Tasos Leivaditis: Poet of Revolutions and Sunsets

Tasos Leivaditis: Poet of Revolutions and Sunsets

Tasos Leivaditis (1922-88) is one of the greats of modern Greek literature. He was born and raised in Athens, taking an interest in both poetry and politics from a young age. He joined the communist-led resistance in WWII, but with the escalation of the civil war in 1948 he was arrested and detained on island prison camps in the Aegean, including the barbarous Makronisos. He was released late in 1951, and soon after made his poetic debut, giving vivid expression to the horrors of war and the yearning for justice and peace. He went on to work as a literary critic while also producing a rich poetic oeuvre that would win him critical and popular renown in Greece.

This seminar will provide an overview of Leivaditis’ life as well as an introduction to his major works.

BIO

Dr Nick Trakakis teaches philosophy at the Australian Catholic University, and also writes and translates poetry. His translations of Tasos Leivaditis’ work include “The Blind Man with the Lamp” (Denise Harvey Publications, 2014), “Violets for a Season” (Red Dragonfly Press, 2017), “Autumn Manuscripts” (Smokestack Books, 2020, joint winner of the NSW Premier’s Translation Prize), and “Night Visitor” (Human Side Press, 2023).

SPONSOR: Hellenic Writers' Association of Australia