C. P. Cavafy (1863-1933) was born of Greek parents in Alexandria, Egypt, where he lived for most of his life and where he died. He is considered by many to be the greatest modern Greek poet.

Edmund Keeley has translated fifteen volumes of poetry. He is the author of two chapbooks of original poems, eight novels, and ten volumes of non-fiction. His awards include the Rome Prize and Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Harold Morton Landon Award of the Academy of American Poets, the First European Prize for the Translation of Poetry, the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation, and, in collaboration with Karen Emmerich, the 2014 PEN Award for Poetry in Translation. In 2001, the President of Greece named him Commander of the Order of the Phoenix for his contribution to Greek culture. He served twice as President of the Modern Greek Studies Association, and during 1991-93 as President of PEN American Center. A graduate of Princeton and Oxford universities, Keeley taught English and Creative Writing at Princeton from 1954 to 1994, and served for some years as Director of Creative Writing and Director of the Program in Hellenic Studies. He is currently Charles Barnwell Straut Class of 1923 Professor of English Emeritus.