Aris Alexandrou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aris Alexandrou
Born	Αριστοτέλης Βασιλειάδης November 24, 1922 Leningrad, Soviet Union
Died	July 2, 1979(1979-07-02) (aged 56)
Pen name	Aristotelis Vasiliadis
Occupation	Novelist, poet, translator
Nationality	Greek
Alma mater	Athens University of Economics and Business
Notable works	To kivotio (Mission Box)

Aris Alexandrou (Greek: Άρης Αλεξάνδρου) was a famous Greek writer. He wrote novels, poems, and translated many books. His real name was Aristotelis Vasiliadis. He was known for his strong beliefs and for always being true to himself. He once said, "I belong to the non-existent party of poets." His most famous work is his only novel, To kivotio, also known as Mission Box. Many people think it's one of the best modern Greek books from the second half of the 1900s.

The Life of Aris Alexandrou

Early Years and Education

Aris Alexandrou was born in Leningrad, a city in the Soviet Union, on November 24, 1922. His father was Greek, and his mother was Russian. When Aris was about six years old, in 1928, his family moved to Greece. They first lived in Thessaloniki and then settled in Athens.

He finished high school in 1940. He tried to get into engineering school, as his father wished, but he didn't pass the exam. Later, he was accepted into the Athens University of Economics and Business. However, in 1942, he decided to leave the university. He wanted to focus on working as a translator instead.

Joining the Resistance

During this time, Greece was occupied by Nazi forces. Aris Alexandrou joined a small group that resisted the occupation. This group later became part of a larger youth movement fighting for freedom. However, Aris found it hard to follow the strict rules of the group. He left after only a few months.

Even though he was no longer actively involved, his past connections led to trouble. After Greece was freed, British authorities arrested him. He was sent to a camp called El Tampa and stayed there until April 1945.

Difficult Times and Imprisonment

Later, Greece faced a difficult period called the Greek Civil War (1946–1949). Even though Aris Alexandrou did not take part in the fighting, he was arrested again. This was because he refused to give up his political beliefs. From July 1948 to October 1951, he was sent to remote camps. These included Moudros, Makronisos, and Agios Efstratios.

In November 1952, while he was still in exile, he was put on trial. He was accused of avoiding military service. The first decision was that he would go to prison for 10 years. He spent time in different prisons, including Averof, Aegina, and Gyaros. Later, his sentence was reduced to 7 years. He was finally released from prison in August 1958.

Later Life and Moving to Paris

After being released from prison, Aris Alexandrou married Kaiti Drosou. In 1967, a new military government took power in Greece. To avoid more arrests, Aris and Kaiti decided to move to Paris, France.

Aris Alexandrou passed away in Paris on July 2, 1979. He died from a heart attack. He was able to see his only novel, Mission Box, published in French before he died.

His Creative Works

Poetry and Prose

Many of Aris Alexandrou's poems were written while he was in exile. These poems often talked about his ideas on society and writing. They also explored his personal feelings. He was greatly influenced by the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, and he often showed this in his work.

His only novel, Mission Box, is a very important book. It tells a story set during the Greek civil war. The story is about a group of soldiers who have to transport a very important box. The mission goes wrong, and the narrator, who was part of the team, gets arrested. He doesn't know who arrested him, but he writes down his story every day. The book is made up of these daily writings.

Mission Box is also famous for its unique writing style. The last chapter is an amazing 45-page long sentence! It even ends with a question mark. This long sentence reminds some readers of the famous novel Ulysses.

Translations

Aris Alexandrou earned his living mainly by translating books. Most of his translations were from Russian into Greek. He translated many famous Russian writers, including Dostoyevsky, Gorky, and Ehrenburg. He also translated poems by writers like Mayakovsky and Akhmatova.

Works

• 1975: To Kivotio, Kedros Publ., Athens—English translation: Mission Box, Kedros Publ., Athens, 1996
• 1978: Poems (1941–1974), Ypsilon Publ., Athens
• 1984: Dialexa, Agra Publ., Athens (Greek translation by Alexandrou of miscellaneous poems; edited by Kaiti Drosou)

See also

In Spanish: Aris Alexandrou para niños