Constantine P. Cavafy (1863-1933) was the first modernist Greek poet. He revolutionized Greek poetry, but his work shows clear affinities with Hellenistic poetry of the Alexandrian era. Constantine P. Cavafy was born in Alexandria, Egypt. His father, a...

In an entry in his notebook dated 13 December 1902, Cavafy wrote, "I do not know whether perversion gives strength, sometimes I think it does. But it is certain that it is a source of splendor." The fact that I (a student of...

Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933), as a Greek in his Egyptian city of Alexandria, was both native and alien. His work creates an Alexandria where neighborhood bars adjoin eternal mythology, and personal desires reflect the communal pageant of history. He considers large matters like the birth...

In the following essay, Alexiou applies a deconstructionalist critical approach of Cavafy and explores the concepts of truth, poetry, and eros in his poems.

In the following essay, Ruehlen posits that Cavafy was a European poet because of his firm grounding in Western culture and his continued relevance to European readers.

In the following excerpt, Bowra discusses Cavafy's unusual relationship to Greek culture and his life in Alexandria, arguing that his best poetry attests to his individuality.