By Vivienne Nilan - Kathimerini English Edition

The latest issue of “Ithaca: Books from Greece” is the last in the current format. A bimonthly journal, Ithaca, published by the National Book Center (EKEBI), is going monthly and getting a new look.

The January-February issue has articles on Aris Alexandrou and the 2001 literary prizes, an interview with Sotiris Dimitriou, a report on Greece as guest of honor at the 2001 Frankfurt Book Fair and reviews of recent publications. Translator and diplomat Ulf-Dieter Klemm’s evaluation of the Greek presence in Frankfurt is succinct and informative, offering a German perspective on this major event and its repercussions for Greece.

Several authors contributed to the series of articles introducing the winners of the 2001 state literary prizes and Diavazo magazine’s literary prizes. Katerina Schina’s short piece on Ioanna Karystiani’s “Suit in the Ground” is an excellent example. Briefly setting the winning book in the context of the author’s abiding themes, Schina tells just enough to entice readers and the foreign publishers Ithaca targets. In his interview with Sotiris Dimitriou. Elias Maglinis elicits intriguing responses about inspiration and the nuts and bolts of writing. Highly readable, it has also been competently translated, in contrast with some of the other articles in this issue.

The editors of Ithaca are keen to deal with this problem, which besets virtually every Greek publication that prints translated material, but ongoing vigilance is required. Translation errors detract from some articles: Stilted constructions and confused tenses mar Lizzie Tsirimokou’s well-informed and worthwhile article on Aris Alexandrou. For example: “It is a solitary, inimitable text under seven seals,” is the kind of over-literal rendition that is guaranteed to leave the English-speaking reader in the dark.

Ithaca has already made its mark during its short existence. We look forward to the new format and wish the editors good luck in keeping up standards and introducing improvements while rushing to meet a monthly deadline.