Alexandrian Sphinx: The Hidden Life of Constantine Cavafy
Alexandrian Sphinx: The Hidden Life of Constantine Cavafy is a biography by Peter Jeffreys and Gregory Jusdanis tracing the poet’s life, relationships and changing artistic approach. It follows his family across several cities before centring on Alexandria and examines his early poetry and later reinvention.
At a glance
- Covers Cavafy’s family history, relationships, life in Alexandria and pursuit of literary recognition.
- Discusses his development from early poetic experiments to a later, substantially revised approach to his work.
- The listing states that the book won the International Hellenic Prize and was shortlisted for the Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award.
- Archival images are stated to be reproduced with permission from the Cavafy Archive, Onassis Foundation.
Reference price: £30.00
Price checked: 12 Nov 2026
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Combines biographical narrative with discussion of Cavafy’s poetry and artistic development.
- The account spans family movements through Liverpool, London and Istanbul as well as the poet’s central connection to Alexandria.
Technical specifications
9 specifications| Publisher | Summit Books UK |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 28 Aug. 2025 |
| Edition | 1st |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 560 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1398551236 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1398551237 |
| Weight listed | 760 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 15.3 x 3.75 x 23.4 cm |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers interested in Constantine Cavafy’s life, poetry and place in modern literature.
- Readers seeking a substantial literary biography with discussion of archival research, relationships and artistic development.
Less suited to
- Readers seeking a collection or translation of Cavafy’s poems rather than a biography.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
80% 80% - 4 stars
0% 0% - 3 stars
20% 20% - 2 stars
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The supplied feedback contains aggregate ratings only, with no written customer comments. The distribution is mostly five-star with some three-star ratings, but the small sample cannot explain what readers liked or criticised. Treat it as limited rating context rather than evidence about the biography’s research, readability or treatment of Cavafy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Alexandrian Sphinx cover?
It covers Cavafy’s family history, relationships, life in Alexandria and the development of his poetry, including a later change in his artistic approach.
Is this a collection of Cavafy’s poems?
No. The listing describes a biography that also discusses his work and artistic journey, not a collected-poems edition.
How long is the book?
The listed print length is 560 pages.
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