Griza, Iasi Tafos, Εn to mini Athyr, Etsi poly atenisa: Literary Magazine Grammata

C. P. Cavafy's first publication of the poems:

in the

Literary Magazine

ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ - GRAMMATA - LETTERS (Alexandria)

Volume IV, leaflets 37

Editor & Director Stefanos Pargas

Printed by Kasimatis in Alexandria in 1917

8vo

Pamphlet 37

January-May 1917, p. f+200+f. 2 advertisements

Original Paper Binding

First Edition

Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis (1863 – 1933), known as Constantine P. Cavafy and often published as C. P. Cavafy was a Greek poet, journalist, and civil servant from Alexandria in Egypt. His work, as one translator put it, holds the historical and the erotic in a single embrace. He is known for his prosaic use of metaphors, his brilliant use of historical imagery, and his aesthetic perfectionism. These attributes, amongst others, have assured him an enduring place in the literary pantheon of the Western World.

When you realise that most Cavafy poems were written in the early 20th century, it strikes you how honest some of them are about gay love. When other poets used metaphors and hints, Kavafis (Cavafis) tells it straight (pun intended).

Stefanos Pargas (1888-1938, pen name of Nikos Zelitas) was born and lived in Alexandria (Egypt). He was a member of the Nea Zoi literary society up to 1910. Pargas was the co-founder and principal member of the journal Grammata (1911-1919, 1920-1921), which he published alone during the last two years, and owner of the Grammata publishing house. Subsequently, he founded the journal Panegyptia (1926-1928, 1931-1938), which also published texts against the dictatorship of 4th August 1936 in Greece.