“The peculiar spiritual hostage of Nikos Kazantzakis should be stopped, so as to continue to constitute him as one of the most significant expressionists and representatives of Greek literature in the international cultural limelight” was referred to the resolution of 28th June 2009 by all the participants of the International Scientific Convention on the topic of “the publishing destiny of the work of Nikos Kazantzakis”, which was held in Herakleion, Crete.
The resolution was signed by the author Cleopatra Prifti, the president of the Greek Department of the International Association of Nikos Kazantzakis’ friends.
– More particularly, during the Convention which was held by the Prefectural Local Government of Herakleion, the municipality of Herakleion, the municipality of Nikos Kazantzakis, the International Association of Nikos Kazantzakis’ friends, the Museum Nikos Kazantzakis and the International Council of Cretans, it was ascertained that:
– The translations of his works are old and hard to find, while in most countries they have been sold out many years now.
– At the same time, the rare books that circulate in Greece reflect old times’ aesthetics, without any sort of editor’s attention and without those elements that make an edition attractive to the reader of today.
– Most of the titles of his books are absent from the bookstores, as it is evident from the proposals of prominent scientists and students, while the records about his life and his work which are kept in the “Editions Nikos Kazantzakis”, are difficult for the students to have access.
Also, the condition and the quality of his translations were discussed realized in the following countries: France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Ukraine, Romania, Georgia etc. along with the need to reedit new translations.
Nikos Kazantzakis died in October 26th in 1957 and wrote according to the files of the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum: 15 novels, 9 traveler’s, 2 poetry books, 18 theatrical plays, 4 essays and philosophical books while his translations are divided into 7 literary books, 10 philosophical books –scientific books, a biography and 16 adaptations for children’s books.
It is also referred in the Museum’s records that “I was born in the Megalo Kastro in Herakleion, the capital city of the Turkish dominated Crete in February 18th, 1883.
After the outbreak of the last Cretan rebellion, Kazantzakis family was settled down in Naxos, where they remained for almost two years. Nikos starts his high school studies in the French Business School of Timios Stavros, which was run by Franciscan monks. He learns French and Italian and becomes to know European literature; however he mostly gets acquainted with western civilization and culture.
In the fall of 1902, Kazantzakis moves to Athens to study in the Law School. In December 1905, he was awarded the diploma of doctor of Law with honors. In the same year his first novel “Snake and Lily” was published. For a period of time he was established in Athens and cooperates as a columnist in Acropolis newspaper.
In October 1907, he leaves for Paris, where he continues his studies in the Law School, while simultaneously; he attends the lectures of the philosopher Henry Bergson in the Collège de France. At the same time, he becomes acquainted to Nietzsche’s philosophy and completes his thesis with the title “Frederick Nietzsche in the philosophy of the right and the state’, which was completed in 1909. Parallel, he is occupied with his literary work. Since April, he settled down in Athens and a little later he starts living together with Galateia whom she will marry a year and a half later. During the Balkan wars, he joined the army as a volunteer and served his country in the private office of the Prime Minister Elefterios Venizelos.
His acquaintance with Sikelianos in 1914 opens a new chapter of spiritual quest. From the fall of 1917 until January 1919, Kazantzakis travels to Switzerland. A little after his coming back to Greece, he was appointed general manager of the Ministry of Health and Relief and works for the repatriation of the Greeks from Kafkasos.
The defeat of Venizelos in the elections of 1920 meant the end of his service in the Ministry of Health and Relief. Disappointed by the political developments and the assassination of his friend Ionas Dragoumis, the writer goes to Germany (January 1921).
Returning, he lives withdrawn in Kifissia with his friend K. Sfakianakis and works on the tragedy “Christ”. Then, when he reassures cooperation with the editor D. Dimitrakos, he leaves for Vienna.
Since the fall of 1921, he establishes in Berlin. He works in the “Askitiki”, attends the Convention of the Reformers of Education, gets to know the “circle of fire” by Rachel Lipstein and gets influenced by Lenin. During summer 1923, he tours around Germany and visits Nietzsche’s birthplace. In the beginning of 1924, he travels to Italy and remains to Assisi until April.
A little while after his return to Greece, Kazantzakis meets Eleni Samiou, the woman who was destined to accompany him in the rest of his life. He remains in Herakleion for a whole year. He starts the inspired composition of Odyssey and probably writes the Symposium. Additionally, he designs, without success, though, illegal political activities, a fact that resulted in his arrest and his twenty-four hours detention in the Investigation Department of Herakleion.
Since October 1925, a new period of travels around the world starts for Kazantzakis. His travels and hard work will help him endure the death of his parents. (1932).
In the face of the Greek-Romanian writer Panait-Istrati he believed that he had found another spiritual companion while his acquaintance with Prevelakis will give him a loyal friend and devoted student. During the Occupation, Kazantzakis mainly stays in Aegina. In 1942, he goes to Athens where he meets Sikelianos after twenty years and asks from the professor on Homer I.Kakridis some reference books to translate Iliad. After the Germans’ withdrawal, he returns to the capital city, which is shattered by violent civil clashes, and he develops political activity. He offered himself as a candidate for the Academy of Athens, but fails for two votes and was elected president of the Association of Greek Literary men. During the summer of 1945, he tours in Crete as a member of a government committee that ascertains German Violence. In November 1945, he marries to Eleni Samiou and is appointed as a Minister without portfolio in the Government of Sofoulis but three months later he resigns. In the beginning of 1946, he attends the performance of his play “Kapodistrias” in the Royal Theater and in May he was suggested as a candidate for the Nobel Prize along with Angelos Sikelianos.
In the summer of 1946, as it is proved, Kazantzakis leaves permanently for Europe. He stays in England for a time, invited by the British Council, and then he settles down in Paris where he was appointed literal counselor in UNESCO.
In March 1948, he resigned and permanently established in Adib in the French Cote d’Azur.
Since 1951, his heath constantly deteriorated. He lost his right eye, while at times he was admitted to the University Clinic of Freiburg to cure the benign lymphoid leukemia that tantalized him. Despite all this, he commenced cooperation with Kimon Freier for the translation of the Odyssey in English. His work, however, causes reactions from religious circles that asked his prosecution.
In June 1957, Kazantzakis leaves Adib and travels with Eleni and Evelpidis couple to China invited by the Chinese government.
Although, Kazantzakis is vaccinated for smallpox and cholera, he is infected and is under treatment in the National Hospital of Copenhagen. As his condition worsens, he is transferred to the University Clinic of Freiburg. Even though it seems that he overcomes infection, he is affected by Asian flu and dies in the 26th October 1957 in Freiburg. His body was transferred by road from Freiburg to Athens and by plane to Herakleion, where the public paid respects in Saint. Minas Church. His funeral was held on 5th November, in the fully-populated Herakleion. He was buried in the bastion of Martinego.”
Finally, concerning the place that the Cretan author is buried it is noted down: On the grave there is a big wooden cross from unrefined trunks and the sign: “I hope nothing, I dread nothing, I am free”.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONVENTION
Herakleion & Myrtia (Varvaroi)
27th & 28th June 2009
Everyone that participated in the International Scientific Convention on the topic of “the publishing destiny of the work of Nikos Kazantzakis”, (introducers, listeners, organizers), discovered the tragic situation that occurs regarding the circulation of the work of the Cretan writer.
– The translations of his works are old and hard to find, while in most countries they have been sold out many years now.
– At the same time, the rare books that circulate in Greece reflect old times’ aesthetics, without any sort of editor’s attention and without those elements that make an edition attractive to the reader of today.
– Most of the titles of his books are absent from the bookstores, as it is evident from the proposals of prominent scientists and students, while the records about his life and his work which are kept in the “Editions Nikos Kazantzakis”, are difficult for the students to have access.
WE REQUEST
From every state or private authority in charge to directly contribute so as this peculiar spiritual hostage of Nikos Kazantzakis is stopped, in order to continue to constitute him as one of the most significant expressionists and representatives of Greek literature in the international cultural limelight.
Myrtia (Varvaroi), 28th June 2009
Cleopatra Prifti
Writer
President of the Greek Department
of the International Association of Nikos Kazantzakis’ friends.
Source of publication 7th issue In-On