Almost 80 people attended the launch of a new historical novel, 1453: Constantinople & the Immortal Rulers, at Hellenic Art Theatre on Thursday night.
Hosted by Eleni Eleftherias from the Greek Bilingual Bookshop, the book was launched by historian, Leonard Janiszewski. The book was accompanied by a sneak peak of the new documentary, Magna Graecia: the Greko of Calabria, and a music performance by Marina Thiveos and Paul Hofstetter.
“I am grateful to Leonard. He is the foremost leader, along with his wife, Effie Alexakis, on documenting Greek Australian history. To have provide his thoughts and opinion of the book, was a real honour. He someone I look up to, and its great to hear what he had to say,” Billy Cotsis told The Greek Herald.
The book covers the final weeks of Greek rule of Constantinople, told through a series of real participants, humour and drama.
“Hopefully, people will see how hard this struggle was. The emperor, Constantine Palaiologos, led 8,000 defenders vs 120,000 well equipped attackers led by Sultan Mehmet. There were many turning points, heartbreak, battles and intrigue,” Cotsis said.
The organisers were grateful to Hellenic Art Theatre for their support, as they prepare for a new theatrical.
Capping off a busy week, on Monday at 9 pm, his docuseries, An Olive Tale: Journey through Italy and Greece will play on Foxtel Aurora 173 and earlier at 8 pm, Meraki Tv, where he is a presenter, will also play the same docuseries.
*1453: Constantinople & the Immortal Rulers, is available at the Greek Bilingual Bookshop, Amazon, Kindle, Kingsgrove and Belmore newsagents.
