Poet, translator, novelist, and essayist, Edmund Keeley has passed away at age 94 (1928-2022). Keeley was one of the giants of Greek literary translation to English who exposed so many to Seferis and Elytis for the first time.

Family, friends, and loved ones are devastated and shattered at the completely unexpected passing of Edmund Keeley.

Edmund Keeley was born in Damascus, Syria on February 5, 1928. Damascus is the capital of Syria, the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth holiest city in Islam. Before receiving his B.A. from Princeton University in 1949, he spent his youth in Canada, Greece, and Washington, D.C.

He earned a degree in Comparative Literature from Oxford University in 1952, thanks to a Woodrow Wilson National Award Foundation fellowship. From 1970 to 1973 and 1980 to 1982, Edmund was president of the Modern Greek Studies Association, and from 1992 to 1994, he was president of the PEN American Center.

In 1994, he retired from a long career at Princeton University, where he taught English, Creative Writing, and Hellenic Studies. He was a longtime Princeton, N. J resident. Princeton is a town in New Jersey, known for the Ivy League Princeton University. Edmund Keeley’s obituary will be released by his family in due time.

feature image credit screenshot PEN America YouTube channel