Nikos Kazantzakis: the Modern Greek Philosopher.

Nikos Kazantzakis, born in 1883 on the island of Crete, had a tremendous desire for truth, a sharp intellect to seek it out, and an adventurous disposition that brought him around the world. His fiction largely reflects his philosophical training and religious values, while his work as a translator reflects his concern for the education and formation of his people.

“One Of The Great Characters Of Modern Fiction”: First Edition Of Kazantzakis’ Zorba The Greek; Signed By Him.

Upon completion of his doctorate of philosophy in 1909, Kazantzakis began translating philosophical texts into Greek. He also began traveling throughout Europe, North Africa and Asia. Though he began writing in 1906, it was in 1940 that his notable works began to be published. The most famous of these, Zorba the Greek, was published in 1946. In this story the narrator, a bookish Greek intellectual, is swept into an adventurous lifestyle by the titular character. The tension between the quiet scholarly narrator, and the outspoken passionate Zorba reflected the two complementary aspects of Kazantzakis’ own life. This first edition in English is signed by Kazantzakis, in fine condition.

“A Man Needs A Little Madness, Or Else… He Never Dares Cut The Rope And Be Free”: Signed Limited Edition Of The Kazantzakis’ Masterpiece Odyssey: A Modern Sequel.

Aside from his own original stories, Kazantzakis was deeply enamored with the tales of his own people. Chief amongst these are Homer’s epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, which Kazantzakis translated into modern Greek. With a deep admiration and knowledge of these epics, Kazantzakis wrote his own story, entitled The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel. Composed over fourteen years, Kazantzakis’ self-proclaimed masterpiece follows the traditional structure of Homer’s Odyssey, having twenty-four chapters. The length of Kazantzakis’ Odyssey is of epic proportions as well, with over 33,000 lines of poetry. The Greek first edition copy of Kazantzakis’ Odyssey pictured above is signed by him, from a limited edition numbering only 277 copies.

“First Greek Edition Of “One Of The Most Widely Read Books Of Modern Greek Literature” Nikos Kazantzakis’ Captain Michalis; Signed By Him.

Amongst Kazantzakis’ other notable works is his 1953 novel, Captain Michalis: Freedom and Death. Being translated into multiple languages, this book is recognized outside Greece by its subtitle, which is very close to the national motto of Greece, “Freedom or Death,” deployed during the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s. This novel commemorates the rebellion of Crete against the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century which formed the culture of modern Greece. The above copy of Captain Michalis is of the first edition, is signed by Kazantzakis, and is in near fine condition.

The Last Temptation of Christ (First Edition in Greek).

Rare first Greek edition of Kazantzakis’ reinterpretation of the Gospels.

While he is extremely popular for his fiction about Greece (both ancient and modern), Kazantzakis was deeply religious, and struggled to work out his faith in the face of his doubts. The religious themes in Kazantzakis’ work sometimes took centerstage, in novels such as The Last Temptation of Christ. Much of Kazantzakis’ religious writing was existential in nature, shaped both by his doubts with the Greek Orthodox Church and fervent desire to connect with the divine. Because of his religious musings, he often challenged the traditional Christian orthodoxy, reinterpreting or reconsidering established articles of the faith. His works thus came across as sacrilegious to many of the clergy in his church, leading eventually to a call for his excommunication. Though he ultimately was not excommunicated, Kazantzakis remained distant from the Greek Orthodox church.

The Last Temptation of Christ, a retelling of the Gospels which depict Jesus as not as divine, but as a struggling, mortal man. Though it was not in favor with the church, it was hailed as a masterpiece by critics worldwide as a monumental reinterpretation of the Gospels that brilliantly fleshes out Christ’s Passion. The above image is of the first edition in Greek, signed by Kazantzakis, in near fine condition.

Though he passed in 1957, Kazantzakis’ fame as a novelist only grew after his death. A scholar, adventurer, seeker, and passionate citizen of Greece, Nikos Kazantzakis is the exemplar of modern Greek culture, and a writer whose depth has endured far beyond his own era.