Natasa CHatzidaki

Natasa Chatzidaki (1946-2017) was born in Crete. She studied journalism in Athens and English literature in London, where she lived for a total of five years. She made her literary debut in 1971 with the poetry collection "At the City Exits," which placed her among the poets of the '70s generation, showing clear influences from surrealism and the American beat poets (L. Poulios, V. Steriadis, T. Denegri, among others). However, she later differentiated her style by adopting a more dense, verbally rich poetic language and "a paradoxical and contradictory imagery, through which the fragmented experiences, emotional fluctuations, and psychological adventures of the modern woman are satirized, mocked, and sometimes mythologized or idealized," as noted by A. Ziras, with her most characteristic work being "Deep Crimson" (New Level, 2005). She contributed to the literary magazines "Prosopa," "Sima," and "Revma." Additionally, she worked as a producer for spoken word programs on Greek Radio (Third and First Program) and on ET1. She showcased her "visual poems" in group exhibitions and was invited to participate in international poetry festivals in Italy, France, England, and Spain. She was a founding member of the Society of Authors. Her poems have been translated into English and French. She passed away at the age of 71 in Athens on January 24, 2017, from cardiac arrest during hospitalization for pneumonia. Works: A. Poetry - "At the City Exits," Pergamini, 1971 - "Acrylics," Polyplano, 1976 - "Dissatisfaction," Plethron, 1984 - "Others," Kedros, 1990 - "Deep Crimson," New Level, 2005 - "Indistinct Breath: Poems 1971-1990," Ypsilon, 2008 B. Prose - "Meet Her, in the Evening" (Novella), Mikri Egnatia, Thessaloniki, 1979; Plethron, 2009 - "Hibiscus, Narcissus" (Novella), Kedros, 1985 - "Strangers in the City: Short Stories 1969-1991," Kedros, 1993 C. Translations Leonora Carrington, "The Stone Door," Aigokeros, 1982 (Source: Society of Authors)