These historical novels by Zei are not just a mere record of historical events. In 1971, while still in exile in Paris, she wrote "Petros’ War", with Occupation and liberation as the central themes. This book is considered a milestone in Greek children's literature, because it is perhaps the first children's book with political references, more specifically including the dictatorship of Ioannis Metaxas. She wrote her first novel, “The Tiger in the Shop Window”, in 1963 while in Moscow. However, her simple and straightforward way of writing, as well as her fascinating narrative ability, make her books pleasant and easy to read even for adults. Most of her books are aimed at children and teenagers. She went to Paris this time and returned once and for all after the downfall of the dictatorship.Īlki Zei's relationship with writing began in her high school years, writing about puppetry as well as short stories and novels, which were published in various literary magazines. In 1964 she returned to Greece but three years later she left again after the arrival of the military junta.
There, they had two children, Irene and Peter, and then moved to Moscow.
Six years passed before she was able to meet him again in Tashkent. In trying to follow him she was arrested and exiled to Chios due to her political beliefs. In 1948, after the defeat of the Greek Democratic Army in the civil war, her husband fled to Tashkent. In 1943 she met her future husband, playwright George Sevastikoglou, whom she married in 1945. She studied at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Athens, at the Drama School of the Athens Conservatory and at Moscow Film School.ĭuring the German Occupation, Alki Zei joined EPON, motivated by her friend Dido Sotiriou. When she started school, the family settled in Marousi and then in Athens. Her father was from Crete and her mother from Samos, where she spent her early childhood. She was close to children not only through her books but also physically, as she used to visit schools all over Greece to instill in young children the love for reading.Īlki Zei was born in Athens in 1925.
Professor emeritus in different university schools, honored by the Academy of Athens for all her work and with many children’s literature awards, the beloved author of the little ones who influenced generations and generations, taught us what freedom, love, friendship and morality actually mean.
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