An Introduction to Modern Greek Literature

by Roderick Beaton

This is a fully revised edition of Beaton's acclaimed 1994 introduction to the poetry and fiction published in Greece since national independence since 1821. It is the first full-length study to be devoted to the literature of this period seen as a whole and including developments up to the present day. No knowledge of Greek is assumed and all quotations are given both in Greek and in English.

Genres: Nonfiction, Greece, Poetry

438 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Roderick Macleod Beaton, FBA, FKC (born 1951) is a retired academic. He was Koraes Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature at King's College London from 1988 to 2018.

Reviews

[Elena Sala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great, accessible introduction to the poetry and fiction published in Greek since national independence in 1821. There are very few books on the subject in English or in Spanish so this literary history is a treasure trove for specialists and general readers interested in reading Greek literature.
Beaton highlights those writers and books which have enjoyed some critical or popular acclaim, while establishing a link with their historical context. Mostly, he focuses on texts which have been translated into English. But he focuses on many authors whose work has been translated into Spanish too.
Greek writing can be emotional, visceral, passionate. Of course the perennial themes of love, jealousy and ambition are present, but Greek novelists seem to be preoccupied with the events of history in the last two centuries, and the emotions they evoke. There is a deep sense of history and tradition in Greek literature, an amazing capacity to engage with social issues, and a permanent questioning of what it means to be Greek. Unfortunately, many interesting books have never been translated and many are out of print. However, Beaton provides a bibliographical guide to translations which I think is priceless, a good starting point to explore a new culture.

[Chaido Rizou (Lentza-Rizos) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ουσιαστικά πρόκειται για αξιολογότατο ακαδημαϊκό σύγγραμμα, που με σεβασμό στις επιστημονικές αρχές έρευνας και μελέτης, όπως μαρτυρά το πλήθος των βιβλιογραφικών παραπομπών, διατρέχει και αναλύει τα πεζογραφικά και ποιητικά επιτεύγματα των Ελλήνων λογοτεχνών της περιόδου 1821-1992. Ωστόσο, ο τρόπος γραφής και σχολιασμού, και η εξαιρετική μετάφραση στα ελληνικά, το καθιστά ενδιαφέρον και για το ευρύ αναγνωστικό κοινό και ευκολοδιάβαστο. Άξιο ιδιαίτερης μνείας το τελευταίο κεφάλαιο «Λογοτεχνία και Γλώσσα: Το Γλωσσικό ζήτημα» που ιχνηλατεί τα κυριότερα σημεία στην εξέλιξη της γραπτής ελληνικής γλώσσας κατά τη διάρκεια της περιόδου που καλύπτει το βιβλίο.