Giorgos Seferis: The Nobel Prize-winning poet

·

By Victoria Loutas

Giorgos Seferis was the first Greek poet to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. We take a look back at his incredible life.

Early Life:

Seferis was born in 1900 in Smyrna Greece. He attended school in Smyrna before his family settled in Athens in 1914 to escape the devastation of World War 1. 

His family later moved to Paris in 1918, where Seferis would go on to study Law at the University of Paris and discover his passion for literature. 

Literature work:

In 1926, Seferis was appointed Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, a role in which he served until 1931, when he was appointed to the Greek Consulate in London. He later held post in Albania from 1936 to 1938.

His international travels and connection to Greece were the inspiration for much of Seferis’ writing, which is filled with themes of isolation, wandering and death. 

He began writing his early poetry in 1931, which consisted of Strophe (turning point). His mature poetry explores the sense of awareness, particularly of Greece’s great past. 

Photo: Greek News Agenda

In addition to writing poetry, Seferis published a book of essays (Dokimes) in 1961. He also published a collection of his work and translations of works by T.S Eliot and other French, English and American poets entitled Antigrafes (copies) in 1965. 

In 1963, Seferis was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, demonstrating the impact and success of his poetic career. 

Death and Legacy:

In 1969, Seferis publicly took a stand against the Dictatorship of the Colonels in Greece. His funeral, on September 20, 1971 was turned into a mass demonstration against the military government. 

Seferis’ contributions to diplomacy and to the art of literature will always be remembered and cherished.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Suspected ISIS member stuck at Greece-Turkey border, deported to USA

An American man suspected of being a member of the Islamic State group is being repatriated to the United States after spending three days...

Greek PM praises Onassis Foundation’s large donation to fund model public schools

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the Onassis Foundation’s 160 million euro donation to establish 22 model public schools.

Greek PM claims infection jump ‘not linked’ to tourism reopening

"The main source for the spread was the entertainment of young people," the Greek Prime Minister claims.