A new book by Svensson has been published: A Portrait of Julius Evola. You can buy it on Amazon.com. -- And on Amazon.se. And on Bokus. And on Adlibris.
Buy the book on Amazon.com.
Buy the book on AbeBooks.
For Swedes, buy the book on Bokus.
It can also be bought on Adlibris.
We need a popular biography of Evola -- and we need it now...!
This we hear chanted today in street corners, on campuses, in city squares -- all over the Western world.
And now this prayer has been answered. Renowned author Lennart Svensson has gathered himself to a major effort and written "a portrait" of Julius Evola (1898-1974), the Italian philosopher and anti-modernist preacher.
This is a
popular biography. The biographical facts are gathered from open, already published sources. That said, Svensson has written a both charming and profound portrait of the man, his life, and his role as a traditionalist prophet.
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The structure of chapters are: an introductory reflection about Evola and Italy, a short but satisfying biography, a general look at Evola's thought, a look at the artist and poet, and then several chapters going through major works like
Ride the Tiger, Rivolta, Men Among the Ruins, Pagan Imperialism, Metaphysics of War, Meditations on the Peaks, etc.
Then follows some thematical studies, like looking at traditionalism, a "parallel lives" study of Evola and Jünger, and a reflection over Evolian
gravitas and the Spaghetti Western ethos of Sergio Leone.
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The research is mainly based on Evola's own works. His autobiography Path of Cinnabar among them.
Beyond that, especially one academic study, summarizing aspects of Evola's life, has been used: H. T. Hansen's 100-page foreword to Men Among the Ruins, the Inner Traditions-edition from 2002.
Hansen's text is mostly an enlightening philosophical overview.
But it lacks the traditional angle -- and this, we humbly say, is where the new book comes in.
Svensson's Evola study has a sort of inclination towards
Tradition™, perennialism, primordial thought. That which Evola got from René Guénon. And which completed his, Evola's, "Nietzschean Buddhism" into something more durable and profound.
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A figure rather often occuring in the book is Ernst Jünger.
In one chapter Svensson even compares the two, Evola and Jünger. Like them both being radicals of the mid-war period and, later, becoming paragons of conservatism.
Svensson has the erudition to do this comparison since he's also an expert on Jünger.
See this volume. As intmated in the new book, Jünger was rather wise and readable, but he lacked that perennial connection, that intitiated strain of Evola. Jünger falls short of the liberating influence of Eastern philosophy that does wonders to Evola's creed.
Jünger remains an icon for a radical conservative. No doubt about that. But Evola has a more lasting doctrine, a thought creating a richer esoteric tapestry. Traditionalism™ is the doctrine we need now, in the 2020s. And the new book is trying to demonstrate that fact.
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The whole title of the book is:
A Portrait of Julius Evola: An Introduction to the Spiritual Traditionalism & Modernist Critique of Julius Evola.
As you can see the book has a delightful cover, courtesy of the publisher, Manticore Press. This is a cover of marble and gold...!
The backover blurb of the book reads:
JULIUS EVOLA, an influential and enigmatic Italian philosopher, left a profound impact on the intellectual world. Renowned for his critique of the West's abandonment of tradition and spiritual depth, Evola's ideas are more relevant than ever in our modern age. After his passing in 1974, his work experienced a resurgence in the 1990s, captivating a new generation yearning for deeper connections to ancient wisdom. Today, his teachings continue to inspire those seeking to reclaim esoteric thought and timeless values. This compelling new book offers an insightful exploration of Evola's life and philosophy, providing a stylish and engaging guide to his enduring legacy.
Lennart Svensson, author of Ernst Jünger — A Portrait and Actionism, returns with this new and thought-provoking study.
Finally, some general info about the book:
Title: A Portrait of Julius Evola: An Introduction to the Spiritual Traditionalism & Modernist Critique of Julius Evola
Publisher: Manticore Press
Language: English
Pages: 210
Dimensions: 5 x 0.53 x 8 inches (circa 12 x 1 x 20 cm)
Buy the book on Amazon.com.
Buy the book on AbeBooks.
For Swedes, buy the book on Bokus.
It can also be bought on Adlibris.
Related
Sample chapter: Pagan Imperialism
Sample chapter: Absolute Man
Ernst Jünger -- A Portrait (2014)
