The city of ideas: Cavafy as a philosopher of history

Murphy, Peter (2004) The city of ideas: Cavafy as a philosopher of history. Modern Greek Studies, 11/12. pp. 75-102.

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Abstract

[Extract] Constantine Cavafy was a British national with a Greek passport living in colonial Egypt. He was born in Constantinople, raised in London and Liverpool, and lived most of his adult life in Alexandria moving amongst Greek, Italian, British and French diaspora communities there. That abrupt summation of his life captures the essentials of his poetics as well. Cavafy doesn't fit into the Story of modern national Greek letters at all. He didn't see any particular value in the national literary culture that helped chisel a small nationstate out of the ruins of the Onoman Empire. For most of his life, Cavafy avoided going to Athens. He wrote an article arguing for the return of the Parthenon marbles from Britain to Greece. But there is no indication that he was ever interested in Modern Greek nationalism.

Item ID: 22581
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1039-2831
Date Deposited: 14 Sep 2012 05:46
FoR Codes: 19 STUDIES IN CREATIVE ARTS AND WRITING > 1901 Art Theory and Criticism > 190103 Art Theory @ 50%
22 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES > 2203 Philosophy > 220319 Social Philosophy @ 50%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970120 Expanding Knowledge in Language, Communication and Culture @ 50%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970116 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society @ 50%
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