Gregorios Xenopoulos
Encyclopedia
Gregorios Xenopoulos was a novelist, journalist and writer of plays from Zakynthos
. He was lead editor in the now-legendary magazine "The Education of Children" (Η Διάπλασις των Παίδων) during the period from 1896 to 1948, during which time he was also the magazine's main author. His was the trademark signature "Σας ασπάζομαι, Φαίδων" ("yours faithfully, Phaedon)", which he used in letters ostensibly addressed to the magazine. He was also the founder and editor of the Nea Estia magazine, which is still published. He became a member of the Academy of Athens
in 1931, and founded the Society of Greek Writers together with Kostis Palamas
, Angelos Sikelianos
and Nikos Kazantzakis
.
. His father, Dionysios, hailed from Zakynthos and his mother, Evlalia came from Constantinople
. The family moved to Zakynthos soon after, where Gregorios spent his youth until 1883, when he enrolled in the University of Athens to study Physics and Mathematics. He never completed his studies: already in the first year, he had begun writing literature, which was his sole source of income at the time.
In 1892 he moved permanently to Athens
and in 1894 he married Efrosini Diogenidis. They divorced one and a half year later, having already had a daughter. In 1901 he married his second spouse Christine Kanellopoulos, with whom they had two daughters.
He cooperated with several newspapers and magazines, in which he published a lot of studies, articles, short stories and novels. In 1894 he became director in the Illustrated Estia newspaper and in 1896 the chief editor of The Education of the Children. From 1901 to 1912 he published literary works and studies in the Panathinaia, and from 1912 he cooperated with Ethnos
newspaper, writing serialized novels. In 1927 he founded the magazine Nea Estia, whose director he was until 1934.
He died in Athens on 14 January 1951 and was buried at public expense.
: "Ο Άνθρωπος του Κόσμου" ("Human of the world"). This New Athenian writer category novel and his next one, "Nikolas Sigalos" (1890), were not successful. He then was inspired by his place of birth Zakynthos,and as a result he wrote some of his best novels: "Magaret Stefa" (1893), "Kokkinos Vraxos" "Red Rock" (1905). Then he wrote some New Athenian writer category novels: "O polemos" "Ο πόλεμος" "The war" (1914) and "I mistikoi aravones" "Οι Μυστικοί Αρραβώνες", "The secret engagements"(1915) and the Ionian writer category novel "Laura" (1915), which was also one of his best. But his most ambitious work was the trilogy: "Πλούσιοι και φτωχοί" "Rich and poor" (1919), "Τίμιοι και άτιμοι" "Honest and dishonest" (1921), "Τυχεροί και άτυχοι" "Lucky and unlucky "(1924). Other novels are: "Anadiomeni" "Αναδυομένη" (1923), "Isabel" "Ισαβέλλα" (1923), "Teresa Varma-Dakosta" "Τερέζα Βάρμα-Δακόστα" (1925).
He is the rapporteur of urban prose.
), "Fititai".
He wrote 46 different theatrical plays. In 1901 he was in the font line with Kostis Palamas
, in order to establish the theatre "Nea Skini" and because he was fluent in a lot of languages, he was aware of the several important spiritual events that took place in big European countries at that time. In addition, he wrote introductions for Henrik Ibsen
and he was "living" the theatrical acts.
He made a lot of translations and his writing was of high standards. The first act that was played in "The Royal Theatre" of Athens (renamed after renovation in 1932 as National Theatre of Greece
) was his: "O theios Oniros" (Greek: "Ο θείος Όνειρος", means "The Uncle Dream").
Categories of works:
He wrote Dramas και Comedies with the common subject: love. His work is a window to his times Greek Society. His works are categorized by theplace that they were written. Some in Zante and the rest in Athens. It seems that he tries to balance between "The Ionian writers" and "The New Athenian writers" category of writing.
Zakynthian: "Stella Violanti", "Rachil", "Fotini Saranti, "O popolaros" The secret of Contessa Valeriana.
Athenian: "Fititai" (Students), "Psixosavato", "To anthropino".
, Demetrius Vikelas
etc. In 1903 hewas the first to introduce Constantine P. Cavafy
to the Athenian readership.
Zakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
. He was lead editor in the now-legendary magazine "The Education of Children" (Η Διάπλασις των Παίδων) during the period from 1896 to 1948, during which time he was also the magazine's main author. His was the trademark signature "Σας ασπάζομαι, Φαίδων" ("yours faithfully, Phaedon)", which he used in letters ostensibly addressed to the magazine. He was also the founder and editor of the Nea Estia magazine, which is still published. He became a member of the Academy of Athens
Academy of Athens (modern)
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education...
in 1931, and founded the Society of Greek Writers together with Kostis Palamas
Kostis Palamas
Kostis Palamas was a Greek poet who wrote the words to the Olympic Hymn. He was a central figure of the Greek literary generation of the 1880s and one of the cofounders of the so-called New Athenian School along with Georgios Drosinis, Nikos Kampas, Ioanis Polemis.-Biography:Born in Patras, he...
, Angelos Sikelianos
Angelos Sikelianos
Angelos Sikelianos was a Greek lyric poet and playwright. He wrote on national history, religious symbolism, and universal harmony in poems such as The Light-Shadowed, Prologue to Life, Mother of God, and Delphic Utterance...
and Nikos Kazantzakis
Nikos Kazantzakis
Nikos Kazantzakis was a Greek writer and philosopher, celebrated for his novel Zorba the Greek, considered his magnum opus...
.
Life
He was born in 9 December 1867 in ConstantinopleConstantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. His father, Dionysios, hailed from Zakynthos and his mother, Evlalia came from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. The family moved to Zakynthos soon after, where Gregorios spent his youth until 1883, when he enrolled in the University of Athens to study Physics and Mathematics. He never completed his studies: already in the first year, he had begun writing literature, which was his sole source of income at the time.
In 1892 he moved permanently to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and in 1894 he married Efrosini Diogenidis. They divorced one and a half year later, having already had a daughter. In 1901 he married his second spouse Christine Kanellopoulos, with whom they had two daughters.
He cooperated with several newspapers and magazines, in which he published a lot of studies, articles, short stories and novels. In 1894 he became director in the Illustrated Estia newspaper and in 1896 the chief editor of The Education of the Children. From 1901 to 1912 he published literary works and studies in the Panathinaia, and from 1912 he cooperated with Ethnos
Ethnos
Ethnos may refer to:*Ethnic group*Ethnos...
newspaper, writing serialized novels. In 1927 he founded the magazine Nea Estia, whose director he was until 1934.
He died in Athens on 14 January 1951 and was buried at public expense.
Prose
Xenopoulos was a very notable writer. He wrote over 80 novels and stories. He first became known with his novel: "O anthropos tou kosmou" GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: "Ο Άνθρωπος του Κόσμου" ("Human of the world"). This New Athenian writer category novel and his next one, "Nikolas Sigalos" (1890), were not successful. He then was inspired by his place of birth Zakynthos,and as a result he wrote some of his best novels: "Magaret Stefa" (1893), "Kokkinos Vraxos" "Red Rock" (1905). Then he wrote some New Athenian writer category novels: "O polemos" "Ο πόλεμος" "The war" (1914) and "I mistikoi aravones" "Οι Μυστικοί Αρραβώνες", "The secret engagements"(1915) and the Ionian writer category novel "Laura" (1915), which was also one of his best. But his most ambitious work was the trilogy: "Πλούσιοι και φτωχοί" "Rich and poor" (1919), "Τίμιοι και άτιμοι" "Honest and dishonest" (1921), "Τυχεροί και άτυχοι" "Lucky and unlucky "(1924). Other novels are: "Anadiomeni" "Αναδυομένη" (1923), "Isabel" "Ισαβέλλα" (1923), "Teresa Varma-Dakosta" "Τερέζα Βάρμα-Δακόστα" (1925).
He is the rapporteur of urban prose.
Theatrical
His first theatrical play was: "O Psixopateras" (Greek: "Ο ψυχοπατέρας", The lighthearted father), and was presented in 1895. He cooperated with "Nea Skini" (a theatre) of Konstantine Christomanos. His most famous theatrical plays are: "To mustico tis kontessas Valerenas"(The secret of countess Valerena) (1904), η "Stella Violanti" (1909, with Marika KotopouliMarika Kotopouli
-Biography:Kotopouli was born on 3 May 1887 in Athens, to Dimitris and Eleni. Her parents were also actors, and Marika's first stage appearance came during one of their tours, in the play "The Coachman of the Alps"...
), "Fititai".
He wrote 46 different theatrical plays. In 1901 he was in the font line with Kostis Palamas
Kostis Palamas
Kostis Palamas was a Greek poet who wrote the words to the Olympic Hymn. He was a central figure of the Greek literary generation of the 1880s and one of the cofounders of the so-called New Athenian School along with Georgios Drosinis, Nikos Kampas, Ioanis Polemis.-Biography:Born in Patras, he...
, in order to establish the theatre "Nea Skini" and because he was fluent in a lot of languages, he was aware of the several important spiritual events that took place in big European countries at that time. In addition, he wrote introductions for Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
and he was "living" the theatrical acts.
He made a lot of translations and his writing was of high standards. The first act that was played in "The Royal Theatre" of Athens (renamed after renovation in 1932 as National Theatre of Greece
National Theatre of Greece
The National Theatre of Greece is based in Athens, Greece.-History:The theatre was originally founded in 1880 with a grant from King George I and Efstratios Rallis to give theatre a permanent home in Athens...
) was his: "O theios Oniros" (Greek: "Ο θείος Όνειρος", means "The Uncle Dream").
Categories of works:
He wrote Dramas και Comedies with the common subject: love. His work is a window to his times Greek Society. His works are categorized by theplace that they were written. Some in Zante and the rest in Athens. It seems that he tries to balance between "The Ionian writers" and "The New Athenian writers" category of writing.
Zakynthian: "Stella Violanti", "Rachil", "Fotini Saranti, "O popolaros" The secret of Contessa Valeriana.
Athenian: "Fititai" (Students), "Psixosavato", "To anthropino".
Literary criticism
Xenopoulos is notable for his literary criticism. In magazine "Panathinaia" (Greek: "Παναθήναια"), he published a lot of reviews on famous Greek writers, like Alexandros PapadiamantisAlexandros Papadiamantis
Alexandros Papadiamantis was an influential Greek novelist and short-story writer.-His life:Papadiamantis was born in Greece, on the island of Skiathos, in the western part of the Aegean Sea. The island would figure prominently in his work. His father was a priest...
, Demetrius Vikelas
Demetrius Vikelas
Demetrios Vikelas, or Bikelas was a Greek businessman and writer; he was the first president of the International Olympic Committee , from 1894 to 1896....
etc. In 1903 hewas the first to introduce Constantine P. Cavafy
Constantine P. Cavafy
Constantine P. Cavafy, also known as Konstantin or Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis, or Kavaphes was a renowned Greek poet who lived in Alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant...
to the Athenian readership.
External links
- Μουσείο Γρηγορίου Ξενόπουλου (Museum Gregorios Xenopoulos in Zante).
- Ε.Λ.Ι.Α. (Bibliography).