George Fteris

George Fteris (Greek: Γεώργιος Φτέρης), (born George Tsimbidaros, Greek: Γιώργος Τσιμπιδάρος), (born the 14th of September 1891; died September 14 1967), was a Greek journalist, foreign correspondent, author, and poet.

Early life

Fteris was born in Mani, Greece (Greek: Μάνη), a remote, mountainous, barren peninsula located on the southern mainland of Greece, jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. As much as he loved the simplicity of village life, Fteris longed to become educated. In order to do this, he had to leave behind his village and head for the city. A plaque on the ancestral home in Mani records his words, "This is my village. I was born and raised here in this old house with its small sad windows which look towards the road, the only road that has the enchanted privilege to lead out of the village. He graduated from the University of Athens as a student of law, but instead decided to pursue a career in literature. He wrote for a variety of newspapers and magazines, under the pseudonym by which he is best known, George Fteris.

Journalist

For much of his life, Fteris served as a foreign correspondent. Initially stationed in Rome, and later in France, he traveled Europe meeting famous people such as Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, whom Fteris interviewed many times. During his travels, he made many friends such as writer Nikos Kazantzakis, sculptor Michael Tombros, politician Eleftherios Venizelos, actress Ellie Lambeti, and even Pablo Picasso.

Upon his return to Greece, he became the editor for The Athenian News as well as a journalist for To Vima newspaper. Every Sunday, he would write their main article.

Translator

In 1930, Fteris received a French Academy Award for his translation of Les Miserables from French into Greek.. In 1966, he was awarded the Gold Medal of Journalism by King Constantine II of Greece, (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος B']]. This was a huge honor for Fteris and his family. He was honored many other times by the Greek government for his work in literature and journalism

Author

Fteris wrote various books and articles. His daughter Elyana Damianos said, “…his books were deep and difficult to understand because he wanted to make better people. The books used plain language, but had deep meanings. He didn’t want people reading garbage, but to search, to better one’s self, ask questions, and also make people smarter. Basically, to make a man think.”

Horiata

One of Fteris' greatest and most memorable accomplishments is a song called "Horiata" (Η Χωριάτα - "Village Woman"). In the winter of 1941-42, the first bitter winter of the German Occupation, he wrote an allegorical song and gave it to Sophia Vembo, most popular songstress of the time and also family friend. She sang it in theaters all over Greece, each time wearing a dress with the national Greek colors on it. Even today, it is broadcast on national Greek radio stations. Commenting on the song over 35 years later one writer said, “It is a voice of hope and continuation. It resonated greatly in the hearts of the then enslaved people.” In the song, Greece is represented as a village woman, and its youth as a budding tree.

Sophia Vembo

During the time period, all patriotic songs were forbidden by the Nazis. Fteris knew this, and he wrote every verse of the song allegorically. His daughter said, “Each time it was sung, it electrified the audience. They heard the song and understood, so it gave them hope, and lifted them up emotionally. It scared the enemy, and it was like a threat.”

Many people loved Fteris' song, and its message spread throughout Greece. Theaters would continually play it. But soon after, the Nazis seized control. The song was prohibited, and theaters were closed. A penalty was set for singing the song, and Nazis even came to Fteris’ home threatening him with arrest. Vembo continued to perform "Horiata" in her concerts in the Middle East and continued to inspire the Greek resistance movement. Even though the song had been stifled in Greece, the damage had been done. The once tired and hopeless Greeks fought on throughout World War II as the song says, “with new branches and limbs.”

His monument overlooking Mani

Fteris died on his birthday in 1967. Today his body lies in his homeland, Mani. On the road connecting the towns of Areopolis and Gythion a monument has been dedicated to him on the summit of a hill overlooking his favorite land. Though he left the limitations of village life behind as a teenager, he always kept Mani in his heart. He once wrote, "The memory of Mani; the stone and the air of Mani; I have always taken with me wherever I went like a keepsake." . On his monument is a bust of his head sculpted by his friend Michael Tombros. On his shoulder, a woman representing Mani is weeping; mourning his death. His daughter Elyana said, “My father never wanted a monument because he was a very humble person, and he never believed in monuments; my mother insisted that he deserved one though.”

Quote

"“When I die and you are asked who I was, what I believed, whence I was inspired to write what I did - answer them that I was nothing more than a simple person who believed deeply in love, in goodness, and in humanity. And I will continue to believe until my final moments that humanity can be saved only by believing in these.”"