I felt again how simple and straightforward happiness can be - a glass of wine, a chestnut, a humble coal basin, or the sound of the sea. The masterpiece about the love of life: This award-winning novel still represents a philosophy of zest for life today. Nikos Kazantzakis created one of the most distinctive free spirits in world literature in his famous work, which Anthony Quinn immortalized in the film adaptation of the same name. Light-footed and passionate, the novel tells the story of a contemplative writer who retreats to Crete to manage a mine. From then on, he associates with the modern good-for-nothing Alexis Zorba, who has perfected the infectious art of loving life and not fearing death. Kazantzakis paints a unique picture of Greece, its people, culture, and music. A literary masterpiece.