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Theodor Kallifatides Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Theodor Kallifatides is a Greek novelist, poet, essayist, playwright, screenwriter and director. He immigrated to Sweden in 1964 and has lived in the country ever since. He has been described as the best writer alive in Sweden and as one of the greatest Swedish intellectuals. He has served as the Director of Swedish Television and in 1995 Sweden assigned him the speech for its national holiday.
Kallifatides was born in the village Molaoi, in Laconia, Greece in 1938. His father was Dimitrios Kallifatides, a teacher originated from Pontus and his mother was Antonia Kyriazakou from Molaoi. In 1946, he and his family moved to Athens where he finished high school and studied in the Karolos Koun's Theatrical School. In 1964, he immigrated to Sweden. He studied philosophy, and has worked as a lecturer at Stockholm University between 1969 and 1972 and then as chief of Bonniers Litterära Magasin between 1972 and 1976.
Kallifatides made his literary debut in 1969 with a poetry book but gained recognition mainly through his subsequently published novels. He has published novels, poetry collections, travel essays and plays. He has written film scripts and has directed a film (Kärleken, 1980). He has also translated Greek authors into Swedish and vice versa. He has published 40 books in Swedish, eighteen of which are also available in Greek.
Kallifatides has received numerous awards for his works which usually revolve around memories of his homeland and of being Greek in foreign domains, and his life as a Greek abroad. Almost all his works have been translated and published in more than twenty languages.
The collection has been organized in the following thematically file groups: Writings by Theodor Kallifatides; Writings by Others; Correspondence; Documents; and Printed Material.
Gift of the Program in Hellenic Studies with the support of the Stanley J. Seeger Hellenic Fund. (AM 2022-101)
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Kalliopi Balatsouka in February 2022. Finding aid written by Kalliopi Balatsouka in February 2022.
No materials were removed from the collection during 2022 processing beyond routine appraisal practices.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Kalliopi Balatsouka
- Finding Aid Date
- 2022
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Collection Inventory
This file group consists of autograph manuscripts (by Theodor Kallifatides and typescripts of several works.
Consists of loose sheets of paper, a notebook with handwritten notes and drafts of Kallifatides's short novels and plays, including Hoi apelpismenoi, Richardos ho Tritos, Ηο kyklos tēs hodynēs, Nekrologia se do elasson, Hē exōsis, and To trito skalopati. There is also a notebook containing lessons in engliss.
Physical Description3 folders
Conists of typescripts of Kallifatides's short novels and plays, including To enato skalopati, Nekrologia se do elasson, Ho stratiōtēs kai ho hēlios, Ephēveia, Hē kopella tēs Kyriakēs, Enoikiazetai to hekto patōma, Hena krisimo apogeuma, Ho kosmos katō apo tē vrochē, Henas megalos antras, Hē exōsē, To koritsi, hē orgē kai hē nychta, Balleto gia tē despoinida Antōnia, and Stathmos venzinēs.
Physical Description4 folders
1 folder
Consists of a few loose sheets of paper with handwritten notes by unidentified writers.
Physical Description1 folder
This file group consists of correspondence with Kallifatides's parents in Greece and with his friends. There is also correspondence from other family members.
1 folder
Consists of one letter (ALS) from Kallifatides's father to Rudolph Narrath.
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of outgoing correspondence (ALS) with Kallifatides's parents in Greece; there is also one letter to his brother.
Physical Description3 folders
Consists of four outgoing letters to unidentified recipients.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of outgoing correspondence (ALS) from Maria in Montreal, Canada to her father, grand parents, and sister in Greece.
Physical Description1 folders
Consists of outgoing letters (ALS) from Dēmētra in Montreal, Canada to her father and grand mother in Greece.
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of letters (ALS) from Manos Eleutheriou, Tzenē Karezē, and several of his friends.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Included is a health certificate and a membership certificate of the Association of Greek Actors. There is also a typescript of an announcencemnt for a children's book competition.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder