Lucian Blaga (1895-1961) is judged by many to be Romania’s most original philosopher and greatest poet of the twentieth century. While scholars with access to his works in Romanian are well-aware of their importance, his writings have remained, until now, little known in the English-speaking world. 

 

Zalmoxis is Blaga’s first play and one of his most important literary works. It underlines much of his philosophy. Blaga’s attachment to Expressionist ideals is discernible in his treatment of the characters primarily as vehicles of ideas and his preference for primitive nature over the cultured metropolis.

 

The book includes an introduction by Keith Hitchins of the University of Illinois, a leading historian of Romania in the United States, and a scholar intimately acquainted with Blaga’s philosophy. In it, he discusses the importance of Blaga’s life and work. The translation is by Doris Platnus-Runey from Wayne State University.