A Dream of Kings

by Harry Mark Petrakis

Tells the story of Leonidas Matsoukas, a Greek immigrant with a passion for gambling, who wants to outhustle Chicago during the 1960's

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction

180 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1990

Reviews

[Petro Kacur · Rating 3 out of 5]

How did it take me this long to find Harry Mark Petrakis? This story of a Greek-American in post war Chicago was a punch in the gut. The lovable but self-defeating Matsoukis is a giant character full of contradictions and energy. He hopes to take his young epileptic son back to his homeland in Crete to cure him with the radiant light of Greece. But he is sidetracked by gambling and poor decisions. Petrakis's strong, direct prose is reminiscent of John Fante and Isaac Bashevis Singer both of whom also wrote tales of the American dream as experienced by immigrants in urban working-class settings. And also a touch of Charles Bukowski. Matsoukis is the Greek-American Zorba. Not surprisingly played by Anthony Quinn in a movie version that I've never seen. Petrakis should be far better known...

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matsoukas is a passionate man living a big life in a small world. He is a Greek immigrant whose greatest desire is to return to his sunny homeland with his seriously ill young son. He is married to a woman who hates him, lives with a mother-in-law who really hates him, has a couple of invisible daughters, and there's the boy, Stavros, whom he dotes on. Matsoukas' job - he is sort of a neighborhood consultant but he spends most of his time lusting after the widow who works in the bakery across from his office. He drinks, he gambles, he lusts, he borrows money, he is rarely at home for his family, and occasionally he does a little neighborhood consulting. But how is this man with no money going to afford airfare back to his sunny Greece?

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine story, one that reminded me of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s Enemies: A Love Story, Budd Schulberg’s Run Sammy Run, and even Nelson Algren’s The Man With the Golden Arm. The language is a bit overwrought at times, especially the dialogue, and though the ambiguous ending strives for a hopeful tone, it’s hard to imagine Matsoukas and his son ending up well. But those are just quibbles. Good book from one of Chicago’s best and forgotten writers.

[George H Bonoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petraeus is a master

The first time I read a dream of kings was in the 1960,s. I returned to it some 50 years later. I still am shocked by his skill and power. 50 years ago I recommend it to my family and friends. Now I recommend to to all who want to be moved an awed.

[Anthony Jonas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed and related to the context of a Greek man living in Chicago, but had trouble following along with the plot and change from one scene to another. There seemed to be a lot going on without transitions from setting to setting.

[Ted Georgas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing story from the first page right until the last sentence. Fantastic writing. One of my favorite books.