Αndreas Laskaratos

1811-1901

Andreas Typaldos Laskaratos, born and bred Kefalinian was born in 1811. His family belonged to the upper middle class and his father Gerasimos had a great fortune. Reasonably enough little Andreas had the chance to get very good education with the best of all means. He learned italian and ancient greek and had Neofitos Vamvas as a teacher. He had the chance to be acquainted with Lord Byron, Dionissios Solomos, Andreas Kalvos. He studied Law in the Ionian Academy and afterwards in Paris and Pisa. He returned to Kefalonia when he was 30 years old and was appointed Judge of Lixouri but this working place did not fit him so he soon resigned.

In 1844 after his father’s death Andreas Laskaratos inherited the paternal legacy. He continued travelling and published his first poems in Athens. In 1856 he published the work «Mysteries of Kefalonia» which created very bad reactions and led to his aphorism by the Greek Orthodox Church. He finally fled to London. He continued publishing his work in Athens, Zante and Corfu. After having returned to Kefalonia he was condemned for detraction and sent to prison for four months. His poem «Nanarisma» created bad reactions as well as it was regarding the heir of the greek throne. He was about to be sent to prison again but he got away with it thanks to the formal apology letter that he sent to the King. His counter-reactions to the aphorism were followed by a new trial but he was finally acquitted. Several business attempts of his did not have success and he began having financial problems. Within the next few years his work began getting into recognition and he began having appreciation from the circle of Palamas. In 1873 he was elected official member of the Byron Association and member of Parnassos. A bit before his death his aphorism was lifted after recommendation of Gerasimos Dorizas, bishop of Kefalonia at that time. He died in 1901.

Laskaratos was a free spirit throughout all his life and his work that was inspired by the contemporary ideas of Liberalism. His literal style was very reprimanding, sarcastic and loose-tongued as he never obeyed to social pretentions. Despite the persecutions, aphorisms, imprisonments and detractions he never compromised and never lost his fighting spirit.

Some of his works

Lixouri in the year 1836  
Article A’ against charlatanism. 1850. 
Article B’ against charlatanism. 1850. 
Article C’against charlatanism. 1850. 
Article D’against charlatanism. 1850. 
Article E’against charlatanism. 1850. 

The Mysteries of Kefalonia, Thoughts about family religion and politics in Kefalonia. 1856. 
My adversities because of Lychnos. 1862. 
Verses of the greek language. 1865. 
The life of Ioannis Chrisostomos· 1866. 
Response towards the aphorism of the clergy of Kefalonia of the year 1856. 1867  
My trial with the synod. 1869. 
Several verses. 1872. 
Here is the Man. 1886.

ANDREAS LASKARATOS