A book that teaches us to celebrate life: 'Zorba the Greek'

One of the world-renowned novels that beautifully records the human mind's yearning for freedom and the truths of life is Zorba the Greek by the Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Published in 1946, the book has captivated literary readers around the world for decades.

The novel's setting is an engaging one. A young intellectual immersed only in books and intense philosophical thought meets Zorba, an energetic man with no formal education who has learnt life's lessons through experience. In Zorba, who carries no worry on his shoulders, music, dance and hard work are full of life.

Zorba's approach completely transforms the worldview of the young man steeped in books. The novel teaches the lesson of how to face sorrows and unexpected failures, and how to savour every moment.

Kazantzakis - novelist, journalist, poet and philosopher - wrote many profound books on the freedom of the human soul and spiritual seeking. Zorba has an important place in his autobiographical novel too. The novel shines not merely as a storybook but as a guide to everyday living. Notably, the novel has been translated into Tamil under the title 'A Greek Called Zorba'.