Η Γαλλία του Μεσοπολέμου μέσα από το βλέμμα του Θράσου Καστανάκη = The image of interwar France through the correspondences of Thrassos Kastanakis

This article explores the multifaceted figure of Thrassos Kastanakis, a prominent modern Greek writer and intellectual, through his journalistic correspondences. Known for his modernist narrative techniques and cosmopolitan orientation, Kastanakis spent most of his life in Paris, where he cultivated a deep understanding of both Greek identity and Western artistic movements. His literary columns, first published under the title “Parisian performances and interludes” and later under the title “Figures of France”, offered insightful commentary on the French theatre scene, notable artists, and broader socio-cultural phenomena, which he relayed to Greek readers through newspapers and literary magazines such as Agon, Nea Estia, Neoellinika Grammata and Elefthera Grammata. Through these writings, Kastanakis not only introduced significant French cultural figures –such as Georges Pitoëff, Charles Dullin, and Maurice Chevalier– but also reflected on the contrasts between Greek and French mentalities, often using art as a lens for national introspection.