Leonidas the Great

This is a tribute to a man who was the author's neighbour for many years. The author has named him Leonidas the Great for this book. That was not his real name, but it suits him well and expresses what an unusual and very special person he was. Leonidas was not particularly attractive; he looked like a typical Greek, even though he was not one. He was neither loud nor domineering, but he had a natural authority and spoke in a soft voice. He came from somewhere in the Mediterranean region. He seemed to have enjoyed a first-class education and culture, which in turn was certainly an expression of his high social standing. His fate, which the author was able to share at times, did not always seem to have been very happy, even if it appeared otherwise. He actually had everything one could wish for, he was intelligent and apparently he was also wealthy. Why he chose Germany in particular to settle down here – no one knows. He did not find happiness here. However, this book could serve as a warning to any young person considering moving to a country where superficiality is the main concern of society. This book could also serve those who have retained their faith in the culture of their fathers, which is widespread in Northern Europe, and their critical thinking.