Theodor Kallifatides
Encyclopedia
Theodor Kallifatides is a Swedish
writer. He is a Greek immigrant
to Sweden, but writes in Swedish
.
, in Laconia
, Greece
in 1938. His father was Dimitrios Kallifatides, a teacher originated from Pontus
and his mother was Antonia Kyriazakou from Molaoi
. In 1946 he and his family moved to Athens
where he finished high school and studied in the Karolos Koun
's theatrical school. He emigrated to Sweden
in 1964 and has lived in the country ever since. He studied philosophy
, and has worked as a lecturer at Stockholm University
between 1969 and 1972 and then as chief of Bonniers literary magazine between 1972 and 1976.
Kallifatides made his literary debut in 1969 with a poetry
book, but gained recognition mainly through his subsequently published novels. He has published novels, poetry collections, travel essays and plays. He has written film scripts and has directed a film.
Kallifatides has received numerous awards for his works which usually revolve around his experience of Greece and of being Greek in foreign domains, and almost all his works have been translated and published in more than twenty languages.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
writer. He is a Greek immigrant
Greeks in Sweden
The Greek community in Sweden was estimated to number between 12,000 and 15,000 people . They are located mostly in the southern part of Sweden, especially around Stockholm.-Notable people:*Steve Angello - DJ, producer and music label owner*Andreas Castanas...
to Sweden, but writes in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
.
Biography
Kallifatides was born in the village MolaoiMolaoi
Molaoi is a town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Monemvasia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The population in 2001 was 5,597, of which 3,021 lived in the town itself.-External links:* *...
, in Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1938. His father was Dimitrios Kallifatides, a teacher originated from Pontus
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
and his mother was Antonia Kyriazakou from Molaoi
Molaoi
Molaoi is a town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Monemvasia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The population in 2001 was 5,597, of which 3,021 lived in the town itself.-External links:* *...
. In 1946 he and his family moved 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...
where he finished high school and studied in the Karolos Koun
Karolos Koun
Karolos Koun was a Greek theater director, widely known for his lively staging of ancient Greek plays. He had been praised all over Europe for his bawdy, colorful stagings of the 5th century BC political comedies of Aristophanes...
's theatrical school. He emigrated to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1964 and has lived in the country ever since. He studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, and has worked as a lecturer at Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
between 1969 and 1972 and then as chief of Bonniers literary magazine between 1972 and 1976.
Kallifatides made his literary debut in 1969 with a poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
book, but gained recognition mainly through his subsequently published novels. He has published novels, poetry collections, travel essays and plays. He has written film scripts and has directed a film.
Kallifatides has received numerous awards for his works which usually revolve around his experience of Greece and of being Greek in foreign domains, and almost all his works have been translated and published in more than twenty languages.