KAZANTZAKIS, Nikos. - Lot 11

KAZANTZAKIS, Nikos. Odyseia [in Greek]. Athens, Pyrsos, 1938. Large folio, 835 pp. Paperback (cover faded with partial loss to spine but interior still fresh). Rare first edition of the major work by Greek novelist Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957). It is an original Greek poem of 33,333 lines, inspired by Homer's Odyssey. Following the structure of the mythological text, it is divided into 24 songs. Limited edition of 301 copies signed by the author on the colophon (24 copies numbered alpha to omega and 277 numbered roman), this one no. 268. An uncut copy with full margins. This "spiritual experience", begun in 1924, had 7 versions reworked by the author before its publication in 1938. It was not published in English or French until the 50s and 60s (in 1958, The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel). Poetry. Modern literature.