Alexander the Great

Plot

A historical novel for children, recounting Alexander's life from the day he tamed Bucephalus up until his death on the banks of the Euphrates.

Writing history

Probably written on Aegina in 1940 to earn much-needed income, though Fanis I. Kakridis dates it to between 1914 and 1922. It was originally published under the title In the Years of Alexander the Great, but in the memorandum submitted for his candidacy for the Academy of Athens (1945) Kazantzakis records it as In the Time of Alexander the Great. Published in its own right as Alexander the Great.

Greek editions

• A.B.C. [=N. Kazantzakis], "Sta chronia tou Megalexandrou", Neoloaia magazine, issues 19 (10.2.1940) to 52 (28.9.1941); the serialization was never completed.
• N. Kazantzakis, Megas Alexandros. With woodcuts and drawings by A. Tassos. Athens: Eleni Kazantzakis 1978 (and subsequent editions)

Foreign editions & translations

• Nikos Kazantzakis, Alexander the Great, translated into English by Theodora Vasils, illustrated by Virgil Burnett, Athens (Ohio): Ohio University Press 1982, 1990
• Nikos Kazantzakis, Alexander the Great, translated into English, London: Peter Owen 1982
• Nikos Kazantzakis, Alejandro el Grande, translated into Spanish by Mirta Arlt, Buenos Aires: Carlos Lohlé 1983