THE SAVIORS OF GOD

by Nikos Kazantzakis ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 26, 1960

Kazantzakis, who has been termed one of the greatest writers of this century by Mann and Schweitzer, has here expressed his complicated philosophy in a set of free verse soliloquies. Those who have read Zorba the Greek, The Odyssey Modern Sequel, or seen He Who Must Die, have recognized his power and strength. He is a man torn between a great gusto for the life of the senses and an almost Buddhistic asceticism. He feels that salvation is to be had in action not in words- while his own fate is to be a writer. Influenced chiefly by Nietzsche and Bergson, he emphasizes the elan vital but sees that man must transcend himself. His point is that God is not the Savior of man, but man the savior and even the creator in his incessant need to press forward and give form to the chaos of the future. The poems themselves are inspirational and gravitate toward large, philosophical ideas. They have fire and passionate yearning but are without precision or elegance. The translator (who seems adequate) has written a long prose introduction. Of surest interest to Kazantzakis' many admirers.

Pub Date: May 26, 1960

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1960

Categories: NONFICTION