Freedom or Death

From back cover: "'Freedom and Death' is Kazantzakis's modern Iliad. The context is Crete in the late 19th century, the epic struggle being between Greeks and Turks, between Christianity and Islam. A new uprising takes place to rival those of 1854, 1866 and 1878, and the island is thrown into confusion yet again. In the village of Megalokastro a Cretan resistance-fighter, Captain Michales, is matched by the Turkish bey, his blood-brother. The life of the local community continues shakily, but is disrupted by explosions of violence."

Before reading the book the title confused me; shouldn't it be Freedom OR Death? You would think....until you read the book. I won't spoil it for you by telling you what message Kazantzaki is trying to convey; you can find this out for yourself. What I can tell you is the setting is in Crete late 1800's while Crete was still under Turkish rule. It's a story of one family's (perhaps Kazantzaki's?) pride in their Greek Christian heritage and their irrepressible and explosive drive for freedom. Might I add that I have never read a book where an author displayed more love for his native land than Kazantzaki's passion for Crete and his "mother" Greece. This novel is classic Kazantzaki; powerfully raw but deeply profound all at the same time. It left me feeling like I had a knife stuck in my heart, like after reading an ancient Greek tragedy - absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend this book.

I was kind of surprised not to see any reviews on this amazing novel by Nikos Kazantzakis. Let me start by saying that I 've read this novel only in the original Greek version. Nevertheless, I feel I can comment on the content and the feelings that this "journey" inspired me. I originally felt that you have to be Greek to really feel the intensity of the ideas that storm through this story that takes place during the Greek Revolution era (1820's) against the Turkish oppression in the island of Crete. However, any reader can rise above the distinctive historical and cultural context (which with marvel you will experience its description) and get swept by the powerful ideas of love for one's home, love for one's family and such love for one's freedom that death is a duty. It is suggested however to familiarize yourself with some facts about Kazantakis' life and work by reading "Report to Greco" or/and his classic "Zorba the Greek". The fight for freedom is an idea that can be symbolized in many aspects of our lives and that sadly has now become a very commercial and misunderstood concept. It is in this book however that I read about it being given in its purest form as the ultimate fight for an idea that is more precious than life itself. The title of the book encompasses its substance: it is Freedom AND Death. The writing by Kazantzakis is greatly colorful with beautiful details that create the reality of that time. At the same time, his writing is very affecting; being a Cretan himself you can see his deep love for his home testified on the pages. This is not an easy read, I feel you need to be in a specific mood to engage in this book since it requires your soul to be present and not just your mind. It is emotionally drenching, the human struggles (both psychological and physical, inner and overt) depicted are fiercely touching and the glorious and bloody climax builds up in a ceremonial way. In the end of this book I trully experienced a catharsis, for the first time at such strength, having gone through so many emotional stages with the characters and the plot of the story. As in other Kazantakis books, people might find sexist elements or even misogyny, but bear in mind the historical era and the patriarchic structure of society at the time. I realize this review is quite personal, but I just felt the need to share my thoughts and feelings about this masterpiece. Approach this novel with an open mind and an open heart and I assure you, you will be rewarded.

In the island of Crete the Teacher was born. In the island of Crete where his 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 by Kazantzakis, but then let this "Thomas" read into the history of the Cretans, their constant revolts against Othoman occupation, their "aposyrsis" to the mountains where their life displayed the attrocious 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 his nature, 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?" "He smoked his pipe and looked at the mountains."It is the nature of man, the nature of the warrior who restrained from life, restrained because life he has been given , choses he to continue by fighting... It is in this isolation of the self, in this denial of peace that man reaches the crest of alienation, the crest of silent freedom, Death...

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!