The Cultural Centre of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, is organising a book-launch of the latest two pioneering books by the well-known academic and writer Dr John Vasilakakos. The first book is the Greek edition of a biography of the acclaimed Greek-Australian writer Christos Tsiolkas, entitled Christos Tsiolkas: The Untold Story – His life and Work (published by Odos Panos, Athens 2015). This book (which is the first in-depth systematic look at the life and work of one of Australia’s most popular and controversial storytellers) will be presented in English by Professor Nikos Papastergiadis, who is the director of the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne and an eminent scholar on multiculturalism.

Publisher’s Press Release:
From Tsiolkas’ early days as a struggling writer to his present universal acclaim, his compelling untold story is at last recorded. For the first time the writer speaks candidly and de profundis about everything: his turbulent life (his childhood, adolescence and adulthood) and subjects dear to his heart (literature and criticism, identity, the state of humanity – decadence, materialism, spirituality, ethics, racism, animal liberation, intellectuals and the media – religion and death). He also reveals secrets and valuable insights about his four controversial novels which he discusses at length – from his first provocative Loaded to his international best seller The Slap. Essential reading for Tsiolkas’ numerous fans who have always wondered: “what is the real story behind the ‘Tsiolkas phenomenon’”?

The second book is entitled The Unknown Correspondence of Costas Taktsis and his relationship with Australian artistic circles (published by Odos Panos, Athens 2014) and will be presented in Greek by Neos Kosmos’ journalist, book-reviewer and poet Mr Dimitris Troaditis.

Publisher’s Press Release:
Both the life and much more so the mysterious death of Costas Taktsis continue to baffle Greek Letters. Following his best-seller authorised biography of Costas Taktsis: The Dark Side of the Moon – His Life (Electra, Athens 2009), academic and writer Dr John Vasilakakos returns with a new book-document entitled The Unknown Correspondence of Costas Taktsis and His Relationship With Australian Artistic Circles (Odos Panos, Athens 2014). Here Vasilakakos presents a number of unpublished letters of Taktsis to his Australian friend and painter Carl Plate and his wife Jocelyn (who confessed to the editor of this volume of letters that she had been secretly in love with the Greek writer) which come to light for the first time. Also the book touches upon the unknown and turbulent relationship of Taktsis with the Australian Nobel prize-winner Patrick White and his partner Manoly Lascaris. Furthermore this book includes various unpublished letters of Taktsis and his prospective foreign publishers of his famous novel The Third Wedding. It is hoped that all this new evidence now coming to light may make the “Taktsis mystery” less impenetrable.

The above book-launch will be opened by the president of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria Mr Vassilis Papastergiadis and will close with an address (in English and Greek) by the writer Dr John Vasilakakos who will also sign copies of his books for the public.
This literary event will be held on Wednesday 25th May 2016 at 6.30 p.m. at the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria, Level 2 (Mezzanine), 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Tel.: 9662 2722, Email: penny@greekcentre.com.au
Entry is free to the public.