Penelope Delta facts for kids
Penelope Delta (born in 1874 in Alexandria, Egypt, and died on May 2, 1941, in Athens) was a famous Greek writer. She is well-known for her amazing books for children. Her stories, often about history, have been read by many people. These books helped shape how modern Greeks think about their country's past and who they are. Penelope Delta was also involved in Greek politics during the early 1900s, a time of big changes and conflicts like the Macedonian Struggle and the National Schism.
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Penelope Delta's Early Life
Penelope Delta was born in Alexandria, a city in Egypt. Her parents were Virginia Choremi and Emmanuel Benakis, who was a very rich cotton merchant. Penelope was the third of six children. Her older siblings were Alexandra and Antonis Benakis. She even wrote about Antonis's fun and mischievous adventures in her book Trellantonis. Her younger siblings were Constantine, Alexander, and Argine. Sadly, Constantine passed away when he was only two years old.
Penelope Delta's Marriage and Family
In 1882, Penelope's family moved to Athens for a while. Penelope married Stephanos Deltas, a wealthy businessman. They had three daughters: Sophia, Virginia, and Alexandra. Stephanos Deltas was also the nephew of a famous mathematician named Constantin Carathéodory.
In 1905, Penelope and her husband moved back to Alexandria. There, she met Ion Dragoumis, who was a Greek diplomat. He also wrote about the Macedonian Struggle. Penelope and Ion became very close and wrote many letters to each other until 1912. After that, Ion started a relationship with a famous actress named Marika Kotopouli.
Penelope Delta's Writing Career
In 1906, Penelope Delta moved to Frankfurt, Germany. Her husband moved there to manage their cotton business. Her first novel, Gia tin Patrida (which means For the Sake of the Fatherland), was published in 1909. This story takes place during the time of the Byzantine Empire.
While in Germany, Penelope started writing to Gustave Schlumberger, a historian who knew a lot about the Byzantine Empire. Their conversations helped her write her second novel, Ton Kairo tou Voulgaroktonou (In the Years of the Bulgar-Slayer). This book is set during the rule of Emperor Basil II.
In 1909, a political event called the Goudi Pronunciamento inspired her third novel. It was called Paramythi Horis Onoma (A Tale with No Name) and came out in 1911.
In 1913, the Deltas returned to Alexandria, and in 1916, they moved to Athens for good. Around this time, Penelope's father, Emmanuel Benakis, became the Mayor of Athens. The family became good friends with Eleftherios Venizelos, a very important politician. Penelope's father had worked with Venizelos since 1910 and had even been his Finance Minister.
Penelope's letters with Bishop Chrysanthos helped her write her 1925 book, The Life of Christ. In 1925, she was diagnosed with polio, a serious illness.
In 1927, she began writing a series of three books called Romiopoules (Young Greek Girls). These books were like a secret autobiography, telling parts of her own life story. She finished them in 1939. The first part, To Xypnima (The Awakening), covers events from 1895 to 1907. The second part, H Lavra (The Heat), covers 1907 to 1909. The last part, To Souroupo (The Dusk), covers 1914 to 1920. Because she lived through these big political changes, she could write very detailed and real accounts.
During this time, her father was almost put to death for treason by the Royalist Party. Also, Ion Dragoumis was killed by people who supported Venizelos in 1920. After Ion's death, Penelope Delta always wore black clothes.
She also published three other major novels:
- Trellantonis (Crazy Anthony; 1932): This book tells about the fun childhood adventures of her older brother, Antonis Benakis, in Alexandria in the late 1800s.
- Mangas (1935): This story is about the adventures of the family's fox terrier dog.
- Ta Mystika tou Valtou (The Secrets of the Swamp; 1937): This book is set around Giannitsa Lake in the early 1900s, during the Greek Struggle for Macedonia.
While Penelope Delta is known for writing about the Macedonian war, the actual stories were gathered by her secretary, Antigone Bellou Threpsiadi, between 1932 and 1935. Antigone's father was a Macedonian fighter.
Penelope Delta was very focused on her writing. She famously did not let her grandchildren visit her during the day when she was working. However, she would spend all evening with her family. It is said that instead of telling bedtime stories, she would read to them whatever she had written that day.
Penelope Delta's Later Life
In her last year, Penelope Delta was very ill and could barely move. She received the diaries and papers of Ion Dragoumis, her lost love. Ion's brother, Philip, had given these documents to her. Even though she was very sick, she managed to dictate about 1000 pages of comments on Ion Dragoumis's work.
Penelope Delta passed away on May 2, 1941. She had asked to be buried in the garden of her beautiful home in Kifissia. Chrysanthos, who was the Archbishop of Athens at the time, led her funeral. On her grave, the word σιωπή, siōpē, which means "silence," was carved.
Penelope Delta's Descendants
Penelope Delta's home was inherited by her three daughters: Sophia, Virginia, and Alexandra. They added a guesthouse and named it "Sovirale" using the first letters of their names.
Virginia married a politician named Alexander Zannas. Their daughter, Lena, is the mother of a modern politician named Antonis Samaras. Their son, Pavlos (Paul) Zannas (1929–1989), was a well-known art critic. He also translated Marcel Proust's famous book "À la recherche du temps perdu" into Modern Greek.
In 1989, Alexandra, who was the last living Delta daughter, gave the mansion to the Benaki Museum.
Works in English Translation
- Secrets of the Swamp, translated by Ruth Bobick, Peter E. Randall Publisher, Portsmouth, NH 2012.
- In the Heroic Age of Basil II: Emperor of Byzantium, translated by Ruth Bobick, Peter E. Randall Publisher, Portsmouth NH 2006.
- A tale without a name, translated and illustrated by Mika Provata-Carlone Publisher Pushkin Press, London 2013.
Images for kids
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In Spanish: Penélope Delta para niños
