Sam Albatros launches their provocative book on growing up gay in Greece on May 21 at Athens Literary Salon, Insider Terrace

Sam Albatros launches their provocative book on growing up gay in Greece on May 21 at Athens Literary Salon, Insider Terrace

Academic and performance artist Sam Albatros presents his second book titled Dad, I want you to be ashamed of me (Μπαμπα, θελω να ντρεπεσαι για μενα) at the Athens Literary Salon, organised by Athens Insider as part of the Athens City Festival on May 21 at Insider Terrace.  The author lives in London and appears in public always wearing a mask. The book deep dives into issues of gay identity and toxic family dynamics in Greek society.  His first book, Ελαττωματικό Αγόρι  or Flawed Boy, published by Estia in 2021, was a best-seller. Sam Albatros will be in conversation with culture writer and host Tom Hall at Insider Terrace at 7.30 pm. The discussion will be followed by a book signing and a wine reception courtesy of Wines of Athens.

Academic, writer and performance artist Sam Albatros in conversation with culture writer and host Tom Hall on May 21 at 7.30pm at Insider Terrace

Writer, poet, and performance artist Sam Albatros speaks to culture editor  and host Tom Hall about their powerful memoir on growing up gay in Greece. Their latest novel titled Dad, I want you to be ashamed of me is not just a queer coming-of-age story as it is of a character accepting their queerness and moving on. Sam portrays queer life in Greece in original and truthful ways, not idealizing them, nor making them strictly tragic. At the heart of the novel is the son’s (main character) relationship with his father. Through the narrative, which alternates with diary excerpts and poems, the book addresses the protagonist’s struggle to shake off the skins of their former selves, and delves into current issues in Greek society: immigration abroad, toxic family dynamics, and the gay experience in Greece.

Sam Albatros is an academic, writer, poet, translator and an internationally-acclaimed performance artist based in London. Their work has been supported by prestigious writing residencies in Berlin (Literarisches Colloquium Berlin) and Leipzig (Goethe- Institut Thessaloniki, HALLE 14, Edit), and they have been the recipient of a Stavros Niarchos Foundation & Artworks Fellowship for young artists. Their latest novel is titled “Dad, I want you to be ashamed of me”.

Tom Hall is a culture, food and drink writer, host and presenter. Two years of a PhD at Queen Mary on Early Tudor food and diet taught him that his interest wasn’t purely academic and nor was he. His interest in the pleasure of dining started with the joyous family gatherings that were the heartbeat of his large family’s infrequent reunions. He was later cofounder of a video based online magazine that involved interviewing hundreds of leaders in many fields, including chefs.

May 21: Sam Albatros in conversation with culture writer and host Tom Hall  at 7.30pm at Insider Terrace, Archelaou 8, Pangrati. Please email info@insider-magazine.gr to reserve your place. A wine and cheese reception will follow the discussion, by Wines of Athens. Books available for sale. Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of the event.


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