Thanasis Maskaleris

Thanasis Maskaleris enjoying the magical light of Greece.

Thanasis Maskaleris (1930 October 26 to 23 November 2017 ) was born in Arkadia, Greece and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 17. He studied Philosophy and English at the University of Oklahoma, and Comparative Literature at Indiana University and the University of California-Berkeley. He has written original poetry in Greek and in English, and has translated contemporary Greek poetry and prose extensively.

Professor Maskaleris has taught Comparative Literature, Classics and Creative Writing at San Francisco State University, until his recent retirement. He was the Founding Director of the Center for Modern Greek Studies and has spearheaded efforts that led to the establishment of the Nikos Kazantzakis Chair at SFSU in 1983. He has co-translated, into English, Nikos Kazantzakis’ Russia, and is currently working on a critical-biographical study of Kazantzakis (Kazantzakis and the Cretan Life-force). Prof. Maskaleris has also authored Kostis Palamas, a critical introduction to the great poet’s work; and An Anthology of Modern Greek Poetry (co-edited with Nanos Valaoritis).

Zorba Press, in collaboration with the Dancing Star Foundation, is proud to announce the 2011 publication of Maskaleris’s book:

The Terrestrial Gospel of Nikos Kazantzakis.

The book is available in two editions: an English edition; and a bilingual edition in English and Greek.

The Terrestrial Gospel is an anthology of passages selected from various books by Kazantzakis, centering on Nature and the workers of the soil. A powerful and poetic work that raises environmental awareness and calls us to compassionate action, the book contains new translations from the Greek originals to English, some original poems by Maskaleris, and an Introduction by ecologist, author, and film-maker, Michael Tobias.

Click the links below to learn more about Maskaleris’s books on the website of Amazon.com:


A Video About Thanasis Maskaleris (3:16)

Thanasis Maskaleris Receives The Theodore Saloutos Award (16:02)