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The Knight, Death, and the Devil: The Heroic Idea
In this unique work by Hans Günther, we are confronted with the figure of the Hero — the one who strides through the mire of decay, surrounded by death and tempted by the devil. With such vivid imagery, Günther begins his extensive exposition of the Heroic Idea. What is the Hero’s power and his sense of living for history? What is his heroic love, his faith, his morality, and even his hatred? What is his fate? These questions, and much more, are addressed by Günther in this two-part book of immense depth and value.
The work speaks of temptation, of women, of liberalism, of conventionalists, of the heroic will to create and to shape art and statecraft. Even language itself is drawn into the Heroic Idea—an idea that must proclaim a civilizational ethos of heroism, embodying the conviction of the heroic type, for a heroic people, and their noble, allotted mission.
For the first time, this rare and powerful work is now made available in English. Originally titled Ritter, Tod und Teufel: Der Heldische Gedanke, it was first published in 1920 and reprinted in 1935. It now speaks to this age as The Knight, Death, and the Devil: The Heroic Idea by Hans Günther.
This translation is based on the original 1920 edition. Careful effort has been made to carry over the same spirit and lofty tone of the original.
The work speaks of temptation, of women, of liberalism, of conventionalists, of the heroic will to create and to shape art and statecraft. Even language itself is drawn into the Heroic Idea—an idea that must proclaim a civilizational ethos of heroism, embodying the conviction of the heroic type, for a heroic people, and their noble, allotted mission.
For the first time, this rare and powerful work is now made available in English. Originally titled Ritter, Tod und Teufel: Der Heldische Gedanke, it was first published in 1920 and reprinted in 1935. It now speaks to this age as The Knight, Death, and the Devil: The Heroic Idea by Hans Günther.
This translation is based on the original 1920 edition. Careful effort has been made to carry over the same spirit and lofty tone of the original.
190 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2013
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March 25, 2026
A poetic, long-form exploration of Germanic philosophy and early work of National Socialism. Reading them in reverse order makes this book sound redundant at times, as all of these ideas were later refined, condensed, and realized.
It still has much value, presenting many quotable sentiments on its own and not relying on the Germanic philosophers and artists it references. I found the chapter on Germanic language especially unique, and overall it was a very slow but not difficult read.
Very underrated. I'd not heard of it before and discovered it by accident when looking into Günther, and this translation by Michael Wulf is excellent. Useful, interesting, but not essential.
It still has much value, presenting many quotable sentiments on its own and not relying on the Germanic philosophers and artists it references. I found the chapter on Germanic language especially unique, and overall it was a very slow but not difficult read.
Very underrated. I'd not heard of it before and discovered it by accident when looking into Günther, and this translation by Michael Wulf is excellent. Useful, interesting, but not essential.
Displaying 1 of 1 review