The Colossus of Maroussi
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- Create Date：2021-05-03 11:53:49
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Henry Miller
- ISBN：0141980540
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Summary
"Out of the sea， as if Homer himself had arranged it for me， the islands bobbed up， lonely， deserted， mysterious in the fading light。"
Enraptured by a young woman's account of the landscapes of Greece， Henry Miller set off to explore the Grecian countryside with his friend Lawrence Durrell in 1939。 In The Colossus of Maroussi he describes drinking from sacred springs， nearly being trampled to death by sheep and encountering the flamboyant Greek poet Katsumbalis， who "could galvanize the dead with his talk"。 This lyrical classic of travel writing represented an epiphany in Miller's life， and is the book he would later cite as his favourite。
"One of the five greatest travel books of all time。" - Pico Iyer
Enraptured by a young woman's account of the landscapes of Greece， Henry Miller set off to explore the Grecian countryside with his friend Lawrence Durrell in 1939。 In The Colossus of Maroussi he describes drinking from sacred springs， nearly being trampled to death by sheep and encountering the flamboyant Greek poet Katsumbalis， who "could galvanize the dead with his talk"。 This lyrical classic of travel writing represented an epiphany in Miller's life， and is the book he would later cite as his favourite。
"One of the five greatest travel books of all time。" - Pico Iyer
Reviews
Jennifer Elliott
，
It has taken me a long time to read this book and the review will not be easy。 Initially I was taken with the story of Henry Miller's friendship with Lawrence Durrell， and the adventure they planned in Corfu， where the Durrell family lived prior to World War II， in a kind of beautiful poverty among the Greeks。 The story begins just prior to the war， and the declaration of hostilities has occured which happens as a backdrop to the tales of meeting colourful locals and mixing with Larry and his bo It has taken me a long time to read this book and the review will not be easy。 Initially I was taken with the story of Henry Miller's friendship with Lawrence Durrell， and the adventure they planned in Corfu， where the Durrell family lived prior to World War II， in a kind of beautiful poverty among the Greeks。 The story begins just prior to the war， and the declaration of hostilities has occured which happens as a backdrop to the tales of meeting colourful locals and mixing with Larry and his bohemian actress wife Nancy。 Miller paints the landscape， the people and the lifestyle in a detailed way， and it is easy to feel immersed in the Greek Gods and their history as though it were yesterday。 The history is part of everyday Greek life and it figures in the stories and everyday life of the citizens。 He has come from living in Paris， having written for 20 years and the trip allows the break he。promised himself。One of the locals he meets。through Durrell is the Greek George Katsimbalis， who MIller dubs the Colossus of Maroussi for his larger than life personality， hence the title of the book。But there are many others， even the local peasants whom he admires for their simple arduous life。The mobilising of the Greek army interrupts their trip and they are forced to move to Athens。 The Durrell's friend Dr Stephanides takes him to the Pleiades which excites and delights him。He meets many interesting people; George Seferiades （Seferis）a future Nobel winning writer ， the artist Niko Ghika， as well as Katsimbalis。There is much eating and drinking， no sex， but a lot of love between men which centres on Greek history， related to MIller by Greek men via story and song。 （There are women mentioned but they are incidental to Henry Miller's story）Katsimbalis travels with Miller and introduces the sites of antiquity through his stories， but also through the food and people they meet。There was an accompanying essay by Ian S MacNiven which I recommend to readers for an interpretation of the journey Miller took through Greece， and the relationship this has to his literary life after Greece， I am no scholar of his writing。 My main feedback to potential readers is that this is a book worth reading。 Because MIller is writing at a time that the world was breaking apart into warring factions and the future was very uncertain I feel his reaction to an ancient culture is interesting and enriching to us。 As COVID 19 causes havoc and makes the future difficult to predict I believe we can see the value of grounding ourselves in writing， whether based in the ancient past or the present or even the future and allowing the voices we hear to inspire us。 Others have passed through difficult times， more。difficult than we。know， and they have survived。 Our lives are disrupted but much less than in 1940。Miller says， about his friends who are leaving to join the army or serve。in some way，' There will be no resuming where we left off。 The world we know is dead and gone。 The next time we meet， any of us， it will be on the ashes of all that we once cherished。'Miller writes about Greece in a highly personal way， and he notes the wonderful ancient ruins that are enhanced by native guides with a passion for the past。 I can relate to the lovely people you meet in Greece too。 Their language may not be as dramatic as heard by Miller but their past is present in all their lives。 。。。more
Susana Jorde López
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Una visión 。muy humana del pueblo griego， y una valoración al final ， de la crónica de su viaje。 A Grecia， muy reflexivo y humano de la situación en que él viajó a Grecia， con la II GM
Enrique
，
En El coloso de Marusi， Henry Miller comete un error de primero de transcendentalismo que， en mi opinión， también comete en sus obras Ralph Waldo Emerson， y que ha hecho que no haya conseguido terminar el libro: cuando se quiere expresar lo transcendental， a menudo menos es más。 A menudo un silencio， una imagen o un paisaje suelen expresar a la perfección lo transcendental sin necesidad de palabras。 Cuando empiezas a escribir palabras y palabras para describir lo transcendental， no sólo no lo co En El coloso de Marusi， Henry Miller comete un error de primero de transcendentalismo que， en mi opinión， también comete en sus obras Ralph Waldo Emerson， y que ha hecho que no haya conseguido terminar el libro: cuando se quiere expresar lo transcendental， a menudo menos es más。 A menudo un silencio， una imagen o un paisaje suelen expresar a la perfección lo transcendental sin necesidad de palabras。 Cuando empiezas a escribir palabras y palabras para describir lo transcendental， no sólo no lo consigues， sino que además te vuelves pesado。 Pero pesado， pesado。 Y es una lástima porque algunos de sus recursos estilísticos me gustan， como esas enumeraciones en que se relacionan， con cierta mala uva y humor negro， elementos aparentemente inconexos。Lamento tener que decirlo: aquí Miller empacha。 。。。more
Irini Kallides
，
"There is something colossal about any human figure when that individual becomes truly and thoroughly human。" And then Miller describes what he mean by that， through Katsimbalis from Amaroussion in Athens who is the most human person he have ever met。 "He spoke of little things and of great with equal reverence， he was never too busy to pause and dwell on the things which moved him。" and so on。 Miller is enthusiastic about being in Greece visiting sites in Crete， Peloponnese and Attica and it is "There is something colossal about any human figure when that individual becomes truly and thoroughly human。" And then Miller describes what he mean by that， through Katsimbalis from Amaroussion in Athens who is the most human person he have ever met。 "He spoke of little things and of great with equal reverence， he was never too busy to pause and dwell on the things which moved him。" and so on。 Miller is enthusiastic about being in Greece visiting sites in Crete， Peloponnese and Attica and it is refreshing to read about his enthusiasm。 The pages are marked by his impressions and expressions and it is really joyful to be in this world。 。。。more
Brendan
，
Miller’s account of his travels in Greece is everything I want from a travel book， especially one by Miller。 From his beautiful descriptions to his simple love for being alive no matter where he is， this book is ab absolute pleasure to read。
Ted Prokash
，
Took me a while to get into it this， because I've been reading a lot of really exacting prose writers lately and Miller's style is just to basically transcribe his own unending soliloquy。 He's that friend of yours who never shuts up。 He's interesting， he's well-traveled， has a unique take things， but eventually you know he'll draw you into an argument by sticking to some arbitrary/obscure point and you just end up feeling tired。 So tired。 But a book you can put down whenever you want。 Pick up th Took me a while to get into it this， because I've been reading a lot of really exacting prose writers lately and Miller's style is just to basically transcribe his own unending soliloquy。 He's that friend of yours who never shuts up。 He's interesting， he's well-traveled， has a unique take things， but eventually you know he'll draw you into an argument by sticking to some arbitrary/obscure point and you just end up feeling tired。 So tired。 But a book you can put down whenever you want。 Pick up the soliloquy when you're in the mood。So yes， at first I was thinking–and I've been a big Henry Miller fan， though I haven't read him in several years–damn， this guy's a shitty writer。 But I forgot， eventually Miller will get off on some flowery， purple tangent that makes perfect sense to you as it plays just the right notes for your aesthetically prejudiced ear and once more， you're ready to take the ride。 It's what the guy does。 Did。This one's a travelogue of a holiday in Greece just as WWII was ramping up btw， Miller traipsing around the land where gods walked， where man reached the pinnacle of his civilization， etc。， so as you can imagine， the prattle is pretty high-minded throughout。I gave it 3 stars just because I didn't think there was quite enough there to give it four。 It's a slim book。 But I enjoyed it on the whole and sections were actually profound。 。。。more
MA Arman
，
اگرچه تندیس ماروسی واقعا به مناسبت سفر میلر به یونان نوشته شده است، اما تندیس ماروسی سفرنامه نیست。 تندیس ماروسی داستان هم نیست。 حتی شرح یونان و یونانیان هم نیست。 گرچه میلر همه اینها را در تندیس ماروسی گنجانده، تندیس ماروسی از نظر من، خودِ میلر است。 فقط و فقط خود میلر。باید حوصله توصیفات او را داشته باشی و از خلال آنها باورهای میلر را بیابی。 تندیس ماروسی برای شناخت بیشتر میلر عالی است، اگرچه برای کسی که نخستین بار است میلر میخواند شاید آنقدر جاذب نباشد。توصیفات میلر و تلاشی که به خرج میدهد تا سرما اگرچه تندیس ماروسی واقعا به مناسبت سفر میلر به یونان نوشته شده است، اما تندیس ماروسی سفرنامه نیست。 تندیس ماروسی داستان هم نیست。 حتی شرح یونان و یونانیان هم نیست。 گرچه میلر همه اینها را در تندیس ماروسی گنجانده، تندیس ماروسی از نظر من، خودِ میلر است。 فقط و فقط خود میلر。باید حوصله توصیفات او را داشته باشی و از خلال آنها باورهای میلر را بیابی。 تندیس ماروسی برای شناخت بیشتر میلر عالی است، اگرچه برای کسی که نخستین بار است میلر میخواند شاید آنقدر جاذب نباشد。توصیفات میلر و تلاشی که به خرج میدهد تا سرمایه ستیزی خود را این جا و آنجا به رخ بکشد، و اصراری که بر بیان تنفر اش از مظاهر سرمایه داری آمریکایی دارد، کتاب را پر کرده است。 میلر از هر فرصتی استفاده میکند تا گوشزد کند آنچه به اسم آمریکا به خوردتان داده اند روتوش زیبایی بر واقعیتی بی اندازه زشت است。 از نظر او فقط احمق ها آمریکا را دوست دارند و با وجود یونان اصلا چگونه کسی میتواند آمریکا را دوست داشته باشد。 برای میلر فرانسه و پاریس جایی است که واقعا زندگی کرده است، جایی است که زندگی کردن را از آنجا آغاز کرده است。 اما در مقابلِ خلوص زندگی در یونان، فرانسه هم هیچ است。 این جا و آنجا گوشزد میکند که یونان دروازه شرق است و شرق جایی است که هنوز انسان هست。 دائم میگوید شاید روزی به ایران، عربستان، هند، سمرقند یا چین برود。 حتی انتظار دارد دوستان اش را آنجا ببیند و مطمئن است چنان ملاقاتی بین بهترین نسخه او و بهترین نسخه دوستان اش خواهد بود。 میلر به پیشنهاد زنی که در فرانسه با او هم خانه است در جستجوی انسان آنگونه که او میپسندد به یونان می رود و اتفاقا آنچه را میجوید، به کمال میابد。 در کنار همه کسانی که در یونان او را مسحور خود میکنند کاتسیم بالیس همان مسیحای میلر است。 شاید این تندیس （ماروسی شهری در آتیک） که نه فقط معرف آتیکا （منطقه تاریخی اطراف آتن）، بلکه نمادی از یونان است خود کاتسیم بالیس باشد。 شاید اصلا او نماد انسان است。 و این مجسمه چیزی است که از انسان باقیمانده است。 یا بهتر بگویم، این تندیس ثابت میکند انسان هنوز باقی مانده است。 。。。more
Bohemian Book Lover
，
If Miller was Kazantzakis this book would be his Zorba The Greek。 Miller's Zorba is a Greek man he met and befriended in Greece by the name of Katsimbalis。 His impressive and colossal personality was the inspiration for the title Miller gave to his， from my knowledge， first travel book。 Written in the mellifluously impressionistic， notoriously gritty and metaphysically digressive style he is known for （except for the sexual explicities， that is）， it recounts his vacation and sojourn in Greece ju If Miller was Kazantzakis this book would be his Zorba The Greek。 Miller's Zorba is a Greek man he met and befriended in Greece by the name of Katsimbalis。 His impressive and colossal personality was the inspiration for the title Miller gave to his， from my knowledge， first travel book。 Written in the mellifluously impressionistic， notoriously gritty and metaphysically digressive style he is known for （except for the sexual explicities， that is）， it recounts his vacation and sojourn in Greece just before the outbreak of the 2nd World War; detailing people and places met and experienced， Miller tirelessly and， at times， tediously sings the praises and virtues of a country whose ancient history and culture had such an impact on him （similar to Rilke's experience of Russia） that he claims to have left those Grecian shores transfixed and transformed。。。 reborn and reshaped， as a person and as an artist。 。。。more
Carlos Moreno
，
"Siempre he considerado que el arte de relatar una historia consiste en estimular hasta tal punto la imaginación del oyente， que éste se sume en sus propios ensueños mucho antes del final。" "Siempre he considerado que el arte de relatar una historia consiste en estimular hasta tal punto la imaginación del oyente， que éste se sume en sus propios ensueños mucho antes del final。" 。。。more
James Tingle
，
（My copy was actually longer than this edition by a good few pages。）I finished this today， after not reading for a while for some reason， and can say that I overall really enjoyed the book。 The only other work I've so far read by Henry Miller is Tropic of Cancer， which I thought to be a very entertaining and well written book。 This one is all about Henry Miller deciding to visit Greece， staying with his writer friend Lawrence Durrell， at his home in Corfu， as a starting base for his adventures t （My copy was actually longer than this edition by a good few pages。）I finished this today， after not reading for a while for some reason， and can say that I overall really enjoyed the book。 The only other work I've so far read by Henry Miller is Tropic of Cancer， which I thought to be a very entertaining and well written book。 This one is all about Henry Miller deciding to visit Greece， staying with his writer friend Lawrence Durrell， at his home in Corfu， as a starting base for his adventures to come。 He enjoys hanging out with his pal and at first he doesn't get up to that much， but eventually he decides to head to mainland Greece and go back to Athens， where he visited very fleetingly before he went to Corfu。 Here he meets the irrepressible， garrulous， full of life character that is Katsimbalis， who entertains him and his friends with epic rambling tales， that he lets rip with after they've feasted and drank copious amounts of wine。 This larger than life person crops up a few times in the book， and it's clear that Henry Miller is very impressed with him， almost to the point of idolising the chap。。。His adventures from this point veer away from Lawrence Durrell， and it's not until later that he makes another appearance， as most of the book Miller is travelling with Katsimbalis， or on his own。 They do meet up in the last part， however， for a few more adventures， as he seeks to cram a little more sight-seeing in before being forced to return to New York， much to his displeasure。It's on paper a travel book， but if you are looking for some sort of in-depth， detailed account of Greece and it's history， then this will not be the book for you， as that's not really the kind of book it is。 It is more a journey of self-discovery for Miller and revelation， and although he does talk about the places he visits and gives a good account of them in his own poetic way， it's more about how Greece makes him feel， than anything else。 He clearly has quite a spiritual awakening while spending time there， and he writes in a very effusive way， seeming as if he's becoming almost ecstatically happy and joyous as he travels around; philosophising with rapturous delight half the time， unless he's caught in a downpour， or being bothered by the odd tedious individual， here and there。。。I enjoyed this book and found it very interesting and entertaining for the most part， although it can go almost a little too random occasionally， when he really goes off on one， and you wonder what he's been imbibing that day， before he sat down at the type writer， but these bits are quite rare。 I think a lot of people will read this book and not like it that much， and may find it too rambling and unfocused， as it is quite unstructured and free-flowing， but I really liked that about it。 Best enjoyed when not seen as a travel book， but as a work of self-discovery and self-enlightenment。。。enter with an open mind， and you may enjoy it as much as I did。 。。。more
Andrea
，
Taken in university， the themes of this book include Greece compared to people （women）， as compared to the French， British and Americans。 Also themes of history， poverty， landscapes， water， food and drink; American jazz and industrialization; French provincialism and bureaucracy， and the coldness and stuffiness of England。 Apollo represents society， vs。 Dionysus， representing Miller's world （aka the poet's）。 Taken in university， the themes of this book include Greece compared to people （women）， as compared to the French， British and Americans。 Also themes of history， poverty， landscapes， water， food and drink; American jazz and industrialization; French provincialism and bureaucracy， and the coldness and stuffiness of England。 Apollo represents society， vs。 Dionysus， representing Miller's world （aka the poet's）。 。。。more
Emma Steer
，
I feel like I'm in step with Miller's narration throughout and I don't need to stretch too far to understand his meaning。 I don't know why I have this relationship with Miller， but I feel that his descriptive language appeals to me in a similar way that Cormac McCarthy's does。 I love Greece and this book focused on Miller's travels throughout Greece。 The descriptions were intense and detailed; it seemed liked I could have been there with him。 I feel like I'm in step with Miller's narration throughout and I don't need to stretch too far to understand his meaning。 I don't know why I have this relationship with Miller， but I feel that his descriptive language appeals to me in a similar way that Cormac McCarthy's does。 I love Greece and this book focused on Miller's travels throughout Greece。 The descriptions were intense and detailed; it seemed liked I could have been there with him。 。。。more
Christel
，
Full of Kitsch， unfortunately。 Macho-kitsch and boring cliche about Greece
Salim
，
Beautiful。 Periodic re-read of this lovely travel journal。
Λένα Βλασταρά
，
Δεν έχω καμιά διάθεση να γράψω για το πόσο υπέροχο είναι αυτό το βιβλίο。 Όλα τα υπέροχα είναι γραμμένα μέσα του。 Θα γράψω μόνο ότι τελειώνοντας και την τελευταία σελίδα και κλείνοντάς το， χειροκρότησα για λίγη ώρα。 Υ。Γ。 Δεύτερη ανάγνωση， 15 περίπου χρόνια μετ´α την πρώτη。。。
Vasko Genev
，
4，4Е， не бях чел подобен пътепис。 Добре， само прилича на пътепис。 Структурата е типичната за жанра， НО 。。。 всъщност това е 。。。 ода， възхвала， преклонение към света на поезията， баси 。。。 нещо такова。 При това тази книга， тази ода е посветена на конкретна личност и може спокойно да се казва "Георгиос Кацимбалис от Амарусион （Маруси）"。 Мисля， че това е първата ми среща с Хенри Милър。 Хареса ми。 Обичам писателите， които рискуват да излязат от комфорта на съобразяването на всяка цена （по модерному вл 4，4Е， не бях чел подобен пътепис。 Добре， само прилича на пътепис。 Структурата е типичната за жанра， НО 。。。 всъщност това е 。。。 ода， възхвала， преклонение към света на поезията， баси 。。。 нещо такова。 При това тази книга， тази ода е посветена на конкретна личност и може спокойно да се казва "Георгиос Кацимбалис от Амарусион （Маруси）"。 Мисля， че това е първата ми среща с Хенри Милър。 Хареса ми。 Обичам писателите， които рискуват да излязат от комфорта на съобразяването на всяка цена （по модерному влизащи в калъпа на "политкоректността"） и да се изразяват откровено и ярко като истински жудожници。 Да， рискуват да изглеждат на места твърде крайни и тесногръди， а категоричното им мнение по някои въпроси да ги принизява до боравещите твърде леко с общия знаменател。Разбира се， че ме подразни на някои места， но възхвалата му по всичко гръцко я възприемам като преклонение към изначалното и дивото， неопитоменото - всичко онова， преди да бъде обездушено от алчността на съвремнния човек - консуматор。 Стори ми се един одухотворен Чарлз Буковски， Буковски с вселен у него Уитман и Рембо， колкото абсурдно и нелепо да звучи това。 Леко， пък и недотам леко， прекалява със сравненията и метафорите， но все пак това е ода。 Набелязах си много цитати。 Като цяло книгата впечатлява， а Милър ще се чете。 。。。more
Eric Millman
，
Hardly a flawless， polished work， it's nevertheless luminous， anti-literary， and full of life。 Aspects feel dated， like his broad anthropological statements about a certain nationality or race， marring an otherwise extrordinarily keen sense of observation and nuance; he also delves into bouts of self-pity， always contending with his financial misfortune that is unlikely to stir much sympathy in readers （Orwell's Down and Out。。。， on the other hand， reeks of a genuine brand of empathy that Miller Hardly a flawless， polished work， it's nevertheless luminous， anti-literary， and full of life。 Aspects feel dated， like his broad anthropological statements about a certain nationality or race， marring an otherwise extrordinarily keen sense of observation and nuance; he also delves into bouts of self-pity， always contending with his financial misfortune that is unlikely to stir much sympathy in readers （Orwell's Down and Out。。。， on the other hand， reeks of a genuine brand of empathy that Miller avoids）。 His trips into the surreal， words splashing all around with little restraint， lose even me， a reader who tends to relish textural nonsense -- I am referring mostly to his jazz passage。 That all being said， the context behind the work remains extremely timely， namely his view of America and his of the impending war， and his zeal for the world he's in and the characters he meets is undeniable， and now and again he really spins a bit of prose that leaves you awestruck。 Short of what I'd call a true classic， this nevertheless deserves the renown of an On the Road， and to be rediscovered by my generation。 。。。more
Chiara
，
3 perché ci sono effettivamente delle perle: alcuni passaggi sono davvero illuminati， lucidi sulla condizione umana e sulla felicità。 Il libro però è un susseguirsi di descrizioni sognanti e esaltate， che sono belle per certi versi ma non proprio scorrevolissime， per me。 Il fatto che non ci sia una vera e propria trama è l'essenza del viaggio （e del libro） ma a tratti lo rende non tanto avvincente。 3 perché ci sono effettivamente delle perle: alcuni passaggi sono davvero illuminati， lucidi sulla condizione umana e sulla felicità。 Il libro però è un susseguirsi di descrizioni sognanti e esaltate， che sono belle per certi versi ma non proprio scorrevolissime， per me。 Il fatto che non ci sia una vera e propria trama è l'essenza del viaggio （e del libro） ma a tratti lo rende non tanto avvincente。 。。。more
Andrea Valdés
，
Una sorpresa。 Grecia。。。 ¡o nada！ Muy vital y bello。 Marida bien con las aventuras de Maillart & Swarzenbach por Irán y Turquía en los albores de la Segunda Guerra Mundial。
Jonathan Gill
，
Henry Miller discovers the places and people of Greece whilst visiting his friend Laurence Durrell just before the outbreak of WWII， which looms ominously in the background。 Extensive descriptions of the storyteller and amazing character Katsimbalis who epitomises the hospitality and love of life of the Greek people。 Miller falls in love with all aspects of Greek culture which is heroic and authentic compared to an America that is rich in dollers but not in spirit。
atb
，
"As of this day forth， in witness whereof， heretofore solemnly sealed and affixed， I do faithfully demit， abdicate， abrogate， evaginate and fornicate all powers， signatories， seals and offices in favor of peace and joy， dust and heat， sea and sky， God and angel， having to the best of my ability performed the duties of dealer， slayer， blighter， bludgeoner and betrayer of the Soiled & Civilized Sewing Machine manufactured by Murder， Death & Blight， Inc。 of the Dominions of Canada， Australia， Newfo "As of this day forth， in witness whereof， heretofore solemnly sealed and affixed， I do faithfully demit， abdicate， abrogate， evaginate and fornicate all powers， signatories， seals and offices in favor of peace and joy， dust and heat， sea and sky， God and angel， having to the best of my ability performed the duties of dealer， slayer， blighter， bludgeoner and betrayer of the Soiled & Civilized Sewing Machine manufactured by Murder， Death & Blight， Inc。 of the Dominions of Canada， Australia， Newfoundland， Patagonia， Yucatan， Schleswig-Holstein， Pomerania and other allied， subjugated provinces registered under the Death and Destruction Act of the planet Earth during the whilomst hegemony of the Homo sapiens family this last twenty-five thousand years。" 。。。more
Sara Abdulaziz
，
تكمن حميمية هذا الكتاب في كونه الكتاب الذي اهتدى فيه ميللر إلى مرحلة "السلام" حسب وصفه。 اليونان التي تفيض بالأساطير والآثار لم تجذب هنري لما اشتهرت به، وإنما لما وجده فيها من بساطة الروح رغم الفقر وأذى القيظ。 يقول ميللر: "حيثما تذهبُ في اليونان يتفتّح الناس كالأزهار"。 تكمن حميمية هذا الكتاب في كونه الكتاب الذي اهتدى فيه ميللر إلى مرحلة "السلام" حسب وصفه。 اليونان التي تفيض بالأساطير والآثار لم تجذب هنري لما اشتهرت به، وإنما لما وجده فيها من بساطة الروح رغم الفقر وأذى القيظ。 يقول ميللر: "حيثما تذهبُ في اليونان يتفتّح الناس كالأزهار"。 。。。more
Georgia
，
Φανταστικό！ Ειλικρινά， το αγάπησα！ Όχι επειδή ο Μίλλερ μιλάει με τα καλύτερα λόγια για την Ελλάδα και τους ανθρώπους της， αλλά γιατί η γλώσσα που χρησιμοποιεί είναι υπέροχη， με όμορφες εικόνες κι έξυπνες ιδέες。 Το βιβλίο αυτό αποτελείται ουσιαστικά από τις σκέψεις του συγγραφέα， μοιάζει με ημερολόγιο και τείνει να γίνεται πολύ προσωπικό σε ορισμένα σημεία。 Επιπλέον， είναι αρκετά ενδιαφέρον να διαβάζεις τις εντυπώσεις κάποιου για τη χώρα σου και για τα άτομα που συναναστράφηκε， ανάμεσα τους ο Σεφ Φανταστικό！ Ειλικρινά， το αγάπησα！ Όχι επειδή ο Μίλλερ μιλάει με τα καλύτερα λόγια για την Ελλάδα και τους ανθρώπους της， αλλά γιατί η γλώσσα που χρησιμοποιεί είναι υπέροχη， με όμορφες εικόνες κι έξυπνες ιδέες。 Το βιβλίο αυτό αποτελείται ουσιαστικά από τις σκέψεις του συγγραφέα， μοιάζει με ημερολόγιο και τείνει να γίνεται πολύ προσωπικό σε ορισμένα σημεία。 Επιπλέον， είναι αρκετά ενδιαφέρον να διαβάζεις τις εντυπώσεις κάποιου για τη χώρα σου και για τα άτομα που συναναστράφηκε， ανάμεσα τους ο Σεφέρης， ο Ντάρελ， ο Γκίκας κι εννοείται ο Κατσίμπαλης， για τον οποίο έγραψε ο Μίλλερ τον Κολοσσό του Μαρουσιού。Βαθμολογία: 4。5 αστέρια 。。。more
Maroi
，
Had I not received this book as an extremely unexpected gift I might've never heard of Henry Miller to be honest。 It's a hefty book to say the least， it wouldn't come as a surprise if people never finish it。 I personally felt like having a "monologue" with an elderly about his human experience。 Where every word and every thought is matured and that has sunk in his soul and that can't be shaken off or altered or corrected anymore （again like most elderly people）。 I see egotistical wankery， which Had I not received this book as an extremely unexpected gift I might've never heard of Henry Miller to be honest。 It's a hefty book to say the least， it wouldn't come as a surprise if people never finish it。 I personally felt like having a "monologue" with an elderly about his human experience。 Where every word and every thought is matured and that has sunk in his soul and that can't be shaken off or altered or corrected anymore （again like most elderly people）。 I see egotistical wankery， which I always find amusing。 Noble ideas and not so noble ideas。 Unrealistic wishes of desperate romantics and an acceptance of harsh realities。 Somewhat weirdly based friendships and an extreme amount of exaggeration。 This book is Human， so human。 。。。more
Tasos
，
Συνήθως βαριέμαι τα ταξιδιωτικά απομνημονεύματα σε οποιαδήποτε μορφή， ο Χένρι Μίλερ όμως βρήκε στην Ελλάδα το νόημα της ζωής （του） και η καταγραφή της μυσταγωγίας που ένιωσε στα διάφορα μέρη που επισκέφτηκε， της φιλίας του με τον Σεφέρη και τον Κατσίμπαλη （αυτός είναι ο Κολοσσός του Αμαρουσίου， όχι ο Πατούλης） και του διακριτικού bitching για την προεξέχουσα λογοτεχνική μορφή της Κρήτης （που δεν κατονομάζει， αλλά δεν παίζει να είναι άλλη από τον Καζαντζάκη） καθιστούν το βιβλίο ένα απολαυστικό αν Συνήθως βαριέμαι τα ταξιδιωτικά απομνημονεύματα σε οποιαδήποτε μορφή， ο Χένρι Μίλερ όμως βρήκε στην Ελλάδα το νόημα της ζωής （του） και η καταγραφή της μυσταγωγίας που ένιωσε στα διάφορα μέρη που επισκέφτηκε， της φιλίας του με τον Σεφέρη και τον Κατσίμπαλη （αυτός είναι ο Κολοσσός του Αμαρουσίου， όχι ο Πατούλης） και του διακριτικού bitching για την προεξέχουσα λογοτεχνική μορφή της Κρήτης （που δεν κατονομάζει， αλλά δεν παίζει να είναι άλλη από τον Καζαντζάκη） καθιστούν το βιβλίο ένα απολαυστικό ανάγνωσμα， ενδεικτικό του τι βλέπουν οι ξένοι στην Ελλάδα και εμείς αγνοούμε ή δεν μπορούμε να νιώσουμε。 。。。more
Evgenia Dimitriou
，
"There are experiences so wonderful， so unique， that the thought of prolonging them seems like the basest form of ingratitude。"[。。。]"As I write these lines it is a year since that moment in Athens which I have just described。 May I add that since coming to America everything that has happened to me， one fulfillment， one realization after another， has occurred with an almost clock-like precision。 Indeed， I am almost terrified for now， contrary to my life in the past， I have but to desire a thing "There are experiences so wonderful， so unique， that the thought of prolonging them seems like the basest form of ingratitude。"[。。。]"As I write these lines it is a year since that moment in Athens which I have just described。 May I add that since coming to America everything that has happened to me， one fulfillment， one realization after another， has occurred with an almost clock-like precision。 Indeed， I am almost terrified for now， contrary to my life in the past， I have but to desire a thing and my wishes are gratified。"[。。。]"Greece had made me free and whole。 I felt ready to meet the dragon and slay him， for in my heart I had already slain him。"[。。。]"Nobody can enjoy the experience he desires until he is ready for it。"Overwhelming， enchanting， knitting images， people and emotions together in the liveliest way。 - One of the best travel books of all time。 。。。more
Карла Александрова
，
Тази книга доказва， че думите за Милър са най-великото изразно средство， което той владее безупречно добре – небрежно， сякаш върти клечка за зъби между зъбите си， и същевременно виртуозно， сякаш е репетирал ден и нощ， за да превърне една магия в реалност。 А всъщност при него нещата като че ли се получават от само себе си， без да се напряга， думите просто се появяват на белия лист и овършават всичко по пътя си。Този път вълшебството， което Милър пресъздава， е свързано с Гърция。 През 1939 г。 той от Тази книга доказва， че думите за Милър са най-великото изразно средство， което той владее безупречно добре – небрежно， сякаш върти клечка за зъби между зъбите си， и същевременно виртуозно， сякаш е репетирал ден и нощ， за да превърне една магия в реалност。 А всъщност при него нещата като че ли се получават от само себе си， без да се напряга， думите просто се появяват на белия лист и овършават всичко по пътя си。Този път вълшебството， което Милър пресъздава， е свързано с Гърция。 През 1939 г。 той отива на пътешествие в страната по покана на английския писател Лорънс Даръл。 Накратко， романът разказва за духовно пътуване。 Факт е， че „Колосът от Маруси“ е доста по-различен роман от известните му „Sexus“， „Plexus“， „Nexus“， „Тропика на рака“ и „Тропика на козирога“。 Книгата е възвишен и възторжен пътепис за една държава， която очевидно е останала в сърцето на писателя завинаги。 В романа не присъства еротиката， на която почитателите на Милър са свикнали， но има много споделени мисли и философски разсъждения – в типичния пълноводен и преливащ стил на Милър。 。。。more
Fatimah Al Ubaid
，
كانت رحلة سريالية ممتعة مع هنري ميللر في اليونان
Sotiris
，
Henry Miller is a fascinating writer。 It's just the way he writes。 Whether he talks about some very serious matter like the war or just describes a bird that flew over his head， you just enjoy his writing along with a good coffee。 Sometimes you may think that he is talking to much about a subject but finally you understand why。 Henry Miller is a fascinating writer。 It's just the way he writes。 Whether he talks about some very serious matter like the war or just describes a bird that flew over his head， you just enjoy his writing along with a good coffee。 Sometimes you may think that he is talking to much about a subject but finally you understand why。 。。。more
D'Ailleurs
，
Δεν ξέρω αν είμαι ο πλεον κατάλληλος για να γράψω έστω και δύο αράδες για τον Μίλερ αλλά σε κάθε περίπτωση ο χειμαρώδης λόγος του πιστεύω ότι κερδίζει ακόμα και όσους δεν έχουν συνηθήσει αναγνώσματα τέτοιου είδους。 Η άποψη του για την Ελλάδα δεν διαφέρει πολύ από αυτή του μέσου Αμερικανού τουρίστα: έχω δει τύπο από την βαθιά Αμερική να εκθειάζει την Ελλάδα επειδή μπορούσε να καπνίσει σε εσωτερικούς χώρους， δηλαδή αυτό το Βαλκανικό ντεκαντάνς που θυμίζει ένα απολειφάδι του δυτικού κόσμου όπου τίπ Δεν ξέρω αν είμαι ο πλεον κατάλληλος για να γράψω έστω και δύο αράδες για τον Μίλερ αλλά σε κάθε περίπτωση ο χειμαρώδης λόγος του πιστεύω ότι κερδίζει ακόμα και όσους δεν έχουν συνηθήσει αναγνώσματα τέτοιου είδους。 Η άποψη του για την Ελλάδα δεν διαφέρει πολύ από αυτή του μέσου Αμερικανού τουρίστα: έχω δει τύπο από την βαθιά Αμερική να εκθειάζει την Ελλάδα επειδή μπορούσε να καπνίσει σε εσωτερικούς χώρους， δηλαδή αυτό το Βαλκανικό ντεκαντάνς που θυμίζει ένα απολειφάδι του δυτικού κόσμου όπου τίποτα δεν λειτουργεί σωστά αλλά για κάποιο λόγο γοητεύει όσους ξέρουν ότι δεν πρόκειται να μείνουν για πάντα εκεί。 Παρόλα αυτά η ποιτική πρόζα σε συνδιασμό με τις ταξιδιωτικές αυτοβιογραφικές περιγραφές έχουν την αυθεντικότητα που λείπει πχ από τον Τζούμα。 Ο Μίλερ ήταν και θα είναι μια κατηγορία μόνος του και αυτό το βιβλίο το βεβαιώνει για μια ακόμα φορά。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Colossus of Maroussi
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Colossus of Maroussi&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft