Great Britain and was nominated in the category of best biography by the National Book Critic's Circle. In 1985, it was made into a feature film starring John Malkovich as Gage.

The book drew criticism from leftist circles in Greece for its vivid portrayal of Communist guerrilas as cold-blooded killers and its description of the "paidomazoma" (taking of children from their parents and exportation to the Eastern bloc nations).