“Initially, homeland is the village, the town, friends … Later, a road remains, a square. When parents and friends die, what remains are childhood memories and the language. I am proud to have held onto Greek after 53 years; to speak without searching for words. This is the homeland. The language. As long as the mother lived, I said, ‘Greece is the mother.’ Now that she is no more, Greek is the homeland …”
With these words of Theodor Kallifatides, words of the soul for our adored homeland – which, as Elytis reminds us, “… Tries for a stone gives up, Tries to carve it works miracles …” – I would like to welcome the presentation of his new literary endeavor and thank you warmly for inviting me to be here with you today.
Kallifatides is today among the most important writers in the Swedish language. He is one of the rare cases of literary bilingualism. He writes in Swedish and then translates the books into Greek. Writing, he ponders rather than affirms or judges. Seventeen of his books have been published in Greek. Beyond the 35 books he has published in Sweden, the prizes he has won, his presence in the theater and cinema, Kallifatides is an important figure in Swedish and Greek literature.
The novel “I will always return” is more timely than ever in a Greece that, while still trying to heal the wounds from the worst economic crisis in recent history, is also facing the thorny and complex refugee issue.
An immigrant himself for many years now, in Sweden, he can have a thorough perspective on what it means to leave your homeland and seek a new life somewhere new and far away. Both Australia and Sweden – countries the couple in the novel visits, seeking their fortune a first and a second time – are organized, friendly, accommodating to immigrants, with equal opportunities and potential to prosper for anyone who really wants to work.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In a time when everything is changing dramatically, it is more than necessary for politics, society, local government, organizations and citizens to gain the ability to convert into an opportunity an issue that at first glance looks like a problem. So I hope that Theodor Kallifatides’ new novel provides a spark in this direction.
Thank you.
May 9, 2016