Acclaimed author George Pelecanos will visit Athens on December 4, to take part in a conversation at the Onassis Cultural Center.

George Pelecanos will be talking to the journalist Marilena Astrapellou about his relationship with Greece and with the America of his books and scripts: an America of the dispossessed and the down-at-heel, of folk that didn’t get their fair share when society was dishing out access to the ‘American dream’.

He has been called “perhaps the greatest living American crime writer” by Steven King. However, best-selling author George Pelecanos’ talent is not limited to the detective fiction genre alone. He is an award-winning essayist who has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, GQ, Sight and Sound, Uncut, Mojo, and numerous other publications.

He is also a producer of independent movies and television series, including acclaimed HBO dramatic series, the Wire.

Born in Washington DC in 1957 to Greek parents, Pelecanos worked as a line cook, dishwasher, bartender, and woman’s shoe salesman before publishing his first novel in 1992. Although born and raised in the US, the novelist never lost touch with his roots. In fact, asked in a recent interview with New Greek TV how Greek does he feel, he replied: “I’m not one to wear it on my sleeve, but it’s in you. Here in D.C. there has never been a Greektown per se, so the Greek community has always been centered around the church. I was baptized and raised in St. Sophia, as were my kids. My mom taught Sunday School there for twenty five years. I played Goya ball. My lifelong friendships were formed there. So, yes, it’s always in you.”

Entrance to all the events in the “Talks and Thoughts” Cycle is free and on a strictly first come, first served basis.

The distribution of entrance tickets begins one hour before each event.

Simultaneous translation is provided in the case of speakers using a language other than Greek.

Click here to watch live the conversation on sgt.gr, on Thursday 4 December at 19:00, in English or Greek.