Customer Reviews (1)

Journey into Spanish history
Kazantzakis's nonfiction writings of his travels through Spain make for a truly remarkable journey. The reader learns about the history of famous figures and events in various smaller cities of Spain which are notaddressed by today's tourist agendas.He also addresses the developmentand figures he met at the outset of the Spanish Civil War.This is anexcellent read.This is one of the few books I plan to reread severaltimes over.It introduces aspects of Spain which otherwise go unnoticed byforeigners. ... Read more

Product Description
In this volume Friar captures the essence of the thought and spiritual struggle of Nikos Kazantzakis by taking the reader on a fascinating pilgrimage through Kazantzakis' "The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel" and "The Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises", works which Friar himself has translated into English. ... Read more

Product Description
In Novel Theology: Nikos Kazantzakis's Encounter with Whiteheadian Process Theism, Darren Middleton employs the narrative fiction of Kazantzakis and the process thought of Alfred North Whitehead to reveal a common philosophy that shaped both Kazantzakis's and Whitehead's understanding of God through texts of their literature and theology. By comparing specific themes in the novels by Kazantzakis and the works of Whiteheadian process theologians, Middleton reveals that the literature and theology constantly deconstruct each other and suggests that this deconstructive assignment is one that is, itself, a process. Novel Theology is insightful, and thought-provoking reading and highly recommended for students and scholars of literature and theology and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the works of Nikos Kazantzakis, the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, and process thought as found in the theology and literature.

Middleton brings theology and literature into conversation by comparing specific themes in novels by Kazantzakis and in the works of particular Whiteheadian process theologians. Works explored include The Last Temptation, Christ in a Pluralistic Age, God’s Pauper: St. Francis of Assisi, Toward a Process Pneumatology, Zorba the Greek, and God and Religion in the Postmodern World: Essays in Postmodern Theology.

Novel Theology is indespensible reading for scholars of literature and theology, Kazantzakis, Whitehead, and process thought.

Advance praise for Novel Theology: Nikos Kazantzakis’s Encounter with Whiteheadian Process Theism:

This book is the most important new direction in Kazantzakis studies in the last decade. It combines with unique insight two largely neglected 20th century thinkers: Whitehead the philosopher, and Kazantzakis theliterary artist. We are in debt to Middleton for this excellent comparison of these two important thinkers.—Barry Whitney, Editor, Process Studies ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Literature and theology deconstructing each other
In Novel Theology: Nikos Kazantzakis's Encounter With Whiteheadian Process Theism, Darren Middleton employs the narrative fiction of Kazantzakis and the process thought of Alfred North Whitehead to reveal a common philosophy that shaped both Kazantzakis's and Whitehead's understanding of God through texts of their literature and theology. By comparing specific themes in the novels by Kazantzakis and the works of Whiteheadian process theologians, Middleton reveals that the literature and theology constantly deconstruct each other and suggests that this deconstructive assignment is one that is, itself, a process. Novel Theology is insightful, thought-provoking reading and highly recommended for students and scholars of literature and theology, and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the works of Nikos Kazantzakis, the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, and process thought as found in theology and literature. ... Read more

Product Description
1920-1924 were decisive years both in Greek and Western history. They were also crucial years in the life and work of Kazantzakis when the Idea ripened which was to hold together all his work till the end of his life. From that very important period, during which Kazantzakis, nearly 40, was in the middle of an agitated and constantly changing Europe, we really have no other record except the letters to his first wife Galatea, a few letters to a distant, childhood friend in America, the priest Manolis Papastephanou and a small book in the form of a dialogue, where five people talk about God.

Katzantzakis was going through one of the most important changes in his life. Deeply shaken by what he felt was a new Middle Ages in Europe, he was slowly coming out of the Buddhic cloud wherein he had dwelt for some time thinking he could find there an answer to the problem of existence. The world then ceased to be a phantasmagoria, a dream to be dissipated by the slightest breeze. Surrounded by human suffering, Kazantzakis became more aware than ever of the historical responsibility of the individual which makes each one feel that he has the answer to the injustice of the world. This inner struggle is evident in all of his writing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Read!
I read this book three times and never get tired of it.It impressed me both as a teenager and as an adult when I could better appreciate the force of Nikos Kazantzakis' messages. Once you start reading his novels, you won't want to stop until you have read more. His range of topics is impressive.

Current Application
I read this a number of years ago.It is not a paen to freedom, but a description of the hatred between the Cretans and the Turks made virtually unabateable by regligious prejudice and historic experience.

Today, it informs my view of the unabateable hatred in the Middle East.

The book is excellent.The characters are larger than life in their strengths and in their flaws--from the Homeric captains to the pitiful (not pitiable) Hadji, the Muslim fool unable to resist Captain Michaelis' demand to drink and who thereafter spreads dung on his head in further self-abasement and repentence.

Wonderful character development, a plat that moves and develops well, and an ending leaving food for thought in the early 21st Century on planet Earth.

An amazing book, by an amazing author!
Nikos Kazantzakis is one of the most under appreciated authors of the 20th century.The fact that this book, arguably his greatest work, is out of print is a prime example of that fact.Many readers have come to the mistaken conclusion that this book is primarily about the Greek, more specifically Cretan, struggle for freedom from Ottoman rule.The subject of this book is far greater.This book is truly about man's struggle for freedom from his own shortcomings.Some may even argue that Kazantzakis is seeking not only to define his own struggle, but also to understand his father.Captain Mihalis (The primary character in the books) is patterned after the author's own father.

I've had the opportunity to read this edition, and Greek editions of this book numerous times over the years, and have never grown tired of this book.I've come away with something new after each reading. I typically find myself conserving pages (reading slower) towards the end of this book because I don't want it to end.This is one of those books that will haunt you after you've read it.

Helpless Desperation
In the island of Crete the Teacher was born. In the island of Crete wherehis people remained under Turkish occupation for more than two centuries.Is there a diamond in the greek history which cannot be linked to Crete?Incredulous one might remain to extreme stories described-imagined byKazantzakis, but then let this "Thomas" read into the history ofthe Cretans, their constant revolts against Othoman occupation, their"aposyrsis" to the mountains where their life displayed theattrocious but noble feature of Freedom. Was/is it really the Turks? No,Kapetan Michalis was not the man to enjoy peace, war and fighting were hisnature, there abolished he the tornment of having been given life.Kazantzakis shares:I asked my mother, "How was my grandfather?""Like your father only darker." "What did he do? ""He fought." "And where there was no war?" "Hesmoked his pipe and looked at the mountains."

It is the nature ofman, the nature of the warrior who restrained from life, restrained becauselife he has been given , choses he to continue by fighting... It is in thisisolation of the self, in this denial of peace that man reaches the crestof alienation, the crest of silent freedom, Death...

This book is too good to be out of print!
This book is incredible.It is an accurate portrayal of Greeks because it was written by a Greek."Freedom or Death" is too good to be out of print.This is one of Kazantzakis' best novels, even better than "Zorba."It needs to be put back into print, by gum! ... Read more