Wildcat Under Glass

(Hardback)

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Description

After its original publication in Greece in 1963, and the 22 translations, 39 editions, and many awards that followed, Wildcat Under Glass remains a beloved childrens classic. This translation by Karen Emmerich is the first in more than 50 years and breathes new life into the timeless story.

Wildcat under Glass follows a young girl and her family as they adapt to life on a Greek island during the 1930s under a Fascist regime. Melia and Myrto are two sisters from an Aegean island who enjoy listening to their grandfathers tales and share a secret language. Yet, what they truly cherish are the fascinating accounts of the wildcat's adventures told by their cousin Nikos. The wildcat in question is a stuffed feline that resides in a glass cabinet in their living room, with a blue and a black glass eye, which Nikos tells them he alternates based on his mood. One summer day, their lives abruptly change, leaving them to wonder who could be behind the potential harm to their beloved wildcat.

Melias perspective provides a unique and childlike outlook on the historical period, with a dialogue that balances playfulness and introspection. The book analyzes and explores social issues while maintaining a universal appeal that transcends time and place. Despite being a historical narrative, the account has a timeless quality that makes it relatable to readers from all backgrounds.

Since its initial publication 61 years ago, the book continues to be recognized and loved by readers and critics alike. Wildcat Under Glass (Restless 2024) will be the second-ever English translation of the book from the Greek, and the first one since Edward Fentons translation in 1968. This iconic piece of Greek literature has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by both new and old generations. Its significance has been recognized internationally, with multiple awards, including the 2007 Premio Andersen Il mondo dellinfanzia (Italy) and the 1970 Mildred L. Batchelder Award (U.S.).

Reviews

What makes this work is the credibility of Melia and Myrto as individuals and as sisters, and the childlike forthrightness of Melia's telling, encompassing puzzlement, dismay, steadfastness.

Kirkus Book Reviews

Alki Zei successfully combines humourthe bumbling policemen as they tail the children up the mountainsidewith the chilling image of books being burnt in the town square, including Grandfathers beloved ancients and Myrtos changing character as she is slowly indoctrinated with the fascist beliefs. The author skilfully weaves a story of every-day events set against a backdrop of the changing political situation in Greece, a land where democracy originated but that is now slowly being eroded.

A.R., Greek News Agenda

Greek author Alki Zei has helped countless generations of Greek children understand some aspects of life that are difficult to comprehendneglect, drug addiction, war, poverty, fascism, and racismpreparing them for the realities of the world with tenderness and great optimism. Her works, particularly Wildcat Under Glass and Petros War, have long been a part of the Greek curriculum and are beloved works of Greek childrens fiction. Anna Wichmann, Greek Reporter

Author Bio

Alki Zei, born in Athens in 1923, studied philosophy at the University of Athens, drama at the Athens Conservatory, and screenwriting at the Moscow Cinema Institute. She got her start in publishing by writing YA short stories for the Greek magazine Neaniki Foni. During the Second World War, she was actively involved in the struggle for freedom and democracy and against the German occupation of Greece. Because of it, she became a political refugee in the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1964. Three years later, she was exiled once again, but this time to Paris, France. From 1974 until her death in 2020, she lived in Athens. Zei penned books for mostly children and YA audiences, but her unassuming and straightforward method of writing, along with her narrative skills, has allowed her work to be enjoyed by all ages. Her books Achilles Fiance, Wildcat Under Glass, and Petros War are among the best-sold titles in contemporary Greek literature. Besides being a prolific writer, she was also a translator of children's books from French, Italian, and Russian, and was the Greek translator of authors Gianni Rodari and Vera Panova. Karen Emmerich is a translator of Modern Greek poetry and prose. Her translations include Rien ne va plus by Margarita Karapanou, Landscape with Dog and Other Stories by Ersi Sotiropoulos, Id Like by Amanda Michalopoulou, Poems (19451971) by Miltos Sachtouris, and The Few Things I Know About Glafkos Thrassakis by Vassilis Vassilikos. She is the recipient of translation grants and awards from the NEA, PEN, and the Modern Greek Studies Association. Recently, Emmerich was awarded the 2019 National Translation Award for Whats Left of the Night by Ersi Sotiropoulos. She is an associate professor of comparative literature at Princeton University.