One of the greatest writers of the modern era, he appeared in the literary scene in the beginning of the 20th century. His work is varied: novels, poetry, drama, tragedies, philosophical essays, travel impressions, translations of Homer, Dante and Goethe. Of his prolific work, critics consider the following two to be the most characteristic of his tormented personality, as well as of his unique individual ontology, which reached the point of nihilism: "Askitiki", a brief text which expresses his metaphysical ideas, and "Odisia", an epic poem which begins with Ulysses' return to Ithaki and narrates the unsatisfied heroes' new voyages to the South Pole. In later years, he wrote a number of novels which were translated in many languages, offering the writer an international recognition. In "Zorba the Greek", he searches for the archetypal character who enjoys happiness along with the problems that life has to offer. A simple, yet complex, character, Zorba helps bringing forth the perceptions of a whole era.