Around the Lagoon: Reminiscenses to a Friend (Romiosyni) (Greek and English Edition) by Alexandros Papadiamandis

by Alexandros Papadiamantis

Bilingual, in English and in Greek. One of Papadiamandis's most finely crafted and densely written stories. Unusually, it is written in the second person and addressed to a 'friend', who can be seen as the narrator''s younger self. The narrator evokes his childhood experiences of unrequited love and betrayed friendship amid an idyllic natural setting. The lagoon around which the story is set is situated to the east of Skiathos town and is separated from the bay by a strip of land, some of which is still occupied by the boatyard thar Papadiamandis describes.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Alexandros Papadiamantis (Greek: Αλέξανδρος Παπαδιαμάντης) was an influential Greek novelist and short-story writer.
He was born in Greece, on the island of Skiathos, in the western part of the Aegean Sea. The island would figure prominently in his work. His father was a priest. He moved to Athens as a young man to complete his high school studies, and enrolled in the philosophy faculty of Athens University, but never completed his studies.
He returned to his native island in later life, and died there. He supported himself by writing throughout his adult life, anything from journalism and short stories to several serialized novels. From a certain point onwards he had become very popular, and newspapers and magazines vied for his writings, offering him substantial fees. Papadiamantis did not care for money, and would often ask for lower fees if he thought they were unfairly high; furthermore he spent his money carelessly and took no care of his clothing and appearance. He never married, and was known to be a recluse, whose only true cares were observing and writing about the life of the poor, and chanting at church: he was referred to as "kosmokalogeros" (κοσμοκαλόγερος, "a monk in the world"). He died of pneumonia.

Reviews

[AMLAS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une simplicité désarmante révèle un mode de vie qui a disparu mais aussi l’universalité des expériences humaines. J’ai adoré. Cet auteur est extrêmement moderne et franc dans ses analyses.

[Maria Moutafi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Οι χαλασοχώρηδες, πολιτική σάτιρα για τα εκλογικά ήθη! Το ξεχώρισα ανάμεσα στα άλλα διηγήματα, όλα γραμμένα στην καθαρεύουσα πίσω στο 1892… Απερίγραπτος και μοναδικός ο Παπαδιαμάντης αναφέρει χαρακτηριστικά για έναν ήρωα του :'Αν εξελεγετο βουλευτής θα είχε τη μερίδα του λέοντος . Από τώρα είχε αρχίσει να συνεταιρίζεται κρυφά με τους εργολάβους. Κατά την πρώτην βουλευτειαν του ολόκληρο δάσος το είχε κάνει ιδικον του, δικαιώματι κατακτήσεως. Με τον έφορον, τον οποίον είχε φέρει εις την επαρχίαν του, είχε προεξηγηθεί σαφέστατα: θα σε διορισω αλλά φόρο δεν θα βεβαιώσεις από την ξύλευση του δάσους! Έπειτα ήτο ο λιμήν, αυτός ο λιμήν! ...' Βρείτε το και δώστε του τον χρόνο που του αξίζει!

[Nektaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Η αθωότητα της παιδικής ηλικίας και η ζωή στις μικρές κοινωνίες του παρελθόντος με τη γλυκύτητα των περιγραφών του Παπαδιαμάντη. Ειδικά το "Ολόγυρα στη Λίμνη" ήταν ό,τι καλύτερο