Nikos Kazantzakis Books

Fictional account of St Francis of Assisi's heroic single-mindedness in the face of extreme physical & spiritual suffering. He portrays the saint as a great lover & inspiring leader, who embraced radical poverty in the face of many obstacles & temptations. Kazantzakis (2/18/1883–10/26/57) was born in & lived in Greece most of his life. His most famous novels include Zorba the Greek ('46, Βίος και Πολιτεία του Αλέξη Ζορμπά); The Greek Passion ('48, UK title Christ Recrucified, Ο Χριστός Ξανασταυρώνεται); Captain Michalis ('50, UK title Freedom & Death, in Greek Καπετάν Μιχάλης); The Last Temptation of Christ ('51, Ο Τελευταίος Πειρασμός) & St Francis ('56, UK title God's Pauper: St Francis of Assisi, Ο Φτωχούλης του Θεού). Report to Greco ('61, Αναφορά στον Γκρέκο), containing autobiographical & fictional elements, summed up his philosophy as the "Cretan Glance."

The letters of Nikos Kazantzakis offer a vivid glimpse into the life of the renowned author, known for works like Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ. This collection, edited and translated by scholar Peter Bien, presents the most extensive selection of Kazantzakis's correspondence available, revealing the complexities and richness of his experiences. Through these letters, readers can explore the personal and creative journey of a writer whose life was as dynamic as his literary contributions.

"A tragic play about the Ancient Greek warrior-king Odysseus, and a prequel to Nikos Kazantzakis's epic poem The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel, inspired by Homer's The Odyssey"--

This autobiographical novel is one of the last things written by Kazantzakis before he died in 1957. It paints a vivid picture of his childhood in Crete, and then steadily grows into a spiritual quest that takes him to Italy, Jerusalem, Paris, Vienna, Berlin and Russia.

Novel which portrays Christ as a sensitive human being who is torn between his own passionates desires and his triumphant destiny on the cross.

This work presents the first English translation of Nikos Kazantzakis' 1909 doctoral dissertation, which delves into the philosophical ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche. The text explores Nietzsche's concepts and their implications, reflecting Kazantzakis' intellectual engagement with existential themes. It provides valuable insights into the early thought of Kazantzakis, showcasing his analytical approach to Nietzsche's philosophy and its influence on his later literary works.

"...he has created in Zorba one of the great characters of modern fiction. The novel reflects Greek exhilaration at its best. Zorba, pure in feeling, makes havoc of monks, scholarship and the life of withdrawal..." The Times Literary Supplement

The Fratricides is about internecine strife in a village in the Epirus during the Greek civil war of the late 1940s. Many of the villagers, including Captain Drakos, son of the local priest Father Yanaros, have taken to the mountains and joined the Communist rebels. It is Holy Week and, with murder, death and destruction everywhere, Father Yanaros feels that he himself is bearing the sins of the world.