M. Karagatsis facts for kids
M. Karagatsis (Μ. Καραγάτσης) was a very important Greek writer. He was known for his novels, but he also wrote for newspapers and plays for the theater. His real name was Dimitrios Rodopoulos (Δημήτριος Ροδόπουλος). He used "M. Karagatsis" as his pen name, which is a special name a writer uses instead of their real one.
The "M." in his pen name comes from "Mitya." This is a Russian nickname for Dimitris, which was his real first name. The word "Karagatsis" comes from a type of tree called a karagatsi (an elm tree). He used to write under the shade of such a tree when he was a young writer.
Karagatsis was born in Athens on June 23, 1908. He grew up in Larissa and Thessaloniki. He later studied law in France. He passed away in Athens on September 14, 1960. He was part of a group of writers known as the "Generation of the '30s."
What Made His Writing Special?
Karagatsis was known for writing about people and situations in a very imaginative way. His stories often felt like they were about a dream-like reality. His writing style was bold and unique. Many students in Greece study his works today.
His first three novels are Colonel Liapkin, Chimaera, and Junkermann. These books form a series called Acclimatization under Apollo. They tell stories about people from other countries who live and work in Greece. Karagatsis showed Greece as a modern and diverse place. This was different from the common idea that Greek life was old-fashioned and only happened in the countryside.
His Important Books
M. Karagatsis is one of the few modern Greek writers whose books have been translated. His works have been translated into German, English, Italian, and French.
Here are some of his most important works:
- "Miss Nitsa" (1927) (Η κυρία Νίτσα)
- Colonel Liapkin (1933) (Ο Συνταγματάρχης Λιάπκιν)
- Junkermann (1939) (Γιούγκερμαν)
- The last days of Junkermann (1940) (Τα στερνά του Γιούγκερμαν)
- Lost island (1941) (Χαμένο Νησί)
- The ruler of Kastropyrgos (1944) (Ο Κοτζάμπασης του Καστρόπυργου)
- Great Sleep (1946) (Ο Μεγάλος Ύπνος)
- Bar Eldorado (Stage play, 1946)
- Blood lost and gained (1947) (Αίμα χαμένο και κερδισμένο)
- Carmen (Stage play, 1948)
- History of Greeks (nonfiction, 1952) (Η ιστορία των Ελλήνων)
- At God's Hands (1954)
- Death and Thodoros (1956) (Ο Θάνατος κι ο Θόδωρος)
- Yellow envelope (1957) (Ο Κίτρινος Φάκελος)
- Sergius and Bacchus (historical fiction, 1959) (Σέργιος και Βάκχος)
- The 10 (1960) (unfinished)
