Alexiou, Elli (1894–1988)

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Alexiou, Elli (1894–1988)

Greek novelist, playwright, and teacher. Name variations: Elli Aleksiu or Alexiu; Elli Alexioy. Born in 1894 in Herakleion, Crete; died 1988 in Athens, Greece; dau. of a prominent journalist; sister of Galateia Kazantzaki (writer and wife of writer Nikos Kazantzakis); studied at Sorbonne in Paris, France; m. Vasso Daskalakios (Greek writer).

Joined the Greek Communist Party (1928) and remained involved with various left-wing causes throughout her life; during WWII, worked with a Communist resistance group; deprived of her Greek citizenship, lived in Eastern Europe (1950s); returned to Greece (1962); writings include Hard Struggles for a Short Life (1931), The Third Christian School for Girls (1934), Louben (1940), Tributaries (1956), Spondi (1963), And So On (1965), That He May Be Great (1966), The Reigning One (1972), and Demolished Mansions (1977).

See also Deborah Tannen, "Elli Alexiou: An Informal Portrait" in The Charioteer issue on Nikos Kazantzakis (22 and 23: 1980–81).