70.00€
A beautiful and collectible seventh edition of Το Άξιον Εστί (To Axion Esti), the celebrated masterpiece of Nobel Prize-winning Greek poet Odysseas Elytis, published in Athens in 1973 by the renowned Ikaros Publishing Company.
First published in 1959, To Axion Esti is widely regarded as Elytis’s magnum opus and one of the defining works of modern Greek literature. An extraordinary synthesis of poetry, spirituality, Greek history and national identity, the work combines lyrical expression with the rhythms and traditions of Byzantine liturgy.
This particular edition is especially appealing for its distinguished artistic presentation, bringing together two major figures of twentieth-century Greek art:
The collaboration between these exceptional artists and one of Greece’s greatest poets makes this edition a particularly attractive example of the relationship between Greek literature and visual art.
Bibliographical Details
Condition
Very good vintage condition. The cover displays minimal, natural age-related toning. The binding is firm, clean and tight. Interior pages are clean and crisp, without writing, significant foxing or highlighting.
A beautifully preserved collectible copy. Please refer to the photographs for a detailed assessment of the condition, as they form an integral part of the description.
About the Author
Odysseas Elytis (1911–1996), born Odysseas Alepoudellis, was one of the most influential figures in modern Greek literature. A poet, essayist, translator and man of letters, he became a leading exponent of romantic modernism, combining surrealist influences with the mythology, history and traditions of Greece.
His poetry celebrates the Mediterranean light, the sun, the Aegean Sea, ancient ruins and the enduring relationship between nature and human existence. His experiences during the Second World War also introduced darker and more contemplative elements into his poetic universe.
His masterpiece, To Axion Esti (1959), remains a landmark of twentieth-century poetry. In 1979, Elytis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his poetic work, which, against the background of Greek tradition, depicts with sensuous strength and intellectual clarity modern man’s struggle for freedom and creativity.
A wonderful opportunity to acquire a significant edition of a landmark work of modern Greek poetry, enriched by the artistic contributions of two masters of twentieth-century Greek art.
