In The Roads of the Archangel, Mikis Theodorakis presents his autobiography. He dives into time and his memories, recounting the events and feelings that shaped his personality and defined his artistic and political journey. He experiences his childhood wandering through various cities in Greece, following his father, a senior government official.

He becomes acquainted with the lifestyle and music of the regions where they settle, but he feels different and alone everywhere. A nomad and a stranger, he finds refuge in music. During his teenage years, he decides to fully dedicate himself to music and begins composing, while also finding another significant support, poetry. During those years, he also discovers Marxism.

As a high school student, he gets organized in the Resistance against the occupiers. Being hunted, he escapes to Athens where he joins the EAM in 1943. He studies law for a short period while also enrolling at the Athens Conservatory. Organized in the left, he participates in the December events, is seriously injured, then experiences the hunt of the left during the Civil War, and is exiled to Ikaria and Makronisos.

Through torture and humiliation, he continues to compose music as well as his vision for a democratic political future for Greece. With his health severely compromised, he seeks refuge in Crete where he discovers his roots and heals his wounds. The 1950s are particularly creative for Mikis Theodorakis: he leaves for studies in Paris, receives awards, and becomes internationally known for his symphonic works, returning to Greece in 1959.

His call for national reconciliation puts his comrades in a difficult position and puzzles his opponents. In 1960, he presents the Epitaph for the first time while composing The Song of the Dead Brother and Axion Esti. During the 1960s and 1970s, he continues to actively participate in the country's political life. In 1963, he leads the Lambrakis Youth and is elected as an MP for EDA.

In April 1967 - after being the first to call for resistance to the Junta - he goes underground and is arrested. This period of his life is covered by the concise revised edition of The Roads of the Archangel, written between 1986 and 1995. The complete edition of Mikis Theodorakis's autobiographical work represents the most significant publishing endeavor of the University Press of Crete for this year.

Aiming for a publication of this work with the highest academic and publishing criteria, we aspire to make it accessible to the Greek reader and the future researcher, who care about the political and cultural history of the place as well as the sources of creative inspiration of a great musical personality. Given Mikis Theodorakis's special relationship with Crete - a relationship to which a significant part of The Roads of the Archangel is dedicated - we believe that the publication of his autobiography by the University Press of Crete holds its own symbolic significance.