Donald Baechler

Constantine Cavafy, one of the most prominent Greek poets, was born on April 29, 1863, in Alexandria, Egypt. After his father's death in 1872, Cavafy was taken to England for five years. After living in Istanbul, Cavafy returned to Alexandria, where he spent the rest of his life.

In Alexandria, Cavafy worked as a civil servant. When he was 41, Cavafy's first book was privately published. Five years later the book was reissued with an additional seven poems. Cavafy published no other work in his lifetime.

Cavafy died in 1933, on his birthday, at the age of 70.

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