Book of the Day: Kazantzakis' Odyssey, 1st ed.

Kazantzakis, Nikos, The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel (Simon and Schuster, 1st ed. 2nd printing, 1958). LOC 59-9048. Given the then-virtually- nonexistent international market for Greek publishing, Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957), best known today as author of Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ) was endlessly occupied with writing projects to keep a roof over his head and support his near-constant urge to travel. In 1926 he undertook a massive sequel to The Odyssey, picking up in the modern era where the original epic left off. Divided into 24 books (one for each letter of the Greek alphabet), Odyssey 2 is 33,333 lines long; this Random House edition, translated to English, in collaboration with Kazantzakis by Kimon Friar, runs to 825 pages. Illustrations by Ghika. 6.5” x 10.5”. Hardcover, black cloth with fine gilt lettering. Dust jacket is complete but worn about the top edges and subject to a little fading on the back. Kazantzakis is said to have lost the Nobel Prize for Literature to Camus and died before his international reputation was established by Zorba. Fascinated by religion, he was banned by the Greek Orthodox Church; the 1988 film of his book, The Last Temptation of Christ, ignited new controversy. A towering literary achievement and a must for Hellenophiles. HBB price: $35.

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