The Collected Poems of Odysseus Elytis

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In awarding the 1979 Nobel Prize in literature to Odysseus Elytis, the Swedish Academy recognized his poetry for its sensuous strength and intellectual clarity, depicting modern man's quest for freedom and creativity against the backdrop of Greek tradition. Elytis (1911--1996) remained committed to a vision of poetry that explores the power of language, linking Greece's history and mythology to contemporary realities. His work is celebrated for its lyricism and optimism, capturing Greece's natural beauty while voicing both the contemporary Greek experience and universal human themes. The Collected Poems of Odysseus Elytis, first published in 1997 and translated by Jeffrey Carson and Nikos Sarris, was the first complete collection of his poetry in any language. This landmark volume includes Elytis's early works, influenced by surrealism and nature, his epic poem connecting Greece's Second World War experience to the myth of the eternal hero, and his mature poetry. The expanded edition adds sixty free verse and prose poems from the 1998 posthumous volume From Close By, along with previously omitted song lyrics and a cantata. All translations maintain the elegance and richness of Elytis's lyrical voice.