Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis

Thanks to everyone who joined for the latest event on Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend myself as I was ill, but I’m very glad to hear that the discussion went well. A special thanks to Clark for sending me the information about which book was chosen as the next one.

The next book to read is the Greek classic Zorba the Greek (1946) by Nikos Kazantzakis. My apologies for putting the next event up later than usual.

Set on the island of Crete, the novel follows an intellectual narrator who meets the larger-than-life Alexis Zorba — a man driven by instinct, passion, and a deep love of life. What unfolds is both a philosophical and deeply human story about freedom, friendship, and what it means to truly live.

A short description of the book reads:

A classic of modern Greek literature, Zorba the Greek contrasts the life of the mind with the life of action, as the narrator is drawn into Zorba’s vibrant, impulsive worldview. The novel explores existential questions about joy, suffering, and the human condition — all through the unforgettable character of Zorba.

You can read more about the book on Wikipedia here, find it on Goodreads here and listen to it as an audiobook here.

There is also a famous film adaptation from 1964, Zorba the Greek, starring Anthony Quinn. The film was very well received and won three Academy Awards (including Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography), and was also nominated for Best Picture. It's not, however, that easy to come by, unfortunately.

For other resources on how to get a hold of classic books, please see the *[About](https://www.meetup.com/copenhagen-clas