The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis

Kazantzakis, O telefteos pirasmos, Athens: Eleni Kazantzakis 1964 (and subsequent editions) Kazantzakis, O telefteos pirasmos, Athens: Estia 1961 Kazantzakis, O telefteos pirasmos, Athens: Difros 1955, 1959 It is noteworthy that the Last Temptation blazes a new trail in the literary treatment of the gospel accounts Kazantzakis' paradigm was later followed by authors such as Robert Graves, Norman Mailer, José Saramango, Gérald Messadié, Éric-Emmanuel Schmidt, Anne Bernay and Eugene Whitworth, who present the story of Christ as narrated by himself or by Pontius Pilate, or link it to important myths of the Eastern Mediterranean and to Jewish political and dynastic struggles. The novel is dedicated to 'Maria Bonaparte, author, Princess of George of Greece'. Written in an early form on Aegina in 1942, under the title T' apomnimonevmata tou Christou assumed final form in Antibes in 1950-1951. At that moment he opens his eyes and, seeing that he is still on the cross, realises that it was nothing more than a dream. It is then he realises that the angel who announced his salvation from the cross was Satan - the last temptation. Several years later, a now elderly Jesus comes face to face with his disciples, who accuse him of betrayal and desertion.

Paul leaves, determined to continue his preaching even if it is founded in falsehood. Jesus is infuriated by this and tells him the truth. Some time later, Paul arrives at Jesus' house and talks to him of the crucifixion, the resurrection of the Messiah and the new religion. But while he is on the cross, Jesus opens his eyes and sees that he has been transported to the shade of a tree in blossom an angel tells him that God has decided to save him and allow him to live a normal life. Up until the crucifixion, the story develops largely in line with the gospel accounts. Having steadfastly refused to undertake the mission of salvation, he eventually decides to submit to divine will. Jesus is depicted as an ordinary carpenter, even making the crosses used by the Romans to execute Jewish revolutionaries. This is a narrative of the story of Jesus, focused on the final years of his life.

The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis