At the time of the fall of Constantinople, ancient Greek was still the
vehicle of literature, and as such it has been preserved to our day. After
the political changes of the present century, however, it was felt by the
best Greek writers that the old forms were no longer fitted to express
modern ideas, and hence it has become transfused with those better adapted
to the clear and rapid expression of modern literature, though at the same
time the body and substance, as well as the grammar, of the language have
been retained.
From an early age, along with the literary language of Greece, there
existed a conversational language, which varied in different localities,
and out of this grew the Modern Greek or Neo-Hellenic.
After the fall of Constantinople, the Greeks were prominent in spreading a
knowledge of their language through Europe, and but few works of
importance were produced. During the eighteenth century a revival of
enthusiasm for education and literature took place, and a period of great
literary activity has since followed. Perhaps no nation now produces so
much literature in proportion to its numbers, although the number of
readers is small and there are great difficulties in publishing. In these
circumstances, the Ralli and other distinguished Greeks have nobly come
forward and published books at their own expense, and great activity
prevails in every department of letters.
Since the establishment of Greek independence, three writers have secured
for themselves a permanent place in literature as men of true genius: the
two brothers Panagiotis and Alexander Santsos, and Alexander Rangabé. The
brothers Santsos threw all their energies into the war for independence
and sang of its glories. Panagiotis (d. 1868) was always lyrical, and
Alexander (d. 1863) always satirical. Both were highly ideal in their
conceptions, and both had a rich command of musical language. The other
great poet of regenerated Greece is Alexander Rangabé, whose works range
through almost every department of literature, though it is on his poems
that his claim to remembrance will specially rest. They are distinguished
by fine poetic feeling, rare command of exquisite and harmonious language,
and singular beauty and purity of thought. His poetical works consist of
hymns, odes, songs, narrative poems, ballads, tragedies, comedies, and
translations. There is no department in prose literature which is not well
represented in modern Greek, and many women have particularly
distinguished themselves.