Saint Francis.

KAZANTZAKIS, Nikos; Translated by Peter A. Bien.

Item Number: 29093

New York: Simon & Schuster, 1962.

First edition of this fictionalized biography of Francis of Assisi. Octavo, original half cloth. Translated from the Greek by Peter A. Bien. Signed by the translator on the front free endpaper as follows, “To John “Who knows, perhaps God is simply the search for God.” Peter Bien.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a few small closed tears.

The protean Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis retells the story of the most beloved of saints—Francis of Assisi, who permanently changed the way people think about following God. Drawing on the traditional stories of the saint’s life, Kazantzakis infuses the tale with a fervent vision that is uniquely his own, highlighting the saint’s heroic single-mindedness in the face of extreme physical and spiritual suffering. He portrays the saint as a great lover and inspiring leader who embraced radical poverty in the face of many obstacles and temptations while achieving a way of life marked by epic generosity. “The novel is strong, deep, and moving. . . . a penetration into the mystery and wonder of life" (San Francisco Chronicle).