Customer Reviews

The Angel of the West Window (Dedalus European Classics)

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A man inherits the collected papers of his deceased cousin and is suddenly plagued with nightmares and flashbacks of the past and of the life of his ancestor, John Dee. Strange people start visiting him: the mysterious Lipotin, the seductive Assia Chotokalungin, both demanding of him his most valuable heirloom, the legendary spear head of Hoel Dhat, of which he has no knowledge of possession. Full of alchemistic symbols, the plot spans the time from the reign of Elizabeth I. to early 20th century. The atmosphere is one of increasing angst, the images heavily tinted with the shadiest of grays. Highly recommended!

First published in 1927, with the decidedly Victorian dread spun by the likes of H.P.Lovecraft, Meyrink takes us into the slowly evolving nightmare of a man as he uncovers the secrets of his ancestor, John Dee; occultist and metaphysician to Queen Elizabeth I. Ultimately, one wonders whether the main character is losing himself in John Dee or if John Dee is dreaming the future of his own bloodline. Either way, the atmosphere is creepy as a crypt, and the labyrinth of deftly constructed alchemical symbolism marks Meyrink as an adept of literature as well as the Dark Arts

Meyrink's final work, though flawed, is a brilliant and heartfelt exploration of the individual's search for mystical individuation. It is evident throughout that the spiritual quest of the main character mirror's Meyrink's own struggles in his final hours. Because of its profundity, The Angel of the West Window is of more than occult interest; it has a universal application.

Just a quick comment to say I think it is a shame this book is not currently in print. It is a fascinating, wonderfully engrossing novel by a true master of the occult/macabre genre. A much bigger shame is the fact that resellers are charging between $100 and $200 for a used copy of this small paperback novel. Withholding the opportunity to read this from others who would enjoy it by charging exorbitant and unrealistic "collector" fees is ridiculous. Someone should take up the project of getting this back in print.

This is a truly fascinating and at times startling account of one man's
desperate search for wisdom and knowledge.
Few books have held my attention as this one did,and any serious seeker
for Truth will recognise in the author and the main character a fellow
seeker.
To follow his journey through deception and delusion to his final encounter with destiny was a delight indeed.
Recommended to all who likewise seek for wisdom and understanding.

En esta obra, Gustav Meyrink logra una de sus mejores novelas junto con "El golem". Este es un libro profundo, lleno de misterio, que sabe lo que dice... Una obra que refleja la busqueda de la identidad y nos habla de las herencias malditas.

Huy