285.00€
A rare signed copy of the first Greek edition of Ο Βραχόκηπος (The Rock Garden), one of Nikos Kazantzakis’ most unusual and fascinating novels.
Published in Athens in 1960 by I. Kollaros (Estia), this edition marks the novel’s first appearance in the Greek language. The translation, together with an important introductory essay, was prepared by Pantelis Prevelakis, Kazantzakis’ close friend, literary collaborator, and one of the leading figures of modern Greek literature.
This copy bears a handwritten presentation inscription and signature by Pantelis Prevelakis, greatly enhancing its literary and bibliographical interest.
The Rock Garden occupies a unique position within Kazantzakis’ oeuvre.
The novel was written in French on the island of Aegina in 1936, following a commission from the Leipzig publisher Grethlein. Political developments in Germany prevented its publication, however, and the project was abandoned before the book reached the press.
Consequently, the work remained unpublished in its original language for more than two decades. It first appeared in Dutch translation, while the original French text was finally published only in 1959, one year before this first Greek edition.
The present volume therefore represents the first opportunity for Greek readers to encounter one of Kazantzakis’ previously unpublished novels in their own language.
The translation was entrusted to Pantelis Prevelakis (1909–1986), distinguished novelist, essayist, art historian, and one of the principal representatives of Greece’s celebrated Generation of the 1930s.
As Kazantzakis’ closest literary associate and lifelong friend, Prevelakis was uniquely qualified to introduce the work to a Greek audience. His substantial introductory essay provides valuable insight into the novel’s creation and its place within Kazantzakis’ philosophical and literary development.
His original inscription and signature make this copy especially desirable for collectors of twentieth-century Greek literature.
Nikos Kazantzakis (1883–1957) remains the most internationally acclaimed Greek author of the twentieth century. His major works—including Zorba the Greek, The Last Temptation of Christ, Christ Recrucified, and Report to Greco—have been translated worldwide, while his profound philosophical vision secured him repeated nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Author: Nikos Kazantzakis
Title: Ο Βραχόκηπος (The Rock Garden)
Edition: First Greek edition
Translator & Introduction: Pantelis Prevelakis
Presentation Inscription: Handwritten and signed by Pantelis Prevelakis
Publisher: I. Kollaros (Estia)
Place of publication: Athens
Year: 1960
Language: Greek
Pages: 278
Dimensions: Approximately 22 cm × 15 cm
Binding: Contemporary full leather binding.
Very good condition.
Elegantly bound in a contemporary full leather binding. The binding remains firm and attractive, while the interior is clean, complete, and well preserved, with only minor age-related wear consistent with careful handling.
Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.
