Z

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In the novel "Z," Vassilis Vassilikos depicts the assassination of Grigorios Lambrakis, a young, progressive, and popular socialist MP who was a vocal critic of the government. Not a professional politician, Lambrakis was a physician and a professor at the University of Athens, a beloved figure and former champion of the Balkan Games. In 1963, he was murdered in Thessaloniki as part of a government-organized conspiracy, igniting a nationwide surge of anti-government resistance. While the government eliminated a political opponent, they inadvertently created a national hero. His funeral was attended by around half a million people, and the letter "Z" (meaning "lives") appeared throughout the country. This movement continued until the fall of the government and the rise of the military junta that ruled for seven years. Vassilikos skillfully utilized his knowledge of Thessaloniki and available documents to create a gripping literary work that embodies the essence of ancient tragedy. The book was banned in Greece, yet it spread worldwide, akin to a mythical phoenix, translated into numerous languages.