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A Traditionalist Confronts Fascism
This volume, a companion to Evola's Fascism Viewed from the Right and Notes on the Third Reich, contains many of his occasional essays on the topic of fascism as understood from a traditionalist perspective which were written between 1930 and 1971, thus comprising both his contemporary and post-war assessments of the fascist phenomenon. Here we find Evola's views not only on Italian Fascism and German Nazism, but also his discussions of other movements such as the Spanish Falange and the Japanese Imperial ideal, as well as his commentary on such diverse subjects as Nazi esotericism, the idea of a new spiritual Order to lead Europe, and the reasons for his rejection of Nazi biological racism. Also included are interviews Evola personally conducted with Corneliu Codreanu, the leader of the Iron Guard, and Count Coudenhove-Kalergi, the founder of the Pan-European Movement (the forerunner of the European Union), and the full text of 'Orientations', the famous essay Evola wrote in 1950 concerning the proper approach of the European Right in the post-war era which he further developed in Men Among the Ruins. These essays show Evola to have been an unsparing critic of fascism, always urging traditionalists to aspire for something higher than the merely political. Julius Evola (1898-1974) was Italy's foremost traditionalist philosopher, as well as a metaphysician, social thinker, and activist. Evola was an authority on the world's esoteric traditions and one of the greatest critics of modernity. He wrote extensively on the ancient civilisations of both East and West and the world of Tradition, and was also a critic of the political and spiritual movements of his own time from a traditional perspective. Arktos has also published his books Metaphysics of War(2007), The Path of Cinnabar: An Intellectual Autobiography (2009), Fascism Viewed from the Right (2013), and Notes on the Third Reich (2013).
196 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2015
About the author
Julius Evola
220 books1,081 followersJulius Evola, born Giulio Cesare Andrea Evola, was an Italian philosopher and esoteric scholar. Born in Rome to a family of the Sicilian landed gentry, Evola was raised a strict Catholic. Despite this, his life was characterised by 'an anti-bourgeois approach' hostile to both 'the dominant tradition of the West—Christianity and Catholicism—and to contemporary civilization—the 'modern world' of democracy and materialism'.
By turns 'engineering student, artillery officer, Dadaist poet and painter, journalist, alpinist, scholar, linguist, Orientalist, and political commentator', he has been described as a 'rare example of universality in an age of specialization'. Yet behind it all lay a singular emphasis on, and pursuit of, a 'direct relationship to the Absolute'. For Evola, 'the center of all things was not man, but rather the Transcendent.' This metaphysical conviction can be seen to have determined both Evola's stance on socio-political issues, and his antipathetic attitude towards 'all professional, sentimental and family routines'.
The author of many books on esoteric, political and religious topics (including The Hermetic Tradition, The Doctrine of Awakening and Eros and the Mysteries of Love), his best-known work remains Revolt Against the Modern World, a trenchant critique of modern civilisation that has been described as 'the gateway to his thought'. Since his death, also in Rome, his writings have influenced right-wing, reactionary and conservative political thought not only in his native Italy, but throughout continental Europe and, increasingly, the English-speaking world. Nevertheless, he should not be considered primarily as a political thinker, but rather as an exponent of the wider Traditionalist School that encompasses the work of such individuals as René Guénon, Titus Burckhardt and Frithjof Schuon.
By turns 'engineering student, artillery officer, Dadaist poet and painter, journalist, alpinist, scholar, linguist, Orientalist, and political commentator', he has been described as a 'rare example of universality in an age of specialization'. Yet behind it all lay a singular emphasis on, and pursuit of, a 'direct relationship to the Absolute'. For Evola, 'the center of all things was not man, but rather the Transcendent.' This metaphysical conviction can be seen to have determined both Evola's stance on socio-political issues, and his antipathetic attitude towards 'all professional, sentimental and family routines'.
The author of many books on esoteric, political and religious topics (including The Hermetic Tradition, The Doctrine of Awakening and Eros and the Mysteries of Love), his best-known work remains Revolt Against the Modern World, a trenchant critique of modern civilisation that has been described as 'the gateway to his thought'. Since his death, also in Rome, his writings have influenced right-wing, reactionary and conservative political thought not only in his native Italy, but throughout continental Europe and, increasingly, the English-speaking world. Nevertheless, he should not be considered primarily as a political thinker, but rather as an exponent of the wider Traditionalist School that encompasses the work of such individuals as René Guénon, Titus Burckhardt and Frithjof Schuon.
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December 13, 2017
While this collection has been presented as a companion to Evola's mature essays on fascism and Nazism, some of these essays were actually written during the tumult of the fascist era and thus reveal more of the fully invigorated and optimistic Evola, resembling the style evoked in The Metaphysics of War, and anticipating the themes present in Men Among the Ruins. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the material included in this book but my favorite essays would have to be "The Spiritual Bases of the Japanese Imperial Idea" (1940) "Corporation and Roman Fidelity" (1938) and "Orientations: Eleven Points" (1950). Salutations to Kopff and Arktos for yet another high quality work.
March 6, 2025
A Traditionalist Confronts Fascism (Arktos 2015) skrevs av den Italienske esoterikern och författaren Julius Evola (1898-1974). I vanlig ordning pryds denna inbundna version från Akrtos av ett väldigt stilrent och vackert bokomslag.
Detta verk utgörs i huvudsak av essäer skrivna mellan 1930 och 1972. Boken inleds med ett kompetent och intressant förord av översättaren E Christian Kopff. Därefter följer en av Evolas klassiska och ständigt aktuella essäer Orientations: Eleven points (som även går att hitta i en del andra essäsamlingar av Evola) som riktar sig till den yngre generationen. Sedan följer bokens två huvuddelar "Articles on Italian Fascism and the Right in Other Lands" och "Articles on National Socialism". Båda dessa delar består av ett antal essäer/artiklar som presenteras i kronologisk ordning.
Evola var inte speciellt nöjd med varken den Italienska fascismen eller den Tyska Nationalsocialismen men såg ändå något positivt i dem genom deras gemensamma revolt mot kapitalism, liberalism och kommunism. Evola hoppades att båda rörelserna, med tiden, kunde rättas till och ledas mot de Traditionella principerna som han förespråkade men den möjligheten presenterade sig inte.
Essäerna i denna bok rör sig över ett förhållandevis brett spektrum och är i vanlig ordning ytterst välformulerade och intressanta. Översättaren har gjort ett mycket bra jobb och erbjuder även översättningar på en hel del uttryck på franska, tyska och latin som Evola använder frekvent.
Det här en än habil essäsamling som troligtvis inte är av intresse för den breda massan men den erbjuder en hel del tänkvärda insikter gällande de två regimerna.
Detta verk utgörs i huvudsak av essäer skrivna mellan 1930 och 1972. Boken inleds med ett kompetent och intressant förord av översättaren E Christian Kopff. Därefter följer en av Evolas klassiska och ständigt aktuella essäer Orientations: Eleven points (som även går att hitta i en del andra essäsamlingar av Evola) som riktar sig till den yngre generationen. Sedan följer bokens två huvuddelar "Articles on Italian Fascism and the Right in Other Lands" och "Articles on National Socialism". Båda dessa delar består av ett antal essäer/artiklar som presenteras i kronologisk ordning.
Evola var inte speciellt nöjd med varken den Italienska fascismen eller den Tyska Nationalsocialismen men såg ändå något positivt i dem genom deras gemensamma revolt mot kapitalism, liberalism och kommunism. Evola hoppades att båda rörelserna, med tiden, kunde rättas till och ledas mot de Traditionella principerna som han förespråkade men den möjligheten presenterade sig inte.
Essäerna i denna bok rör sig över ett förhållandevis brett spektrum och är i vanlig ordning ytterst välformulerade och intressanta. Översättaren har gjort ett mycket bra jobb och erbjuder även översättningar på en hel del uttryck på franska, tyska och latin som Evola använder frekvent.
Det här en än habil essäsamling som troligtvis inte är av intresse för den breda massan men den erbjuder en hel del tänkvärda insikter gällande de två regimerna.
October 7, 2015
A collection of essays spanning five decades of the author's life, both during and after the regime, that examines Western man, society and the political body from a traditional perspective. An illuminating read that hits bull's eye on the core values, issues and meta-forces underlying the trajectory of the Western world.
February 16, 2021
The works of Julius Evola can be difficult to read, often due to the esoteric nature of the subject matter. However, this series of essays on several of the Third-Position movements of the 20th century (Italian Fascism, German National-Socialism, Romanian Legionnaires, etc) highlight the key foundations of the movement and the reasoning behind Evola's decision to support them up to the point where the superficial and materialistic aspects of the ideology clashed with his own philosophy.
Although he expands upon his views in other works, Evola provides a general criticism from a traditionalist/right-leaning perspective on the spiritual deficiencies found in Third Positionism in this book.
A personal favourite of mine is the article detailing the interview Evola had with Cornealiu Zelea Codreanu, leader of the Romanian Legionnaire movement.
Although he expands upon his views in other works, Evola provides a general criticism from a traditionalist/right-leaning perspective on the spiritual deficiencies found in Third Positionism in this book.
A personal favourite of mine is the article detailing the interview Evola had with Cornealiu Zelea Codreanu, leader of the Romanian Legionnaire movement.
May 10, 2016
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. It seems interesting, I'll update my review as soon as I read it.
June 19, 2022
Varios de los artículos que conforman esta antología ya los había leído, pero no dejó de ser un deleite revisarlos una vez más. Sorprende que la visión de Julius Evola ayuda a desentrañar las diferencias entre el nacionalsocialismo y el fascismo; además, desenmascaró décadas antes a libros que se reputan célebres como "le matin des magiciens", textos en los cuales se inspiraron varios documentales y libros para hablar de las ideas ocultistas del nacionalsocialismo. Ni pilas de libros han permitido mostrar que el nacionalsocialismo, si bien dio cabida a aquéllas, no por eso dejó de tener rasgos cientifistas; es decir, no fue un movimiento irracionalista como lo vende la propaganda aliada desde hace ochenta años. Incluso yo diría que hace falta subrayar que el nacionalsocialismo fue un fenómeno más rico y variado de lo que se piensa, en especial en estos momentos donde el liberalismo se precia de ser tan abierto y diverso.
La recopilación mostró los detalles encomiables de los movimientos fascistas y nacionalistas del periodo de entreguerras: la Guardia de Hierro, el nacionalsocialismo, el mismo fascismo y el espíritu militar japonés. Se nota que Evola era un ávido lector y no hablaba de los temas con desparpajo. En esta recopilación de tan selectos artículos, sale a relucir la tesis de que el racismo para ser coherente debe sostenerse en un telos espiritual, aquí aparece su famosa ocurrencia de la raza del espíritu, que siempre opuso al racismo biologicista de los teóricos nacionalsocialistas. Tal vez es la idea más peligrosa para el establecimiento intelectual porque es difícilmente desmontable y ha tenido más permanencia que las razas.
Considero que es un buen texto para ver el involucramiento y estudio del pensador italiano en los movimientos políticos de su época, contrario a Guenon, más enfocado en la metapolítica, pero que parece incluso ajeno o disociado de su realidad contemporánea.
La recopilación mostró los detalles encomiables de los movimientos fascistas y nacionalistas del periodo de entreguerras: la Guardia de Hierro, el nacionalsocialismo, el mismo fascismo y el espíritu militar japonés. Se nota que Evola era un ávido lector y no hablaba de los temas con desparpajo. En esta recopilación de tan selectos artículos, sale a relucir la tesis de que el racismo para ser coherente debe sostenerse en un telos espiritual, aquí aparece su famosa ocurrencia de la raza del espíritu, que siempre opuso al racismo biologicista de los teóricos nacionalsocialistas. Tal vez es la idea más peligrosa para el establecimiento intelectual porque es difícilmente desmontable y ha tenido más permanencia que las razas.
Considero que es un buen texto para ver el involucramiento y estudio del pensador italiano en los movimientos políticos de su época, contrario a Guenon, más enfocado en la metapolítica, pero que parece incluso ajeno o disociado de su realidad contemporánea.
November 20, 2024
To write a review of anything that Evola has written would be incredibly presumptuous, obviously biased and honestly, downright ridiculous. With that in mind, the following is not a review in any sense of the word, but rather a few words for a work that may help fellow readers to decide if they should give this book a go.
I will start by saying that this is one of Evola's "easier to read" books, or rather a collection of essays published in different outlets and through different periods. I have read several of the essays throughout the years, all of them can be read as stand-alone articles, but now I finally sat down and read the book cover to cover. Though, each essay has enormous worth on its own, my suggestion is to read the entire book in order to gain a coherent insight into Evola's thought. In each of the articles Evola's intellectual rigor, complexity of thought and ideological clarity shine through the pages to present to the reader a worldview that stands outside of all "contingent and material reality" and towers above them. When read as a coherent whole, one can gain insight into the meaning and worldview of the True Right.
I particularly enjoyed the essay on the differences between the Fascist and Nazi conception of the State and the Orientations, but I am sure that readers (especially those identifying as on the Right) will find something of interest.
I will start by saying that this is one of Evola's "easier to read" books, or rather a collection of essays published in different outlets and through different periods. I have read several of the essays throughout the years, all of them can be read as stand-alone articles, but now I finally sat down and read the book cover to cover. Though, each essay has enormous worth on its own, my suggestion is to read the entire book in order to gain a coherent insight into Evola's thought. In each of the articles Evola's intellectual rigor, complexity of thought and ideological clarity shine through the pages to present to the reader a worldview that stands outside of all "contingent and material reality" and towers above them. When read as a coherent whole, one can gain insight into the meaning and worldview of the True Right.
I particularly enjoyed the essay on the differences between the Fascist and Nazi conception of the State and the Orientations, but I am sure that readers (especially those identifying as on the Right) will find something of interest.
May 19, 2022
Evola is uncompromising in his honesty. One of the few players in the period to unapologetically confirm his rejection of degeneracy, modernity, communism, etc. and still acknowledge the mistakes made by his contemporaries. He was an original and one can only hope more people come to appreciate his work.
June 9, 2022
Still have yet to stumble on a transcript of his trial- I thought it would be in this edition- but for the most part, what I wanted Fascism Viewed From the Right to be.
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March 4, 2016A Traditionalist Confronts Fascism by Julius Evola
This volume, a companion to Evola'sFascism Viewed from the RightandNotes on the Third Reich, contains many of his occasional essays on the topic of fascism as understood from a traditionalist perspective which were written between 1930 and 1971, thus comprising both his contemporary and post-war assessments of the fascist phenomenon. Here we find Evola's views not only on Italian Fascism and German Nazism, but also his discussions of other movements such as the Spanish Falange and the Japanese Imperial ideal, as well as his commentary on such diverse subjects as Nazi esotericism, the idea of a new spiritual Order to lead Europe, and the reasons for his rejection of Nazi biological racism. Also included are interviews Evola personally conducted with Corneliu Codreanu, the leader of the Iron Guard, and Count Coudenhove-Kalergi, the founder of the Pan-European Movement (the forerunner of the European Union), and the full text of 'Orientations', the famous essay Evola wrote in 1950 concerning the proper approach of the European Right in the post-war era which he further developed inMen Among the Ruins.These essays show Evola to have been an unsparing critic of fascism, always urging traditionalists to aspire for something higher than the merely political. Julius Evola (1898-1974) was Italy's foremost traditionalist philosopher, as well as a metaphysician, social thinker, and activist. Evola was an authority on the world's esoteric traditions and one of the greatest critics of modernity. He wrote extensively on the ancient civilisations of both East and West and the world of Tradition, and was also a critic of the political and spiritual movements of his own time from a traditional perspective. Arktos has also published his booksMetaphysics of War(2007), The Path of Cinnabar: An Intellectual Autobiography(2009), Fascism Viewed from the Right(2013), andNotes on the Third Reich(2013)."Amazing story.
This volume, a companion to Evola'sFascism Viewed from the RightandNotes on the Third Reich, contains many of his occasional essays on the topic of fascism as understood from a traditionalist perspective which were written between 1930 and 1971, thus comprising both his contemporary and post-war assessments of the fascist phenomenon. Here we find Evola's views not only on Italian Fascism and German Nazism, but also his discussions of other movements such as the Spanish Falange and the Japanese Imperial ideal, as well as his commentary on such diverse subjects as Nazi esotericism, the idea of a new spiritual Order to lead Europe, and the reasons for his rejection of Nazi biological racism. Also included are interviews Evola personally conducted with Corneliu Codreanu, the leader of the Iron Guard, and Count Coudenhove-Kalergi, the founder of the Pan-European Movement (the forerunner of the European Union), and the full text of 'Orientations', the famous essay Evola wrote in 1950 concerning the proper approach of the European Right in the post-war era which he further developed inMen Among the Ruins.These essays show Evola to have been an unsparing critic of fascism, always urging traditionalists to aspire for something higher than the merely political. Julius Evola (1898-1974) was Italy's foremost traditionalist philosopher, as well as a metaphysician, social thinker, and activist. Evola was an authority on the world's esoteric traditions and one of the greatest critics of modernity. He wrote extensively on the ancient civilisations of both East and West and the world of Tradition, and was also a critic of the political and spiritual movements of his own time from a traditional perspective. Arktos has also published his booksMetaphysics of War(2007), The Path of Cinnabar: An Intellectual Autobiography(2009), Fascism Viewed from the Right(2013), andNotes on the Third Reich(2013)."Amazing story.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews