More readers around the world will now have the chance to enjoy Makis Tsitas’ award-winning novel ‘God Is My Witness’, thanks to Aiora Press which has released the novel in English.

Awarded the European Union Prize for Literature in 2014, ‘God Is My Witness’ is the first novel by a contemporary author to be included in the prestigious series Modern Greek Classics, which features works by authors including Cavafy, Papadiamantis, Vizyinos, Seferis, Elytis, and Ritsos among others.

The novel is set on the eve of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and Chrysovalantis – a chronically unsuccessful but enthusiastic employee of the publishing industry – has lost his job, yet again. He begins a vitriolic monologue, taking aim at his many persecutors, from cruel bosses to opportunistic women to embarrassing, crippling illnesses.

An ageing relic of a bygone era, hounded by the challenges of a fast-changing city, the protagonist nonetheless sees the irony of his plight. Vice-ridden yet God-fearing, family-loving yet swindled even by his own sisters, this repentant anti-hero will set his record straight once and for all, and God is his witness.

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The translation joins the 10 other translations of Tsitas’ work, which have been highly regarded by readers and critics alike.

Born in Giannitsa, Greece in 1971, Tsitas majored in journalism and worked for several radio stations in Thessaloniki. Since 1994 he has lived in Athens where he works in publishing. Since 2012 he has been directing Diastixo.gr, a website on books and culture. He has also published three books for adults, and 22 for children.

Some of his works have also been staged and directed by Roula Pateraki, Ersi Vasilikioti, Sophia Karagianni, Taru Makela, and Alexandru Mazgareanu, and his lyrics set to music by Giorgos Stavrianos, Takis Soukas, and Tatiana Zografou.

In addition to the EU Prize for Literature, ‘God Is My Witness’ received honours by the Municipalities of Athens, Pella, and Edessa, the Central Public Library of Edessa, as well as the Region of Central Macedonia.

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