Walter Puchner’s book, ”1821 and the Theater: From Mythologization to Demythologization,” provides a comprehensive overview of the fate of the heroic epic and its protagonists in European and Greek theater up to the early 21st century.

It is based on many years of research in European and Greek libraries and archives, as well as on several preliminary studies. It is essentially divided into three parts:

1. an account of the theater’s involvement in the preparatory phase of the Struggle and the participation of amateur actors from Greek stages in Bucharest, Iasi, and Odessa, as freedom fighters in the early stages of the Struggle in Moldova;
2. analyzes examples from European Philhellenic drama during and after the Struggle;
3. describes Greek dramaturgy on the theme of 1821, from the beginning of patriotic drama (Evanthia Kairi’s *Nikiratos* in 1826) through the poetic tragedies of Pan. Soutsos and the mass dramaturgy of university drama competitions, to the first attempts to demythologize the events of the Struggle in the 20th century.

The analyses also include precursors, such as Constantine Palaiologos and Rigas Velestinlis, as well as prominent figures following the War of Independence, such as Kapodistrias. The themes of 1821 are also reflected in the heroic performances of Karagiozis and the theatrical events at school celebrations on March 25.

Historical research has also uncovered significant findings, such as the clandestine performance of Zampelio’s “Constantine Palaiologos” in Constantinople itself during the winter of 1820–21. The Turks discover the performance; actors and audience members manage to escape, but the theater owner, a pharmacist from Peran, is beheaded in front of his shop.

The award will be presented during the Academy of Athens’s ceremonial session commemorating the anniversary of March 25, 1821, on March 18, Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Ceremony Hall of the Megaron of Academy (Panepistimiou 28, Athens).

About the author

Walter Puchnerwas born and raised in Vienna, but has spent most of his life in Greece. He is an honorary and emeritus professor of Theater Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (co-founder of the Department of Theater Studies) and a decorated corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

He has also taught for many years at the University of Vienna, as well as at universities in Europe and the United States. He has written over 125 scholarly books in Greek and other languages and published over 500 articles and approximately 1,300 book reviews, on topics ranging from the history of Greek and Balkan theater to Greek and comparative folklore, Byzantine and Modern Greek studies, and the theory of theater and drama.

His literary output includes over 30 independent publications of poetry, prose, literary criticism, and essays.

ISBN: 978-618-84632-8-8

Pages: 528

Technical Features: 17cm x 24cm