Kostas Varnalis

Kostas Varnalis (14 February 1884–1974) was a Greek poet.

Life

Varnalis was born in Burgas, Bulgaria, in 1884. As his name suggest, his family originated from Varna. He completed his elementary studies in the Greek schools of Plovdiv and worked for some years as a teacher in Burgas. Later he moved to Athens were he studied literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. After his graduation in 1908 he started working again as a teacher in Athens.

In 1919 he gained a scholarship and travelled to Paris where he studied philosophy, literature and sociology. It was during his Parisian studies that he became a Marxist and reviewed his ideas on poetry in theory and in practice. His political alignment resulted in his being barred from any employment at the state, including the educational system, so Varnalis took to journalism, a profession he practised until the end of his life.

Varnalis died in 1974, in Athens.

Poetic work

Varnalis published his first poetic work at the Plovdiv newspaper "News of Aimos", under the pen name "Figefs" (Greek: "Φηγεύς"). His first appearance in Greece was at the magazine "Noumas" (Greek: "Νουμάς") under his real name. His first poetic collection, "Kirithres" (Greek: "Κηρύθρες") was published in Athens in 1905.

In 1922 Varnalis published his second collection under the title "To fos pou kaiei" (Greek: "Το φως που καίει").

In 1959 he received the Lenin Peace Prize.