EPISODE · Nov 22, 2025 · 1H 15M
Solitude, Art, and Immortality: C.P. Cavafy, the Modern Homer | Alexandrian Sphinxphinx
from ARTIDOTE · host Vashik Armenikus
Hello friends,In this episode of The Artidote Podcast, I speak with Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys, authors of Alexandrian Sphinx: The Life of C.P. Cavafy — the first major biography of one of the twentieth century’s greatest poets.Together we explore the hidden life behind the polished verse:how Cavafy transformed loneliness into art, guarded his privacy while pursuing immortality, and re-imagined Hellenism for the modern age.We talk about:How Alexandrian Sphinx reveals the man behind the mythCavafy’s secret methods and his rewriting of Greek poetic traditionThe tension between fame and solitudeWhy “Ithaca”, “The City”, and “Myris: Alexandria, A.D. 340” still speak to our centuryCavafy teaches us that the journey matters more than arrival, and that art — not applause — redeems a life.🎧 Listen to the full conversation📖 Alexandrian Sphinx by Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys — available now💬 Subscribe for more conversations on poetry, philosophy, and the art of living.00:00 Introduction — Discovering C.P. Cavafy01:10 The Magic of Bookshops & First Encounter with Cavafy02:10 Why Cavafy Matters Today04:05 Who Was Cavafy? A Poet for the 21st Century05:00 Cavafy as a Modern & Queer Poetic Voice06:30 Why Cavafy Foretold Globalization07:30 Why Has No Biography Been Written Until Now?08:40 Writing Alexandrian Sphinx — Birth of the Book10:00 Writing the Biography Thematically vs Chronologically11:40 How the Archive Shaped the Story13:10 How the Authors Personally Discovered Cavafy15:10 The Meaning of “The City”19:40 The Power Cities Have Over Us20:40 Most Surprising Discoveries About Cavafy22:10 Sacrifice, Ambition & the Price of Art24:40 Transactional Relationships & Friendship26:50 Co-Authoring a Biography — Disagreements & Granite vs Rainbow32:10 Myth-Making & Breaking: Who Was the Real Cavafy?36:30 Solitude vs Sociability — Was He Really a Recluse?38:00 Cavafy’s Writing Process & Rewriting His Life’s Work41:30 Why He Burned His Early Poems44:10 Lines & Poems That Stay With Us46:10 Dividing Cavafy’s Life & Evolution of Themes48:50 What Would We Ask Cavafy If He Were Here?50:30 Was Fame Worth the Sacrifices?53:00 Self-Promotion and the Apostles of Cavafy59:40 Is Cavafy Accessible to Modern Readers?1:02:10 Recommended Poems to Start With1:09:00 Cavafy’s Advice on Life1:10:10 Book Recommendations from the Authors1:13:10 Upcoming Projects1:14:30 Closing Reflections#Cavafy #GreekPoetry #AlexandrianSphinx #ArtidotePodcast #ModernGreekPoetry #Ithaca #PoetryPodcast
What this episode covers
Hello friends,In this episode of The Artidote Podcast, I speak with Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys, authors of Alexandrian Sphinx: The Life of C.P. Cavafy — the first major biography of one of the twentieth century’s greatest poets.Together we explore the hidden life behind the polished verse:how Cavafy transformed loneliness into art, guarded his privacy while pursuing immortality, and re-imagined Hellenism for the modern age.We talk about:How Alexandrian Sphinx reveals the man behind the mythCavafy’s secret methods and his rewriting of Greek poetic traditionThe tension between fame and solitudeWhy “Ithaca”, “The City”, and “Myris: Alexandria, A.D. 340” still speak to our centuryCavafy teaches us that the journey matters more than arrival, and that art — not applause — redeems a life.🎧 Listen to the full conversation📖 Alexandrian Sphinx by Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys — available now💬 Subscribe for more conversations on poetry, philosophy, and the art of living.00:00 Introduction — Discovering C.P. Cavafy01:10 The Magic of Bookshops & First Encounter with Cavafy02:10 Why Cavafy Matters Today04:05 Who Was Cavafy? A Poet for the 21st Century05:00 Cavafy as a Modern & Queer Poetic Voice06:30 Why Cavafy Foretold Globalization07:30 Why Has No Biography Been Written Until Now?08:40 Writing Alexandrian Sphinx — Birth of the Book10:00 Writing the Biography Thematically vs Chronologically11:40 How the Archive Shaped the Story13:10 How the Authors Personally Discovered Cavafy15:10 The Meaning of “The City”19:40 The Power Cities Have Over Us20:40 Most Surprising Discoveries About Cavafy22:10 Sacrifice, Ambition & the Price of Art24:40 Transactional Relationships & Friendship26:50 Co-Authoring a Biography — Disagreements & Granite vs Rainbow32:10 Myth-Making & Breaking: Who Was the Real Cavafy?36:30 Solitude vs Sociability — Was He Really a Recluse?38:00 Cavafy’s Writing Process & Rewriting His Life’s Work41:30 Why He Burned His Early Poems44:10 Lines & Poems That Stay With Us46:10 Dividing Cavafy’s Life & Evolution of Themes48:50 What Would We Ask Cavafy If He Were Here?50:30 Was Fame Worth the Sacrifices?53:00 Self-Promotion and the Apostles of Cavafy59:40 Is Cavafy Accessible to Modern Readers?1:02:10 Recommended Poems to Start With1:09:00 Cavafy’s Advice on Life1:10:10 Book Recommendations from the Authors1:13:10 Upcoming Projects1:14:30 Closing Reflections#Cavafy #GreekPoetry #AlexandrianSphinx #ArtidotePodcast #ModernGreekPoetry #Ithaca #PoetryPodcast
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Solitude, Art, and Immortality: C.P. Cavafy, the Modern Homer | Alexandrian Sphinxphinx
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