Lilē Zōgraphu

Lili Zografou (; Greek: Λιλή Ζωγράφου ; June 17, 1922 – October 2, 1998) was a Greek journalist, novelist, dramatist, essayist, and political activist, best known for Nikos Kazantzakis: enas tragikos, her "destructive critique" of the work of Nikos Kazantzakis, published in 1959, three years after his death.

Zografou was an ardent supporter of women's rights; in her books, she particularly examined the status of women in Greek society of the second half of the 20th century. Early life and education Lili Zografou was born in Heraklion, Crete in 1922, the daughter of Andreas Zografos, the publisher of the daily newspaper Anorthosis (Recovery);

Zografou spent her childhood in Heraklion. She went to the Korais Lyceum and the Catholic Gymnasium of the Ursulines in Naxos. her only child, poet Rena Hadjidakis, was born at that time.

Following her 1949 literary debut with the collection of novellas Agapi (Love), Zografou's treatise Nikos Kazantzakis: enas tragikos was published in 1959; Zografou examined Kazantzakis from a fresh viewpoint, focusing on his constant effort to become a superhuman and his problematic love life. Kazantzakis was generally revered as a luminary up until then, and Zografou's essay altered the way many people in Greece —especially youngsters— viewed his work. At the same time, she editorialised for the magazine Gynaika (Woman) promoting progressive ideas and women's rights, often openly criticising the Colonels' Regime.

In 1971, Zografou published her work O Iliopotis Elytis (Elytis the sun-drinker), a study on the poetry of Odyseas Elytis, who was later on awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Zografou contacted the eminent poet before publishing her essay, but, after reading the manuscript, Elytis made it clear that he did not approve of it and, in a way, forbade her to publish it.

It took Lili Zografou five years to complete her book Epangelma: porni (Occupation: Whore) (1978). In this collection of shocking autobiographical stories, Zografou describes harsh personal experiences she had during the 7 year junta —mugging, suicide attempt and rape—, aiming to expose the patriarchal abusiveness of her time, as well as the Regime's oppressiveness.

Her will stipulated that the copyright for her books was to be given to both her publisher and the SOS Children's Villages of Greece.

Personal beliefs

Religion Zografou was an irreligious person. and wrote many books partly or wholly devoted to the political aspects of Christianity; her book (Anti-knowledge; capitalism's crutches), a historic essay on the origins of Christianity and its political function, became very popular and turned many clerics of the Church of Greece against her.

Zografou was an Epicurean, often discussing matters of death —even her own— and hedonism.

Politics In her own words, Zografou "wasn't a communist",

Publications Agapi (Love), a collection of novellas (1949) Nikos Kazantzakis: enas tragikos (Nikos Kazantzakis: a tragic figure) (1959) Biographia-Apanta M. Polydouri (Biography-Oeuvre of Maria Polydouri) (1961) Kai to chrysafi ton kormion tous (And the gold of their bodies) (1961) Oi kataramenes (The cursed women) (1962) Oi Evraioi kapote (Mikael) [The Jews some time ago (Mikael)] (1966) O iliopotis Elytis (Elytis the sun-drinker) (1971) Paideia ora miden i tis ekmidenisis (Education's zero hour or For the nullification) (1972) Ti apogine ekeinos pou irthe na valei fotia (What became of the man who came to light a fire) (1972) (Anti-knowledge; capitalism's crutches) (1974) 17 Noemvri 1973 – I nichta tis megalis sfagis (17 November 1973; the night of the great slaughter) (1974) K. Karyotakis-M. Polydouri, i arhi tis amfisvitisis (K. Karyotakis-M. Polydouri, the beginning of doubt) (1977) Epangelma: porni (Occupation: Whore) (1978) I gynaika pou hathike kavala sto alogo (The woman that vanished riding a horse) (1981) Mou servirete ena vasilopoulo parakalo (May I have a Crown Prince, please?) (1983) I gynaika sou i alitissa (Your rogue wife) (1984) I Syvaritissa (The Sybarite) (1987) (The night has come my love, it's yesterday) (1990) Palaiopolis anamniseon (The antique-seller of memories) (1991) Pou edy mou to kallos (That my beauty withered) (1992) Paralirima se nto meizona (Delirium in C Major) (1992) Synchronos mas o Kafka (Kafka the modern one) (1993) (Love arrived a day late) (1994) Apo ti Mideia sti Stachtopouta, i istoria tou fallou (From Medea to Cinderella; the story of the phallus) (1998)