"No author who lives in Greece," writes Peter Bien, "can avoid
politics." This first volume of his major intellectual biography of
Nikos Kazantzakis approaches the distinguished--and
controversial--writer by describing his struggle with political
questions that were in reality aspects of a fervent religious
search.
Beginning with Kazantzakis's early career in fin-de-siecle Paris
and his discovery of William James, Nietzsche, and Bergson, the
book continues by describing his experiments with communism in
turbulent Greece, his visits to Soviet Russia, and the publication
of his epic "Odyssey" in 1938. Bien demonstrates that politics and
religion cannot be separated in Kazantzakis's development. His
major concern was personal salvation, but the method he employed to
win that salvation was political engagement. Did deliverance lie in
nationalism? Communism? Fascism? He eventually rejected each of
these possible solutions as morally appalling. Abused by both left
and right, he insisted on an "eschatological politics" of spiritual
fulfillment.
This compelling biography will be essential reading for
Kazantzakis scholars and for a wide audience of those who already
admire the Greek author's work. In addition, it will provide an
introduction to the first three decades of Kazantzakis's career for
those who have yet to enjoy such passionate and stirring novels as
"Zorba the Greek, The Greek Passion," and "The Last Temptation of
Christ."
This first volume provides an introduction to the initial three
decades of Kazantzakis's career for those who have enjoyed such
vibrant and stirring novels as "Zorba the Greek, The Greek Passion,
" and "The Last Temptation of Christ.""
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