Thoth distribution@thoth.pub 20260518T224224

urn:uuid:1ee37276-3cfc-4acd-a954-54a5b7cb309b 03 01 01 urn:uuid:1ee37276-3cfc-4acd-a954-54a5b7cb309b 15 9781805117193 06 10.11647/OBP.0493 00 EB E107 10 Creative Commons License 02 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 10 01 02 13 Open Book Classics 01 01 Xouth, The Ape A Tale of Manners 1 A01 Iakovos Pitsipios 2 B06 Neo G. Christodoulides First edition. 01 eng 00 102 03 93 DB 10 FIC052000 B2 Literature 04 PA5610.P518 B2 European Studies 10 FIC019000 93 FUP 93 DSK 10 FIC014000 B2 History 10 FIC051000 93 NHTB 10 FIC016000 93 NHTR1 10 HIS042000 01 06 03 00 <p>'Xouth, the Ape', published in 1848 by Iakovos Pitsipios is a pioneering and satirical Greek novel that deftly blends humour, cultural critique, and biting social commentary. The novel is set in the aftermath of the Greek War of Independence. The story follows a young Greek man, desperate to present himself as a European aristocrat, who finds himself entangled with Xouth—an ape who is, in fact, a German travel writer transformed as punishment for his vanity and prejudices.</p><p>Through the interactions between the protagonist and the ape-valet, Pitsipios skewers the pretensions of Greece’s newly minted elites, exposing the often comical efforts to mimic Western manners and ideals. The novel lampoons the wave of Western travel writers who ‘discovered’ Greece, poking fun at their colonial attitudes and superficial observations. The figure of Xouth serves as both a mirror and a caricature, reflecting the absurdities of identity, authenticity, and cultural imitation in a society striving to define itself between East and West.</p><p>Translated in English for the first time, with an expansive Introduction by Neo G. Christodoulides, the novel explores themes of national identity, the pitfalls of mimicry, and the complexities of cultural exchange. Rich with allusions to both Greek and European literary traditions, Pitsipios draws sharp parallels between his characters’ quests for legitimacy and the real historical debates around language, class, and belonging in 19th-century Greece. The novel’s polyglossic style—a blend of archaic, official, and colloquial Greek—further emphasises the layered and fractured nature of Greek identity at the time.</p><p>Despite its initial obscurity, the novel’s relevance endures: its sharp satire and insightful social analysis make it not just a humorous adventure, but a revealing document of post-revolutionary Greece and its ongoing negotiations with modernity, Western influence, and self-perception. 'Xouth, the Ape' is a hidden gem that deserves renewed attention from readers, scholars, and anyone fascinated by the crossroads of cultures.</p> 04 00 Foreword Neo G. Christodoulides Introduction: The Literary Precursors of Xouth, the Ape 1. Kallistratos Evgenides and Xouth, the Ape 2. The Journey 3. The Recognition 4. The Release 5. The Crime 6. Divine Justice 7. The Wilderness 8. The Captivity 9. Ligarides 10. The Return 11. The Sweet Little Soultana 12. The True Love of Fashionable Women, or the Yellow Ball Gown 13. The Journey of Xouth with Maloukatos and Ligarides 14. The Four Great Trials of My ‘Sister’ in Three Hours 15. Master Ligarides Is Writing His Fashionable Travelogue 16. Maloukatos’ Thoughts on the Travelogue of Master Ligarides 17. The Malady Selected Bibliography 20 00 Open Access Open Book Publishers 01 Open Book Publishers Cambridge, UK 04 01 20251028 2025 06 15 9781805117179 06 15 9781805117186 06 15 9781805117193 06 15 9781805117216 06 15 9781805117209 09 Open Book Publishers 29 Publisher's website: download the title https://books.openbookpublishers.com/10.11647/obp.0493.pdf 99 01 09 Open Book Publishers 02 Publisher's website: web shop https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/OBP.0493 99 01