AUTHOR'S PREFACE

SINCE Athelstan Riley's Mountain of the Monks no book has appeared in English dealing with the subject of Athos in general, though much has been published, both here and abroad, on special points. There seems room therefore for a book of moderate price, an important consideration in the case of so unique a subject.

The present volume is intended to serve, first, as an introduction to Athos for the general reader, for whose benefit I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to keep Greek words out of the text, and, secondly, as a guide to visitors on the spot. The bibliography given at the end of the book is some index of my indebtedness, especially on the historical side, to the labours of others.

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