Cultural junctions West-East: Nikos Kazantzakis and Nagai Kafū

Abstract

The present study, titled Cultural junctions West-East: Nikos Kazantzakis and Nagai Kafū, tries to approach two writers who, despite coming from cultural spaces set at great geographical distance, could be compared in terms of both biographical details and the aesthetic program of their works. We therefore read from a hermeneutical perspective Nikos Kazantzakis’ Report to Greco and Nagai Kafū’s last novel, A Strange Tale from East of the River, proposing a new code of reading, close to the labyrinth of the creative act and to the mystery of creation by which the two given texts could be joined.

Keywords

• creative act
• biographical time
• artistic creed