Constantine P. Cavafy: Difference between revisions
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'''Constantine P. Cavafy''', also known as '''Konstantin''' or '''Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis''', or '''Kavaphes''' ([[1863]] - [[1933]]) was a [[Greek]] [[poet]] who is among the 20th century's most important literary figures, though he is relatively little known in the English speaking world. He was instrumental to the revival and recognition of [[Greek]] poetry both at home and abroad. His poems were typically concise but intimate portraits of real or literary individuals and societies that played a role in Greek culture; uncertainty about the future, sensual pleasures, the moral character and psychology of individuals, homosexuality and nostalgia are some of the defining themes. A recluse, he was virtually unknown until late in his life. Besides his subjects, unconventional for the time, his poems also exhibit a skilled and versatile craftsmanship, which is lost in translations. He spent most of his life in [[Alexandria]], [[Egypt]]. |
'''Constantine P. Cavafy''', also known as '''Konstantin''' or '''Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis''', or '''Kavaphes''' ([[1863]] - [[1933]]) was a [[Greek]] [[poet]] who is among the 20th century's most important literary figures, though he is relatively little known in the English speaking world. He was instrumental to the revival and recognition of [[Greek]] poetry both at home and abroad. His poems were typically concise but intimate portraits of real or literary individuals and societies that played a role in Greek culture; uncertainty about the future, sensual pleasures, the moral character and psychology of individuals, homosexuality and nostalgia are some of the defining themes. A recluse, he was virtually unknown until late in his life. Besides his subjects, unconventional for the time, his poems also exhibit a skilled and versatile craftsmanship, which is lost in translations. He spent most of his life in [[Alexandria]], [[Egypt]]. |
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==Bibliography== |
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| ⚫ | The most effective translation of Cavafy into English is [[Rae Dalven]]'s "The Complete Poems of Cavafy", published by Harvest / Harcourt Brace. A later translation by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard, edited by George Savidis, titled "C. P. Cavafy: Collected Poems" is published by Princeton. Robert Liddell's evocative book "Cavafy" is probably the only biography of the poet in English, and a minor masterpiece in the biographical genre. |
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==External Links== |
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Short bio: http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?45442B7C000C050601 |
Short bio: http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?45442B7C000C050601 |
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Article in The New Criterion: http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/12/jan94/epstein.htm |
Article in The New Criterion: http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/12/jan94/epstein.htm |
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| ⚫ | The most effective translation of Cavafy into English is [[Rae Dalven]]'s "The Complete Poems of Cavafy", published by Harvest / Harcourt Brace. A later translation by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard, edited by George Savidis, titled "C. P. Cavafy: Collected Poems" is published by Princeton. Robert Liddell's evocative book "Cavafy" is probably the only biography of the poet in English, and a minor masterpiece in the biographical genre. |
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Revision as of 10:34, 16 June 2004
THIS ARTICLE NEEDS TO BE EDITED.
Constantine P. Cavafy, also known as Konstantin or Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis, or Kavaphes (1863 - 1933) was a Greek poet who is among the 20th century's most important literary figures, though he is relatively little known in the English speaking world. He was instrumental to the revival and recognition of Greek poetry both at home and abroad. His poems were typically concise but intimate portraits of real or literary individuals and societies that played a role in Greek culture; uncertainty about the future, sensual pleasures, the moral character and psychology of individuals, homosexuality and nostalgia are some of the defining themes. A recluse, he was virtually unknown until late in his life. Besides his subjects, unconventional for the time, his poems also exhibit a skilled and versatile craftsmanship, which is lost in translations. He spent most of his life in Alexandria, Egypt.
Bibliography
The most effective translation of Cavafy into English is Rae Dalven's "The Complete Poems of Cavafy", published by Harvest / Harcourt Brace. A later translation by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard, edited by George Savidis, titled "C. P. Cavafy: Collected Poems" is published by Princeton. Robert Liddell's evocative book "Cavafy" is probably the only biography of the poet in English, and a minor masterpiece in the biographical genre.
External Links
Short bio: http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?45442B7C000C050601
Some poems: http://users.hol.gr/~barbanis/cavafy/
Article in The New Criterion: http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/12/jan94/epstein.htm