Louis de Bernieres - Captain Corelli's Mandolin: How has Louis de Bernières in the first nine chapters made the reader intimately acquainted with Cephallonia, the people, and the way of life?

After reading the first nine chapters, the reader already feels an intimate connection growing between him, Cephallonia and its people. The island becomes something personal and special that the reader shares with the characters, and that nobody else has. This is accomplished by de Bernières through a variety of narrative techniques. The first few pages of the first chapter introduce us to Dr. Iannis, the local doctor, apparently the only doctor, who is an …

…feels embarrassed just standing outside the door, beckoning for her father to come and mend Mandras' backside. This shows the clear line of distinction drawn between the sexes in Cephallonian life. Through an interesting combination of description by characters, presentation of idiosyncrasies and Cephallonian or Greek peculiarities, through dialogue and behaviour of characters, de Bernières makes the reader feel all warm and fuzzy when in the presence of the villagers and the village itself.