Kazantzakis, Nikos

Nikos Kazantzakis, Greek writer, 1883-1957

Nikos Kazantzakis was a Greek writer and philosopher, celebrated for his novel "Zorba the Greek", considered his magnum opus. He became known globally after the 1964 release of the Michael Cacoyannis film Zorba the Greek, based on the novel. It was the 19th highest grossing film of 1964. The dance at the end of the film, choreographed by Giorgos Provias, formerly known as "Zorba's dance" and later called Sirtaki, has become a popular cliché of Greek dance. Kazantzakis gained renewed fame with the 1988 Martin Scorsese adaptation of his book "The Last Temptation of Christ".