Nikos Kazantzakis in translation
Writer Nikos Kazantzakis – who was born on February 18, 1883 in Iraklion, Crete, and died of leukemia on October 26, 1957, in Freiburg, Germany – was both translated and a translator during his lifetime. The French Institute – on the occasion of the 50-year commemoration since his death and in cooperation with the International Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis Association, the Cervantes Institute, the Italian Educational Institute in Athens, the Goethe Institute, the European Translation Center and the Nea Estia magazine – has organized an international conference from May 13 to 15 on «Nikos Kazantzakis: Translator and Translated.» The conference is one of two events being held in memory of the celebrated and controversial writer and philosopher, aimed at shedding light on all aspects of his intellectual pursuits. Themes include Kazantzakis’s knowledge of ancient history; his translations from Ancient Greek; his translations of groundbreaking works by Henri Bergson, Friedrich Nietzsche and Charles Darwin, his translations of Goethe’s «Faust,» of Maurice Maeterlinck’s «Treasure of the Humble,» Dante’s «Divine Comedy,» and Nicolo Machiavelli’s «The Prince;» and the effect of translations on a work. The event will also address Kazantzakis’s translations for the theater and his influence on the dramaturgy of certain plays. The final day of the conference will examine Kazantzakis translated, with talks by philologists specializing in the most important languages the Cretan writer has been translated into. The second event of the tribute will be held in October and will bring together a display and sale of his translated works, film screenings and a large roundtable discussion on «Nikos Kazantzakis, the European: Travels, Philosophy, Literature and Politics.» French Institute, 31 Sina, Kolonaki, tel 210.339.8600.
