Anton, John P. The Poetry and Poetics of Constantine P. Cavafy: Aesthetic Visions of Sensual Reality. Greek Poetry Archive, 1. Chur, Switzerland: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1995. xxviii, 387 p.

ISBN 3718655519 hbk; 9783718655519 hbk; 3718655527 pbk; 9783718655526 pbk

Summary: “John Anton introduces the reader to the poetry and poetics of Constantine P. Cavafy from a different perspective. He traces Cavafy's development during the early phases of the poet's creativity, when he was gradually discovering his poetic self, until he finally created his own authentic voice. Autobiographical elements in Cavafy's poems are introduced mainly as guides to explore one aspect of Cavafy's world: how he gradually learned to control the transformation of experience into "work in progress". Professor Anton clearly portrays Cavafy's quality of thought, his originality, the freshness of his imagery and his penetrating commentary on the human condition. The author also provides details of the historical background of ancient Alexandria, which formed one of the key ways whereby Cavafy recreated the city for himself and used it to develop his unique poetic vision.”

Contents:

Abbreviations (pp. xiii-xiv); Chronology (pp. xv-xvi); Introduction (pp. xvii- xxviii).

Ch. 1. “The Alexandrian Environment” (pp. 1-22); Ch. 2. “Cavafy's Life and Times: The Early Years” (pp. 23-49); Ch. 3. “Cavafy's Later Years” (pp. 50-77); Ch. 4. “The Long Shadow of Symbolism” (pp. 78-116); Ch. 5. “The Loss of the Polis” (pp. 117-151); Ch. 6. “The Crisis Period” (pp. 152-189); Ch. 7. “The Development of Cavafy's Poetics” (pp. 190-221); Ch. 8. “The Barbarians and Other Things that are Not” (pp. 222-259); Ch. 9. “Eros and Sensuality” (pp. 260-299); Ch. 10. “The New Voyage: Ithaka” (pp. 300-338).

Appendix: “Constantine P. Cavafy: Ars Poetica” (pp. 339-346); Bibliography (pp. 347-374); Indices (pp. 375-387).