The twenty-seven notes of poetics and morals contained in this volume uniquely illuminate the indissoluble bond between art and love that marks the personality of Konstantinos Kavafis. The translation is accompanied by the original Greek text on the facing page.

I work like the ancients. They wrote history, created philosophical systems, composed dramas of mythological tragedy - those who were lovesick - like me. I also operate like the ancients. They wrote historiographical works, created philosophical systems, composed dramas of mythological tragicness, and many of them were love-stricken, just like me.

“Constantine Cavafy, a poet whom critics everywhere now count among the four or five true poets of the Twentieth century.” Giuseppe Ungaretti

“Kavafis is a true Alexandrian in spirit and flesh, entirely alien to those humanistic reconsiderations that are always at the roots of any authentic classicism.” Eugenio Montale

“The world [of Kavafis] is not the Hellenistic one, but rather, albeit in Alexandria, that of Kafka and Proust.” Alberto Moravia