INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

European fame. His translations of the work of English, French,
German, Italian and other authors was Vikelas' introduction to
Europe's intellectual elite. The first translation of one of his works, his
poem " The Ancients", in a major German periodical was Vikelas' first
"opening" beyond the boundaries of the English and French culture
(and of course also of Greece) where Vikelas had made his presence
strongly felt in a number of different ways. His acquaintance with
British and French Hellenists (with a few of whom he established
bonds of deep mutual esteem), was the springboard for his further
European progression. Through original works, translations or other
types of publications, the European profile of the immigrant from
Syros to London who would later become an acknowledged
intellectual in Paris was gradually, but steadily being shaped.
1874 was a major milestone in the life of Vikelas. He began his
translation in Greek of Shakespeare's King Lear and with time he
would complete his work by translating all the Band's plays. At the
age of 43, Vikelas had gained a prominent position in European
cultural and intellectual circles. Publications, lecturer and of course
books, as well as interventions on topical issues of his time won him
recognition as a writer and as an intellectual of significant influence.
Around 1880, having by now settled in Paris, Vikelas' reputation
had spread all over Europe. The French Ministry of Education has
expressed its appreciation to Vikelas and his relations with
distinguished European intellectuals opened new horizons to him.
There are two milestone events in Vikelas' European progression:
the European wide popularity and admiration enjoyed by his book
"Loukis Laras", his most important work and his election as the first
president of the International Olympic Committee. At this point we
should mention his book's publication in all European languages, even
in a number of dialects, as the most salient and determining element of
his European course.
The fact that "Loukis Laras" (1879) was included in the list of
books approved by the French Ministry of Education to be given as
prizes to school children for their exams and worthy of being added to
school libraries was a by no means negligible distinction.
In addition to "Loukis Laras", other books by Vikelas are now
being reviewed by the critics and commentators of European papers
and magazines. At the same time, his outstanding travel book "From
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