Name: The Colossus of Maroussi
ISBN: 9780811201094

Henry Miller

The author's quest for spiritual renewal is illuminated in descriptions of his impressions of Greece and its people

The Colossus of Maroussi

Chris Dailey

Contemplative and poetic telling of the author's journey through Greece at the outbreak of WWII. Focused on the intimate and human details of the nomadic life, Miller details the grand (the Oracle of Delphi), the minute (stomach issues on Crete), and the supernatural (descending into Agamemnon's tomb) with equitable vigor. Thirsty for capital "L" life, he abhors luxury and fellow Americans, and spends his days with new Greek friends. He's obsessed with the human spirit, connecting with the ancient, the simple pleasures, and forging his own path. Full of wonderful digressions and some cringe 1940's moment, the reading was amplified by my own travels through Greece. I'll pick it up again on my next visit.