150.00€
A rare and highly desirable 1933 first Greek edition of Le Petit Chose (Το Mικρούλικο) by Alphonse Daudet, adapted into Greek by the celebrated author Nikos Kazantzakis.
Published in Athens by the renowned Eleutheroudakis publishing house, this edition represents an important early example of Kazantzakis’ engagement with European literature through literary adaptation and translation. Far from a literal rendering of the original text, Kazantzakis approached such works with remarkable creative freedom, often reshaping them according to his own literary vision.
In a letter to Pantelis Prevelakis dated 27 August 1930, Kazantzakis described his method:
“I have found some masterpieces. I do not translate them, I adapt them with great freedom and in some I add entire chapters, but from almost all I remove a lot of nonsense.”
This volume therefore stands not only as a Greek edition of Daudet’s classic semi-autobiographical novel, but also as a fascinating testament to Kazantzakis’ literary craftsmanship during a formative period of his career.
The book is illustrated with charming period artwork characteristic of Eleutheroudakis publications of the interwar years and retains its attractive original publisher’s decorative blue cloth binding with the original illustrated front cover.
An important bibliophilic item combining French literature, modern Greek letters, illustration, and the history of publishing in Greece.
Book Details
Author: Alphonse Daudet
Greek adaptation: Nikos Kazantzakis
Title: Το Mικρούλικο (Le Petit Chose)
Publisher: Eleutheroudakis, Athens
Year: 1933
Edition: First Greek Edition
Language: Greek
Pages: 162
Dimensions: 21 cm × 16 cm
Illustrated throughout
Original decorative blue cloth publisher’s binding
Original illustrated cover preserved
Condition
Good (+) condition for its age.
Light age-related wear and toning
Binding firm and attractive
Interior clean and well preserved
Please consult the accompanying photographs as part of the description and condition report.
Literary Significance
Nikos Kazantzakis (1883–1957), author of Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ, remains one of the most influential figures in modern Greek literature. His adaptations and translations reveal the breadth of his intellectual interests and his unique approach to literary interpretation.
Scarce on the market, this 1933 edition is both a literary artifact and an attractive collector’s piece from the golden age of Greek publishing.
