Nikos
Kazantzakis
  
One of the most important Greek writers, poets and philosophers of the 20th century, Kazantzakis was born in Iraklion in 1883.  In 1906 he graduated from the Athens Law School and continued his studies in Paris.  During the Balkan Wars he fought as a volunteer in the Greek Army.  After the Wars he traveled to many European and Asian countries, publishing travelogues from his trips (Spain, Egypt-Sinai, China-Japan, Russia, England, etc.).

Kazantzakis, much more of a philosopher than a writer, was deeply influenced by the writings of Nietzsche and Bergson, and the philosophies of Christianity, Marxism and Buddhism.  In his work, he attempted to synthesize these different world views.

In 1927 he published the book "Askitiki", the main work of his philosophy.  In 1938, after constantly revising it for 13 years, he publishes his epic poet Odyssey: A modern sequel, continuing Ulysses' story from the point where Homer leaves off.  This huge poetical work is comprised of 33,333 verses.  He became famous, however, during the last years of his life, when he turned to writing novels.  During that time he published, among others, Zorba the Greek, The Last Temptation of Christ, Freedom and Death, The Greek Passion, and his autobiography Report to Greco (Anafora ston Greco).  The Last Temptation of Christ was considered quite controversial when first published in 1955, and prompted angry reactions from both the Roman Catholic Church which banned it, and from the Greek Orthodox Church which tried to excommunicate him!

On the 28th of June, 1956, in Vienna, he was awarded the International Peace Award.  He died in 1957 in Germany and is buried on one of the bastions of the Venetian fort surrounding Iraklion, Martinego.  In the Historical Museum of Crete there is a room devoted to Nikos Kazantzakis. His desk, library, some of his personal belongings as well as manuscripts of many of his works are displayed.  A complete picture of Nikos Kazantzakis life and work can also be acquired by a visit to the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum in Myrtia.

To honor the 40th anniversary of his death, a whole range of cultural events were scheduled in Greece and abroad for 1997.
  

  

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Because many visitors have asked for more information about particular people whose words appear on the site, we'll try to give you as much information as we can about individuals.  The Amazon links should give you access to works by the author, though at times they'll display other books if the author has written an essay or introduction for those books.
  

How simple and frugal a thing is happiness:  a glass of wine,
a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. . . .
All that is required to feel that here and now is happiness,
is a simple, frugal heart.

Nikos Kazantzakis