“A lyrical and erotic reimagining of the gay Greek-Alexandrian poet C.P. Cavafy’s three-day trip to Paris in 1897 . . . dizzying, fevered and beautiful.” —The Millions
Winner of the 2019 National Translation Award
In June 1897, the young Constantine Cavafy arrives in Paris on the last stop of a long European tour, a trip that will deeply shape his future and push him toward his poetic inclination. With this lyrical novel, tinged with a hallucinatory eroticism that unfolds over three unforgettable days, celebrated Greek author Ersi Sotiropoulos depicts Cavafy in the midst of a journey of self-discovery across a continent on the brink of massive change. He is by turns exhilarated and tormented by his homosexuality; the Greek-Turkish War has ended in Greece’s defeat and humiliation; France is torn by the Dreyfus Affair, and Cavafy’s native Alexandria has surrendered to the indolent rhythms of the East. A stunning portrait of a budding author—before he became one of the 20th century’s greatest poets—that illuminates the complex relationship of art, life, and the erotic desires that trigger creativity.
“A perfect book.” ―Edmund White, author of A Boy’s Own Story
“The novel is as sensual as it is erudite, a stirringly intimate exploration of the private, earthy place where creation commences.” ―The Wall Street Journal
“A remarkable novel . . . both a radiant work of the imagination and a fitting tribute to the greatest Greek poet of the twentieth century.” ―The Times Literary Supplement
“Engaging and original . . . powerfully erotic . . . This is a hallucinatory work of art, in every sense.” ―The Literary Review