Half an Hour & Other Poems

Poetry. Gay and Lesbian Studies. Translated from the Greek by George Economou. "C.P. Cavafy lived simultaneously in two worlds and refused to choose between them in terms of language, ethnicity, society, culture, or history. His poetry continues to inspire new translations because the Alexandrian writer, who reveled in ambiguity and undecidability, was a master of double meaning. George Economou can capture this unique artistic and moral tension, since he too has retained many double identities: he is both Greek and American, he knows both Greek and English, he is a poet and painter, scholar and translator, teacher and editor, student of both ancient and modern literature. Drawing on his own dualities, Economou fashions a series of intricate translations that keep all the double binds of the Greek original alive. Readers will feel compelled to return to them often"--Vassilis Lambropoulos, C.P. Cavafy Professor of Modern Greek, University of Michigan. With illustrations by Sissy Chrysochoou, Margarita Gelada, Eleana Haviaras, and Aliki Moutousi.