Konstantinos Kavafis Libri

"A Greek gentleman in a straw hat, standing absolutely motionless at a slight angle to the universe." E. M. Forster's famous description of C. P. Cavafy--the most widely known and best loved modern Greek poet--perfectly captures the unique perspective Cavafy brought to bear on history and geography, sexuality and language. Cavafy wrote about people on the periphery, whose religious, ethnic and cultural identities are blurred, and he was one of the pioneers in expressing a specifically homosexual sensibility. His poems present brief and vivid evocations of historical scenes and sensual moments, often infused with his distinctive sense of irony. They have established him as one of the most important poets of the twentieth century. The only bilingual edition of Cavafy's collected poems currently available, this volume presents the most authentic Greek text of every poem he ever published, together with a new English translation that beautifully conveys the accent and rhythm of Cavafy's individual tone of voice. In addition, the volume includes an extensive introduction by Peter Mackridge, explanatory notes that gloss Greek historical names and events alluded to in the poems, a chronological list of the poems, and indexes of Greek and English titles. - Publisher

Cavafy is by far the most translated and most well-known Greek poet internationally. His work exists in multiple translations in a wide range of languages and major 20th-century poets as diverse as Auden, Brecht, Brodsky, Durrell, Milosz and Montale have all paid tribute to Cavafy, either by writing poems in the style of Cavafy, or by openly admitting their debt to his poetry in their own work. Whether his subject matter is historical, philosophical or sensual, Cavafys unique poetic voice is always recognizable by its ironical, suave, witty, world-weary and aesthetic tones. It is a voice which lends itself to translation. Indeed, translations of Cavafys poetry are the best possible counter to the often quoted platitude that poetry is what is lost in translation. Cavafys is a poetry that not only survives but actually thrives in translation.

The description for this book, C.P. Cavafy: Collected Poems, will be forthcoming.

První český knižní výbor z díla řeckého básníka. Básně jsou doplněny o oddíl Básník o sobě, a o Záznamy a listy z deníku.

Der griechische Dichter Konstantinos Kavafis (1863-1933) gehort zu den grossen europaischen Lyrikern seiner Generation. Hier werden in deutscher Ubersetzung und im griechischen Urtext 159 seiner Gedichte vorgestellt. Die Thematik umfasst Lebensphilosophisches, oft auch homoerotisch Gepragtes. Zahlreiche dieser Gedichte schopfen aus historischen und literarischen Quellen, insbesondere der Antike und der byzantinischen Epoche. Dieser Hintergrund wird zum besseren Verstandnis als Kommentar den betreffenden Gedichten an die Seite gestellt. In direktem Bezug zu diesen 'historischen' Gedichten stehen die Abbildungen von antiken Munzen mit Herrscherportrats und mythologischen Symbolen. Einige Gedichte werden von Abbildungen antiker Kunstwerke begleitet, welche die Realitat dichterischer Motive verdeutlichen.Fur die erste Auflage dieses Buches wurde dem Autor im Februar 2005 vom griechischen Kultusministerium der Preis fur die "beste Ubersetzung eines Werkes der neugriechischen Literatur in eine fremde Sprache" verliehen.

Výber z poézie Konstantina Kavafisa usporiadaný do troch častí: 1. Môj svet (úvahy, dojmy a názory), 2. Nárek nesmrteľných koní (pohľady na dejinné udalosti a postavy), 3. Tiene mojich lások (erotické ideály, sny a vidiny).