著者

橘 孝司

出版者

日本ギリシア語ギリシア文学会

雑誌

プロピレア (ISSN:09157425)

巻号頁・発行日

no.21, pp.1-25, 2015

---

It is broadly accepted that the genre of the modern Greek crime novel was established by Yannis Maris (1916–1979). Although some literary masters in the 19th century incorporated some factors of mystery into their works, the status of Maris as the "father of the Greek Crime Novel" is undeniable in the quality, quantity, and influence of his works.This small study attempts to analyze what kinds of charms in his writings attract readers. Close reading his major novels, Crime in Kolonaki (1953), Crime on the Backstage (1954) and The 13th Passenger (1962) indicates that the succinct style without lengthy descriptions and the common heroes seen in daily life contribute to produce readable works. Besides, for the same purpose, it is consciously avoided to introduce factors which might hinder comfortably reading, such as family affections unrelated to the main story or historical/political issues at the periods.The study argues that the works in Maris's later period (the 1960s–1970s) underwent certain changes in that previously rarely expressed aspects came to the fore, although the basic function of entertainment has been consistently retained. In Summer of Terror (1971), for example, the writer comments on the generation gap and police abuse of power.Finally, Operation Rainbow (1966), regarded as an adventure romance rather than a crime novel, is worth analyzing because it exemplifies more directly the writer's views on human relationships, such as father–son affections, and historical events such as the German Occupation.