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David's Reviews > The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ
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I read this book at a very interesting time: In 1967 I was working in Jeddah, about 600 hundred miles south of Judea, training Saudi soldiers on the Raytheon Hawk Missile program. I had just visited Greece the month before with a Greek-American colleague where we had to be discreet in discussing politics. Subsequently, on April 21st the Greek military staged a coup. Two months later, June 1967, Nasser of Egypt would attack Israel which caused his defeat and reversals all over the Middle East. In 1965-66 I had visited Nazareth, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Tiberias, and Eilat, among other villages and cities in Jordan and Israel mostly by bus and hitchhiking night and day.
When you read this book, especially having seen the cities and land, you see Jesus's life much more clearly, and you get a better understanding of the Apostles, especially and essentially Judas Iscariot, Jesus's family, and how Jesus became who he was. This wonderful historical novel along with my esoteric travels had a profound effect on me and blew away some of the fluff in my head about the version of Christianity that I was brought up on.
An essential book for anyone who is from the Christian tradition and who loves superb historical fiction. (Kazantzakis also wrote Zorba--another classic which exemplifies parts of the Greek soul.)
When you read this book, especially having seen the cities and land, you see Jesus's life much more clearly, and you get a better understanding of the Apostles, especially and essentially Judas Iscariot, Jesus's family, and how Jesus became who he was. This wonderful historical novel along with my esoteric travels had a profound effect on me and blew away some of the fluff in my head about the version of Christianity that I was brought up on.
An essential book for anyone who is from the Christian tradition and who loves superb historical fiction. (Kazantzakis also wrote Zorba--another classic which exemplifies parts of the Greek soul.)
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
October 27, 1967
–
Finished Reading
January 18, 2016
– Shelved
January 7, 2021
– Shelved as:
fiction-greek
January 7, 2021
– Shelved as:
religion-christianity
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Jessaka
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Apr 27, 2018 08:27AM
I just bought this book and began reading it, and then got side tracked. Loved your review of it. I also have his book on St. Francis. No, I am wrong, I began reading his book, Zorba the Greek. Have not read this one, nor do I own it.
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I have his book on St. Francis but have not read it yet. Zorba I've read twice--so much better than the film with Anthony Quinn. The film version of the Last Temptation was also kind of a joke. The best film about Christ I think is The Passion directed and starred in by Mel Gibson (I almost said "the drunk guy", but that would have been grossly unjust). The most inspiring poem I believe I have ever read was Kazantzakis' "The Prologue" to the Odyssey a Modern Sequel translated by Kimon Friar. The rest of his Odyssey is probably not worth reading, but the Prologue set me on fire when I was 23, catapulting me out of Texas into a world of wonder and adventure.
David wrote: "I have his book on St. Francis but have not read it yet. Zorba I've read twice--so much better than the film with Anthony Quinn. The film version of the Last Temptation was also kind of a joke. The..."You have me curious about the Prologue, so I ordered it used.
Right now I am reading God's Little Acre.
I was reviewing our conversation, Jessaka, and since I have read and reviewed Caldwell's Tobacco Road, in which I mention that I hoped to read God's Little Acre, I'll see if you reviewed it and if you liked it, I'll get it and read it as well.
Interesting that you are reviewing a book you read more than 50 years ago! Did you reread it now? I recall reading it in the 60s as well, and I found it to me a powerful retelling and interpretation of the life of Christ. Thanks for reminding me about it.
Jessaka wrote: "I just bought this book and began reading it, and then got side tracullked. Loved your review of it. I also have his book on St. Francis. No, I am wrong, I began reading his book, Zorba the Greek. Hav..."Very different novels. I've met people like Zorba in my sojourns throughout Greece. It is a term used for a person who is independent, tough, and enjoys life to the fullest. In fact, my father-in-law's nickname was Zorba, and he had elements of the Kazantzakis' Zorba. One of the finest men I ever knew.
And, with books that made a very strong impression on me, feeling them so intensely when reading them, the passing of time does not seem to dull their effect on me. I have reread neither Zorba nor Last Tempation since, but I have lived them in one way or another.
