I read somewhere that this book, written after Elytis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, is one of his works that is "more accessible to Western readers". Which really makes me wonder what his other works are like.
This book is very much about Greece. History (ancient and into the 20th century), nature, smells, boats, water, plants and foods. For me, it conjured up the Mediterranean coasts of Italy and France, because I have been there and have reference. But I don't know what hyssop smells like, or what the mountains look like, or how close together the islands are.
I found the notes in the back (unmarked in the text) halfway through my reading--and they are good, because I wasn't always sure what was a place name or a person's name. But a short note simply cannot give the full historical context.
I can imagine that Elytis was a very popular writer in Greece, and perhaps among readers/writers that have spent time in Greece. I can sense just enough to know I'm not getting everything he intended.
This poetry collection feels like standing at the edge of the Aegean, letting the sun and sea wash over you while grappling with life鈥檚 bigger questions (which is exactly where I was while I was reading it and what I felt). His poetry radiates light鈥攂oth literal and metaphorical鈥攜et doesn鈥檛 shy away from the shadows that come with being human.
What I love most about this collection is how Elytis captures the Greek spirit so effortlessly: the endless blue of the sea, the warmth of the sun, and the deep connection to nature and myth. It鈥檚 like he鈥檚 writing not just about Greece but about the essence of joy and resilience.
That said, his surrealist style can feel dense at times. You almost need to let the words wash over you without trying to pin them down, and that鈥檚 where the magic happens. It鈥檚 not an easy read, but it鈥檚 a rewarding one. It left me feeling both grounded and inspired, like I鈥檇 just taken a long walk on a sun-drenched shore, thinking about life and love.