Essential Cavafy

by Constantinos P. Cavafy, Edmund Keeley

Cavafy's mythical world presents us with an image of the good life--the life of exquisite sensuality, refined tastes, and mixed faiths--that more often than not carries within it the ripening prospect of its own death; yet in his work there appears to be no other life more worthy of celebration.... As ironist and realist, his vision is readily translatable into the language of contemporary experience; and the commitment to hedonism, to political skepticism, and to honest self-awareness... anticipates the prevailing aura of our times.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Constantine P. Cavafy (also known as Konstantin or Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis, or Kavaphes; Greek Κ.Π. Καβάφης) was a major Greek poet who worked as a journalist and civil servant. His consciously individual style earned him a place among the most important figures not only in Greek poetry, but in Western poetry as well. He has been called a skeptic and a neo-pagan. In his poetry he examines critically some aspects of Christianity, patriotism, and homosexuality, though he was not always comfortable with his role as a nonconformist. He published 154 poems; dozens more remained incomplete or in sketch form. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday.

Reviews

[ChrisM · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short collection of well-translated poems by Cavafy, though a few essential ones are missing from this volume.

[MaKayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

the first section is stronger than the rest, not my favorite style

[Wendy]

Referenced in Margaux With an X by Ron Koertge