1,5 million copies of his book have been sold only in Great Britain. Since 1992, it has been translated in many languages, such as French, Italian and Greek. The topic of the book: passion between a  young Greek woman, Pelagia, girl of a notable patriot, forsaken by his lover, Mandras, who left her to join the resistance, and Antonio, an Italian artillery captain, a charmer and musician of the troops of occupation. In the background there are the tragic events of 1943, when in September the Italian troops must face the German invasion. Thereafter Corelli decides to return to Italy to continue the fight. The two principal protagonists will meet again many years later, resulting in a painful " happy end ". The ingredients of the book, a traditional novel of adventure, were hatred, love, treachery and death wich make the readers hold their breath until the end.

John Madden's film

The Anglo-French-American production (Miramax - Canal+ - Universal *) ensured during the two years of prospection in Cephalonia that they wouldn't repeat the errors of the book about the civil war to spare local susceptibilities. It should be recognized that apart from some actors American or English (John Hurt and Christian Bale in the roles of Dr. Yannis and Mandras, respectively father and fiancé of Pelagia, David Morrissey as the German captain, Gunther) a certain effort was made in the distribution of second roles to Greeks (Irene Papas as Pelagia's mother) or even to Italians (see below). Moreover the script was entrusted to a person who nobody could suspect of " primary anticommunism ": Shawn Slovo, Ruth First's daughter, a militant of the anti-appartheid movement assassinated and of Joe Slovo, a communist and leader of the A.N.C.

 The film would originally be directed by the director of " Notting Hill ", Roger Michel, but this one left his place to John Madden (author of the polyoscarized " Shakespeare in love ") for reasons of health (heart attack). It should be known that American logic is completely different from that which prevails in Europe: the production makes scriptwriters work scenario on a project (often a novel, sometimes a " remake ", whose the rights has bought wich means that practically aeverything can change in the script) and then it contacts a director and searches for the financining (in this case 70 million dollars).

" Captain Corelli' s Mandolin " was filmed in the area of Sami, primarily for reasons of logistics: the port of Sami is one of the main ones on the island and it is easier to bring heavy hardware there. The old town of Argostoli was reconstructed in the downtown area as it was before the earthquake. In fact factitious frontages covered the real houses. All the decorations have been dismounted since then. The scenes of the German attack were mainly shot at the area of Antisamos, not far from Sami, as well  at Myrtos. Hundreds of people (local or Greek soldiers) carried the German or Italian uniform. The Greek government provided men with explosives, experts and barges of disembarkation for the occasion.