Nikos Kazantzakis Books

Kazantzakis, Politics of the Spirit is one of the most informative, deeply mined, intellectually satisfying books I have ever read. Mr. Bien not only explains the labyrinth of Greek politics that formed the author and colored his writings, but it plumbs his very sould and winds through the backwaters of his mind. One can read Kazantzakis, as I once did, on the surface, or one can follow Mr. Bien's tunnels through the caverns of the complete Kazantzakis entity. It is hoped that the second part is soon to be published.

In Novel Theology: Nikos Kazantzakis's Encounter With Whiteheadian Process Theism, Darren Middleton employs the narrative fiction of Kazantzakis and the process thought of Alfred North Whitehead to reveal a common philosophy that shaped both Kazantzakis's and Whitehead's understanding of God through texts of their literature and theology. By comparing specific themes in the novels by Kazantzakis and the works of Whiteheadian process theologians, Middleton reveals that the literature and theology constantly deconstruct each other and suggests that this deconstructive assignment is one that is, itself, a process. Novel Theology is insightful, thought-provoking reading and highly recommended for students and scholars of literature and theology, and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the works of Nikos Kazantzakis, the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, and process thought as found in theology and literature.

Written about 1923, this seems to me the greatest spiritual expression of all his works. Nikos knows the Christ of the SWORD, action, dynamis. He says, "The essence of God is struggle." He knows that we are experiences OF God, in a grand struggle. Each is a god in his own play, struggling and warring, loving and hating, EXPRESSING God fully and genuinely - and all that without hope, believing that nothing truly exists. The alternative is to acquiesce and find contentment in non-struggle, lukewarm, doomed, and worthless. For a reader who still thinks religion is compatible with spiritual realization, this book will offend you. For one who has challenged all the boundaries, here is a flying carpet to something much higher.

Kazantzakis's nonfiction writings of his travels through Spain make for a truly remarkable journey. The reader learns about the history of famous figures and events in various smaller cities of Spain which are not addressed by today's tourist agendas. He also addresses the development and figures he met at the outset of the Spanish Civil War. This is an excellent read. This is one of the few books I plan to reread several times over. It introduces aspects of Spain which otherwise go unnoticed by foreigners.

The powerful message of this book and its author is a simple one: The life of Jesus was heroic, and thus worth emulating, even if He were only a man who thought--perhaps through imaginings--that men and women were worthy of redemption through a love that suffers. Camus describes such a man as our true friend, one who sleeps on the cold ground while we are in prison, hoping for our release through his effort.

Through fear, and fear only, many prefer the savage, vengeful God of the Book of Revelation to the courageous man of Mark's Gospel, described here so well for us by Kazantzakis. Only the Spirit can take us further, but first we must accept and admire the man.

Now, I didn't see the movie but from what I have heard Scorcese missed the boat as to what this novel was all about. (Just for the record, I think Scorcese is over rated!!)

This was a beautiful book. It is not blasphemous in any way shape or form. If one reads it to the end you will understand what I mean.

Are there are few uncomfortable moments? Yes! But that is the point of the book. The title of the book explains everything and is ITSELF explained on the last page.

If you are a Christian don't be afraid of this book or what others might say about the film. Go to a bookstore and check out the author's forward, and you just might find yourself buying the book.

For a frequently banned book, I expected more. My expectations were definitely high, which is probably part of why I didn't really dig "The Last Temptation".

Jesus is really not a very likeable character in this book. He's really mean to his Mom--which I didn't appreciate. He won't even look at her or acknowledge her--he pretty much disowns her. And I can't understand why Jesus never heals Joseph, yet he heals that Roman's daughter--that seemed really cruel. Jesus is basically so self absorbed throughout the entire book. It's always, "me, me, me." He's desperate, and I mean whiny, falling on the knees on the verge of a tempter tantrum desperate to "find God"--too desperate for me to really relate to and his disciples--OMIGOD!! They are so annoying. They're whiney, shuffling sheep. Ugh...couldn't stand them. Judas is the most likeable of the bunch-which I found ironic--since he is generally thought of as the worst traitor ever.

That being said, the book is well-writen and a real page turner at times--it's just that the characters themselves are so unlikeable-every one of them (except Judas). Also, I think the author assumes the reader knows a lot about Christianity, which I don't, so I was often confused-especially about why Jesus draws certain conclusions about what God wants him to do and why. I didn't understand Jesus' reasoning. In fact most of the time Jesus seems like a frothing maniac, not how I imagine the son of God to be.

All in all, it's okay--if you have an interest in religion I recommend it, if not I wouldn't bother--but read the prologue if you happen to pass it on a bookself sometime. I found the prologue the most interesting and inspiring part of the book.

I picked this up not expecting too much. I thought that this would just be another safe retelling of a Bible story. Boy was I wrong! The Jesus depicted in this book is very human. He struggles with temptations and unpleasant situations. This book challenged me, made me think, and failed all my predictions. I like that this book is unpredictable but satisfying. This book really made me stay up late at nights until I finished it. I was in a book rut until I picked up this one. A riveting story. Oh and it will not bore you to tears, it's one of "those" classics!

One cannot review this book as a work of literature, although it certainly is that. Kazantzakis wrote it as a love-letter to Christ and a meditation on the nature of the man. In that sense, he succeeded wildly, ecstatically, anachronisms and misplaced Greek characterizations and all. "Gunpowder", even - it's all part of Nikos Kazantzakis, and it all serves to drive us deep into the heart of his Jesus, and himself.

That said . . . I have to take issue with Kazantzakis (of course. Else why write a review?)

I was mystified at the ease with which The Baptist turned Jesus from his Gospel of "Love, Love" to that of "the Axe is laid at the root of the tree." Jesus seems to get the better of John in their discussions, arguing most persuasively why his message must differ from John's - and then he goes out sounding like John redux. Did his sojourn in the desert cause this change in direction? It seemed a little too facile for me.

And the ending (I'm perpetually disapointed by endings - seems to be a thing with me). . . why did he have to die? That was very disappointing.

Just kidding - what disappointed about the ending is that Jesus did not really prevail over the final temptation as he had in the desert. He was drawn in to his fantasy life, luxuriated in it even, and then was surprised to find himself once again upon the cross (hope I'm not giving anything away here). I suppose this is Kazantzakis' final identification with the humanity of Jesus, but it seemed an odd perspective on the final moment of Jesus' life as a man - surprised relief rather than victory.

It's too much to expect of a writer, that his inner-most meditation on the meaning of Jesus should provide any "answers" to a reader looking for illumination (I've given up on "Truth"). For all that I've failed in each of my three readings of this book over the last twenty years to fully grasp Kazantzakis' Jesus in all his dimensions, the journey has been well worth the cost in time and frustration. Kazantzakis was a natural writer as well as a Natural writer, and his Jesus is more human (with all that it entails) than any other treatment has dared allow him to be.

I see a lot of very heady, cerebral reviews here and that's all fine and dandy, but to those of us who don't have doctorates in Eastern Philosophy from Yalevard or PrinctreDame, don't be put off reading the wonderful tale of Zorba.

It's uplifting, it's heartbreaking, it's funny, it's easy to read and Zorba is, quite simply, the bomb.

wonderfully written with beautiful quips and dialogue. the narrator, a Buddhist scholar discovers the Dionysian and the joy of vitality through the man zorba who expresses himself with simple yet profound language describing the lessons he picked up in his rock full life. not only through speech does zorba relay his emotions but often with dance and music or even gibberish if he thinks that words will only mitigate the depth of his vigor. the fact that the narrator loves and deeply respects zorba and through him expands his own thought and life yet stays true to who and what he is, allows the reader a choice.

This is not a book to read before you go to bed at night. It speaks the raw truth directly to your heart. It will leave you eyes open like you just found out the meaning of life.

The narrator of this novel is a deep & philosophical thinker much drawn towards Buddhist teachings. He is cerebral and completely intellectual in contrast to his subordinate Zorba. Zorba is a man without much education but he is a man who has touched life in its raw form with an earthly outlook towards life. Zorba has seen wars, been in love with many women, married many times, plays the Santuri and loves to dance. Zorba goes through pain, suffering, hapiness and joy with a hedonistic attitude and exhibits a great love for life. His old age is no detterent to his enjoyment of life. Above all Zorba has an opinion of everything ranging from women, relationships, business, religion, nationalism and politics. All his views are from his own bitter and sweet experiences and some of his views on women & religion can put off many. Zorba does not give importance to morals but he exhibits his compassion in his relationship with the old whore, the widow and workers in the mine. His views on the dangers of nationalism, war and religion are intresting. Overall an excellent book with deep insights, reflection and loads of philosophical discourses. This book is a masterpiece. I wonder why Kazantzakis was never given the Noble Prize. When Albert Camus won the Noble prize by one vote more than Kazantzakis he mentioned that Kazantzakis deserved the honour 'a hundred times more' than himself.

Other than his ponderous and perhaps party fictionalized actual autobiography ("Report to Greco"), this is Kazantzakis' most autobiographical novel, with an intellectual narrator modeled after himself. The real title can be translated as "The Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas", and the standard English title is a nod to the successful film by Michalis Cacoyannis. Anthony Quinn's portrayal of the book's eponymous main character, though good for an Irish-Mexican-American, has warped the whole world's understanding of Greece and "Greek dancing" (there were times when I was almost driven to violence against drunken British idiots stumbling about with arms in the air doing the "Zorba"), but that's for another review.

A few sentences for context would not be amiss. Kazantzakis is constantly discovered by Greek teenagers, loved to distraction, then abandoned. Why? Because he himself discovered Buddha, Marx and Nietsche at a formative age, and his writings reflect an uneasy mix of different "struggles": to attain serenity and self-understanding, to be one with all of humanity, and to transced human limitations through heroic struggle aggainst impossible odds. Nietsche, however, usually wins out in the end. All Kazantzakis' heroes are rebels against conventional morality and worldly opinion, and set themselves the task of transcendence, often reluctantly. In "The Last Temptation of Christ" (a novel that caused a huge furore among conservative Christians when it was made into a film by Martin Scorcese), Jesus is a sinner that is driven against every fiber of his will, mind and body to be the Chosen one, until he undergoes the Last Temptation on the cross (read the book or see the movie if you want to know the outcome). In "God's Pauper," a novel about St Francis of Assisi, the superhuman struggle is one of renunciation of all that is worldly or easy, even the hope of heaven and fear of hell (that did not endear the author to conservative Christians either).

So what is Nietschean or superhuman about Zorbas? He is a laborer, folk musician, barely educated philosopher, bon vivant and womanizer, larger than life and totally indifferent to piety, organized religion, social convention or wealth. He is a rebel: not the ascetic kind but the kind that grabs the world with both hands, elbows, armpits, thighs and everything else. Of course, being a sensualist and scoffer at convention does not make Alexis Zorbas amoral, cruel or indifferent: on the contrary, his compassion and sense of justice for the downtrodden are proportionally magnified. As Kazantzakis' St Francis would say, Zorbas does the right thing without hope for or fear of the afterlife; instead he does it for pleasure, defiance and a sense of what's right.

I won't summarize the plot of the book; it's not particularly relevant. Neither are the comments by readers who were shocked by the story's occasional savagery and misogyny. Crete was a violent place, where sheep-stealing was a matter of pride, family honor was defended with murder and blood feuds lasted for generations; all this is still not unknown in some mountainous areas, and Cretans have a huge rate of (illegal) gun ownership. The position of women has definitely improved in 90 years; judging a dead author for setting down the (exaggerated) reality of another age is not fair. Let me just end by saying that most Greeks still have a soft spot in their hearts for Zorbas the character well after they have outgrown their teenage fascination with other, less fun-loving and life-affirming Nietschean rebel heroes created by Kazantzakis. And if you subscribe to the conservative Christian view that it's only the fear of hell and promise of heaven that keep us from savagery, than either stay away from Kazantzakis or prepare to have your faith tested. Kazantzakis' characters reflect the views of most Greeks on this matter, and last I checked the crime rate in Greece was minuscule.

Cleverly written from the perspective of a boy in the Macedonian court, this book provides a gentle and reasonably accurate, if glossed over, introduction to Alexander for young readers. (Note: I read the translated version, since I am not familiar with modern Greek.)

First I would like to mention that I have read all of Kazantzakis's work in Greek, and most of it in English. The translation of this book if very good, and most of the meaning of the original text is properly conveyed. Kazantzakis aspect of Alexander the Great is a Greek's point of view. Nevertheless Kazantzakis, like in all his works (Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation to name but a few) is very critical towards his subject. He is not a writer that writes only about the merits of his characters but also on their weeknesses. Even though the imperialistic aspect of Alexander the Great is a thing few people can imagine as proper nowadays, it was very correct and normal at the time he used to live. Indeed through conquering and slaughtering he brought Greek civilisation to the ends of the known world of his time. A book written in simple language (Kazantzakis idiom language, unfortunately could not be translated) but full of meaning. Two thumbs up.

Kazantzakis originally wrote this as a series in a literary periodical and was largely aimed at a teenage audience. As the translater notes, Kazantzakis would probably have liked to edit the combined work. Nonetheless this is a fantastic adventure packed - page turning novel which is based on the historical life of Alexander the Great.

This book is ideal for a teenage boy or for an older reader that likes a good adventure story and wants to get an interesting summary of Alexander's exploits.

Kazantzakis takes us through the Alexander's amazing life from his early teenage years to his ultimate death. The story is narrated through the eyes of a young boy of the Macedonian court that ultimately becomes one of Alexander's closest friends.

A teenage boy will find strong positive messages about the possibilities available through commitment to achievement(and learn a bit of history through the process). It's not just Alexander's belief in achieving the unthinkable, the adventures of heading to war and conquering unknown lands that will entrance young (and old) readers. Kazantzakis also tastefully includes small snipets of childhood romance in the life of the young narrator with sensitivity.

The only piece that left me only a little dissapointed was the complete absence of any mention of Roxanne. I thought that Alexander's great romance should have got a mention.

I have read 6 of Alexander's biographies. This was the 7th. The only one written by a Greek for a Greek. I find this the most accurate, objective and exciting one. A must read. Kazantzakis at his best. I just hope that Stone's version depicted on film will do justice to the Great Macedonian King. Alexander Lives!

It is an extraordinary book for youngsters which gives both history and adventure. I already knew the biography of Alexander but I wanted it in story-form and this book is the best.I'm glad I didn't have to wait till I'm old enough to read Alexander's story in Mary Renault's version with all the extra spicy bits.(I haven't read it, my dad told me about it). (...)

It's explosive, tragic and sad. It's got strong characters which make you thinks about your artificial senses and the truth ones...
It was very interesting, I'd never read such kind of book before.

Brilliant! The only book ever that I couldn't put down after starting. I read it over 14 hours in one sitting and the only thing that eclipsed the sensations the novel instilled in me was the epic thought that I had really, truly and for the first time read a book that physically, emotionally, intellectually drew me in so much that I couldn't put it down. Unputdownable? I can't get the thing out of my head! Like all Kazantzakis' novels the characters are drawn so roundly that you begin to cheer and seethe when they make an entrance. Really fully formed people inhabit this story - and what a story it is. A passion play takes on a mind of its own when the characters in character for the play begin to lose their grip on what is real and what is imaginary. It is explosive, sad, thrilling, genuinely laugh out loud funny, desperate, tragic, joyous. A wonderful book. Clips by a hair, the great Zorba. Now someone should make a movie out of this one.....

As far as depictions of the life of Christ, "Christ Recrucified" (also published as "The Greek Passion") is far superior to the better known "Last Temptation of Christ" by the same author.

This novel is set in a little Greek village during the time of the Turkish occupation. Starting with the assignment of roles of villagers to play in the annual passion play, the novel turns into a real passion play.

The village elders, a dismal lot of overfed, oppressive, back- biting types, pick various villagers to play roles in the once- every-seven-years passion play. However, Manolios (chosen to be Christ for his gentle looks) and three friends, chosen as apostles, are humbled by the honor and inspired to begin to struggle with God's will. The crisis is provided by a band of refugees from another village. Run out by the Turks, they seek sanctuary in this village only to be refused both land and food by the village elders who fear their corrupting influence and the loss of revenue. The contradiction between the words of Christ, and the actions of those who claim leadership of the church and the village lead Manolios and his friends to ask dangerous questions. The elders, as elders tend to do, are reluctant to give up any power, and not inclined to accept theological analysis from those who they command. Eventually, the passion is acted out for real, with Manolios accused of treason and the sleepy Turkish overlord acting the part of Pilate to perfection.

Liberation Theology is a term we associate with the Roman Catholic Church in Latin America, but I would suggest that this work, dating from 1953, has anticipated the movement in amazing detail. Such standard concepts of Liberation Theology as "the preferential option for the poor," "base communities," reading the Bible out of experience rather than theology, and so forth, are portrayed here as Manolios and his friends struggle with what God has to say to them.

A perfect novel and not to be missed.

Profound, harrowing, and bursting with the fullness of the human heart-- also boisterous, merry, and bitingly satiric.

And Unceasingly Entertaining.

The year leading up to Easter week and the performance of the town's Passion Play finds the people of this Ottoman-occupied Greek village becoming transformed by Christ's story, as author Kazantzakis' novel encapsules the very history of the Christian Church.
His is a fiercely nature-centric vision of Man's rude and clamorous confrontation with the struggle for right-ness, for rightousness in the face of smothering societal hypocrisy.

Funny and sardonic, shocking and brutal, and often deeply beautiful, Christ Recrucified get's my highest recommendation.

Jules Dassin filmed Kazantzakis' "Christ Recrucified" in 1957 as a French/Italian co-production under the title "Celui qui doit mourir" with Jean Servais, Bert Fröbe and Dassin's then-future wife Melina Mercouri in her first movie. It had a brief run on the US 'art house' circuit as "He Who Must Die",
This is one of very few films that have stayed on my mind over the years, as has the book for that matter. "On the Waterfront", "Les enfants du Paradis" and "From Here to Eternity" are others in that select group, but this one hits a lot harder and deeper.
AFAIK the movie has not (yet) been released on DVD, but if it ever is I'll be sure to buy a copy. Meanwhile, the book (which has a far less grim ending BTW) will do. Read it and weep.

The life in the village revolves around the seasons, with accurate and colorful detail one senses the natural flow of "the way it should be" however there is an ominous "presence" that threatens the natural order of things ... The main characters are Father Yanaros and Captain Drakos, and the supporting cast includes, Leonidas the student, Hadjis the well-traveled one, Kyriakos, and Dimos an elderly peasant, Panagos (the barber), Kosmas, Stratis. Levi and a variety of others who feel like real people.. The struggle for freedom and the need to sustain life during oppression and occupation is intensified and illuminated. The resolution of social problems and role of religion and the church in balancing the good and evil in society is the main theme. The battle of the spirit against human frailties is Kazantzakis' constant theme ... he excels in this area. This novel exemplifies the dynamic powers of description and characterization that has won Kazantzakis world-wide acclaim. Highly recommend this book to those who want to understand the constant battle to live in the midst of oppression. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Perhaps the least well known of Kazantzakis' bleak beautiful epics, The Fratracides is as in-depth examination of the effects of oppression as I have discovered. The book is set in a mountain village in Greece during the Turkish occupation. While on the surface it is about a revolutionary faction and it's resistance to the occupation and the villager's resistance, and occasionally support, of that faction, the book also operates on several, more intriguing levels. It examines the different human responses to domination as clearly as any sociology book, but with characters, words, and images that worm their way around your head in a way no textbook ever could. The fatalism of the of the literally hungry violence-sick villagers, the power-hungry priest grabbing at straws, the zeal of the revolutionary leader, the sensual despair of the town Magdalene; the characters manage to function symbols of human reactions as well as fully dimensional people. Kazantzakis is the master of the life of the world vs. the life of faith dilemna and that dynamic most certainly plays out in this work, though in a different way than in most of his other writings. It is not just one person struggling with the meaning of faith, but a whole community embodying the various aspects of that particular drama. The Fratracides is, I would say, the hardest of Kazantzakis' fictional writings in the sense that he gives the reader very little to hope for. But, when you stop to think about it, how appropriate. Occupation and violence are not necessarily situations in which hope is a facile option. The writing is solid; Kazantzakis has the profound ability to distill human experience emotion into dense stones that pave the villages and hills where the action takes place. The Fratricides is unique in it's ability to be spiritual without being dogmatic, analytical without being dry, and thouroughly beautiful both in story and writing.

My biggest disappointment was that the online description did not accurately describe the contents of the book. I ordered a 'used' copy supposedly in 'excellent' condition. The book I received had considerable handwritten notes in it! When I expressed my total dissatisfaction with the order I was given a total refund which I did appreciate very much.

N. Kazantzakis:"I know well that death cannot be conquered, but man's value is not measured by the Victory, but from the fight for Victory itself. And I know as well this, which is even more difficult: its not the fight for Victory - its only the value of the man, and is this: to live and die gallantly and to not condescent a reward. And further this, the third, which is even more difficult, the certainty that there is no reward should not scare you, but fill you with joy, pride, and bravery..."

The name Nikos Kazantzakis is anathema to so many; countless Americans probably only know him as the man who authored the book "The Last Temptation of Christ" on which the controversial (and widely demonized) movie was based. There was much more to this man than met the eye, however. Such Americans don't know the reader of Nietzsche and Bergson, the man who idolized both Christ and Lenin as saviors of humanity, the brooding genius whose incisive glacial intellect was perpetually at war with the hot blood of his idealism and passion. A fascinating and fragmented character who ascended the peaks and explored the dark valleys of human experience more than most, Kazantzakis commits pen to paper here with a spirituality that will haunt the reader; it is more alive and explosive than any camp-meeting revival. Writing with a distinctly modernist tone of world-smashing and revolution akin to Marx and with a racy, frenetic, hot-blooded pace which D.H. Lawrence would've admired, Kazantzakis introduces us to HIS idea of God: not the friendly father figure of Christian lore, but the turbulent, primordial drive for life and change within the universe, striving (successfully, through sometimes violent fits and starts) to ascend, to create, to thrive, to "transubstantiate matter into spirit". More akin to Bergson's idea of "elan vital", this is a series of spell-binding meditations that most mainline believers of any stripe probably wouldn't like; precisely because it scares the living daylights out of you with its frightening possibilities and its sirens' call of seemingly chaotic life-affirming zest. The late Kazantzakis beckons to us across the void, urging us to take the plunge and gaze into that vortex without fear, even though we will lose all we are in the process.

I really like the author and I saw this book in a used bookstore and didn't get it. But then I couldn't get it out of my mind. So I went back to get it and I'm glad I did. It is a strong and moving book. He expresses the thoughts of someone who sees nothing but God. His life is God. This has nothing to do with any religion, as it is above a set of rules or beliefs. I can relate to him. Get the book if you can.

"Nonsense" is a very draft and cruel word to characterize an attempt to describe the CHAOS. For that's what this book is. How can one describe the Chaos, the human agony for the purpose of life? Every time you visualize yourself as a tiny dot (equals to nothing compared to the universe) and you ask the all-time-big-questions, you fill the fear. If you want to ease your heart, read the bible, or whatever the holy book of your religion (we all do in times of despair). You will be reassured for the absolute truth for all your questions and fears. But if you want to keep your eyes open and dare to look at the chaos this book will be a good companion. It is not perfect, but is the best attempt I know. Using Kazantzakis' words from "Report to Greco", the author is "facing the chaos and says I like it!"