Christos Homenidis’ book “Victory” (Niki) won the Prix du Livre Europeen (European Book Prize), one of the most important distinctions in the field of literature.
Mr Homenidis said, “The awarding of the European Novel Prize to ‘Victory’ (Niki) is a victory for Greece. Through art, our homeland can be re-introduced to the world.”
The author credited the inspiration of his book to his parents and also thanked his teachers, readers and publisher Anna Pataki.
The book is about a girl, arrested as a 70-day-old baby and sent into exile in the Cyclades. Her name was Niki (Victory). “Niki’s life is the life of all the children who come into the world,” the author said. “With a heavy burden on their shoulders, they do not give it up, nor do they let it bend them.”
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He said the people of the work “are the history of Greece in the 20th century”.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised the author in a Facebook post.
“With the European Novel Award, Christos Homenidis is already writing a golden page in his personal history as a writer. He honours Greece doubly, as it belongs to the recent generation of its creators. But also because his ‘Victory’ is inspired by his adventures. And he offers great joy to all who attend his books, his daily public speech and his social presence. I send my heartfelt congratulations to Christos. As Prime Minister, as a faithful reader and as a good friend with whom I often we share thoughts and concerns. I hope to meet other distinctions on his way. He always sharpens his imagination in reality, while keeping his pen equally bold. ‘And to remain a dynamic writer and, at the same time, a living observer of life and a citizen active in our country’,” the Greek leader wrote.
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