Grief in the Greek secretariat was caused by loss of prose writer Thanasis Valtinouwho was born in 1932 in Kastri Kynourias.
Post by the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou
It is with deep sadness that the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou bids farewell to the writer Thanasis Valtinos, to whom two years ago she had awarded the Commander of the Order of the Phoenix, honoring his multifaceted contribution to Greek literature. In particular, with a post on Facebook, Ms. Sakellaropoulou states:
“It is with deep sadness that I say goodbye to Thanasis Valtinos, prose writer, screenwriter and translator of ancient drama, an author with a very important and varied contribution to Greek literature. His narrative austerity, the flooding of his pages by the actions and sufferings of ordinary people, his continuous, feverish dialogue with history, his pioneering use of evidence as literary material, and above all his approach to the Greek language as a living memory of meanings that sustain Hellenism in its timelessness, changed the course of the modern Greek novel. From “Descent of the Nine” to “Evidence for the 60s” and from “Synaxari of Andreas Kordopatis” to “Deep Blue Almost Black”, “Orthokosta” and the masterpiece “The Last Varlamis”, Thanasis Valtinos showed us, as he himself had said, that high literature “does not prophesy, but feels what is imminent and carries its own shivers”.
Lina Mendoni on the loss of Thanasis Valtinou
Informed of the loss of Thanasis Valtinos, the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni made the following statement:
“It was with great sadness that I learned of the loss of Thanasis Valtinos, which leaves a great void in the Greek Letters. Thanasis Valtinos emerged – and was fortunate to be recognized alive – in one of the greatest figures of our post-war prose. His work, which vividly reflects his rare narrative acumen, taps into collective memory through seemingly insignificant personal stories, validating the author’s ability to engage and capture key broader social and historical contexts through his broader orientations. .
Thanasis Valtinos had the courage to approach, as in the Descent of the Nine, Orthocostas and the Last Varlamis, tragic periods of our recent history, completely freed from stereotypes and even taboos. With Evidence for the 60s, admittedly one of his most emblematic works, on the one hand he proposed an idiosyncratic and original narrative technique and, on the other hand, he shifted the gaze from the big picture of the indeed rich in events, to the micro-history of the unseen of people who experienced them. While with the Synaxari Andrea Kordopati, again starting from the existing personal history, he gave us a great fresco of the early Greek 20th century. Only samples of a work that is characterized by solidity and highlights, with its spread over more than half a century, Valtin’s own attitude towards Art and the author’s debt towards it.
Thanasis Valtinos was a multidimensional creator, both in his subject matter and in his techniques and style. Each of his writings displayed his writing skill and required vigilance, as he did not accept superficial readings. His work, from very early on, was the subject of critical and thorough study. But his imprint on our prose is sure to remain deep and active. This is how we will keep him in our memory.
I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends.”
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**Interview with Lina Mendoni on the Legacy of Thanasis Valtinos**
**Editor:** Today, we have the honor of speaking with Lina Mendoni, the Minister of Culture, who recently expressed her condolences following the passing of the esteemed Greek writer Thanasis Valtinos. Welcome, Minister Mendoni.
**Mendoni:** Thank you for having me.
**Editor:** Minister, you described Thanasis Valtinos as leaving a “great void in the Greek Letters.” Can you elaborate on what made his contributions so significant?
**Mendoni:** Absolutely. Thanasis Valtinos was not just a prose writer; he was a profound voice in Greek literature. His unique narrative style and his ability to encapsulate the struggles and experiences of ordinary people resonated deeply with readers. He had a remarkable capacity to dialogue with history, infusing his works with a sense of urgency and relevance that few can achieve.
**Editor:** In your statement, you highlighted his pioneering use of historical evidence as literary material. Could you share an example of how he accomplished this in his works?
**Mendoni:** One striking example is “The Last Varlamis,” where he uses the context of historical events to deepen the reader’s understanding of personal and collective identity. Through Valtinos’ lens, history isn’t merely a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right that interacts dynamically with the story and the characters.
**Editor:** The President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, also recognized his “narrative austerity” in her tribute. How do you interpret that style in the context of his literary output?
**Mendoni:** Valtinos’s narrative austerity speaks to his ability to convey powerful emotions and complex themes with a restrained yet impactful prose style. He didn’t resort to melodrama; instead, he allowed the depth of the character’s experiences and the weight of their suffering to emerge naturally. This subtlety adds a profound layer to his storytelling, allowing readers to engage deeply without being overwhelmed.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, how do you believe Valtinos’s legacy will influence future generations of Greek writers?
**Mendoni:** I believe Valtinos’s commitment to authenticity and his exploration of the human condition will inspire future writers to embrace their own voices and to engage thoughtfully with Greece’s past and present. His works serve as a reminder that literature has the power to reflect society and provoke thought. In the years to come, I expect we will see many writers building on the foundation he laid.
**Editor:** Thank you, Minister Mendoni, for sharing your insights on Thanasis Valtinos. His contributions to Greek literature will surely be remembered and cherished.
**Mendoni:** Thank you for the opportunity to honor his legacy.