Nikos Dimou

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Nikos Dimou, born in 1935 in Athens, is a Greek writer. He worked in advertising and was a columnist for magazines and newspapers.

[edit] Biography

He graduated from Athens College where he studied French philosophy. From 1954 to 1960, he studied philosophy at the University of Munich in Germany. He had already started writing, publishing his first book in 1953.

In 1962, he started working in advertising as a copywriter. In 1965, he founded his own company. Other than trading commercials, the company created goodwill ads and public initiatives (e.g. Den xechno for Cyprus). In 1983, he withdrew from all business ventures in order to work full time as a writer. In 1979, Dimou started writing columns for magazines, including Epikaira (Current Issues), 4Trochoi (4 Wheels) , Tetarto (Quarter) and Photographos (Photographer) and newspapers including To Vima, Kathimerini, Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia and Ethnos tis Kyriakis.

Dimou was the first Greek writer to host talk shows on TV. He started in 1979 with Mia Tainia - Mia Syzitisi (A Movie - A Discussion). He returned in 1987 in a show called Dialogoi (Dialogues), in 1987. He also ran Peripeteies Ideon (Adventures of Ideas) in 1991, and Megales Parexigiseis (Big Misunderstandings) in 1999. As for radio, he was part of the team that founded Athens 98.4 FM. Later, he had a show in Trito Programma on Era Radio. He has won two journalist awards (Abdi İpekçi and Botsis). In 1997, he became an honorary citizen of Ermoupoli, his mother's hometown. Dimou was awarded the Dimitris Mitropoulos award in 2000.

Dimou has published over 60 books, including The misfortune of being Greek (Η δυστυχία του να είσαι Έλληνας), The New Greeks (Οι Νέοι Έλληνες), The Lost Social Class (Η Χαμένη Τάξη), Apology of an Anti-Hellene (Απολογία ενός Ανθέλληνα) etc.

He has done some photographic work, published two photo albums and has had three photo exhibitions.

[edit] Books

  • Par' ola Afta (Παρ' όλα αυτά = Nevertheless),
  • Mikra Vimata (Μικρά Βήματα = Short Steps),
  • Imerologio tou Kafsona (Ημερολόγιο του καύσωνα = Diary of the Heat Wave) and
  • Tolmires Istories (Τολμηρές Ιστορίες = Bold Stories).

Other philosophical works include

  • To Apolyto kai to Tavli (Το απόλυτο και το τάβλι = Backgammon and the Absolute) and
  • Triptyque: Communication, Love, Freedom (Τρίπτυχο: επικοινωνία, αγάπη, ελευθερία = Triptycho: Epikoinonia, Agapi, Eleftheria).

Poetic books include

  • To Vivlio ton Gaton (Το βιβλίο των γάτων = The Book of Cats),
  • Poiimata 1950-1990 (Ποιήματα 1950-1990 = Poems 1950-1990) and
  • Listes (Λίστες = Lists).

His works also include essays and aphorisms:

  • I Dystihia tou na Eisai Ellinas (Η δυστυχία του να είσαι Έλληνας = The Misfortune of Being Greek)
  • Apologia enos Anthellina (Απολογία ενός Ανθέλληνα = Apology of an Anti-Greek)
  • Prosengiseis (Προσεγγίσεις = Approaches)
  • Dokimia I: Odysseas Elytis (Δοκίμια Ι: Οδυσσέας Ελύτης = Essays I: Odysseus Elytis)
  • Dokimia II: Ta Prosopa tis Poiesis (Δοκίμια ΙΙ: Τα πρόσωπα της Ποίησης = Essays II: The Faces of Poetry)
  • I Teleia Diadromi (Η τέλεια διαδρομή = The Perfect Drive / Route)
  • Psifiaki Zoi (Ψηφιακή Ζωή = Digital Life)

As well as autobiographies:

  • Apo tin Michail Voda stin Syrou (Από την Μιχαήλ Βόδα στην Σύρου = From Michail Voda [Street] to Syros [Street])
  • Apo tin Odo Rinou stin Hess Strasse (Από την οδό Ρήνου στην Ες Στράσε = From Rhine Street to Hess Strasse)
  • Odos Galinis (Οδός Γαλήνης = Calm Street)
  • Oi dromoi mou (Οι δρόμοι μου = My streets)

Nikos Dimou also translated poems from English, German and Latin and also translated The Voices of Marrakesh by Elias Canetti.

[edit] External links

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