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The Path of Cinnabar: An Intellectual Autobiography
Julius Evola was a renowned Dadaist artist, Idealist philosopher, critic of politics and Fascism, 'mystic,' anti-modernist, and scholar of world religions. Evola was all of these things, but he saw each of them as no more than stops along the path to life's true the realisation of oneself as a truly absolute and free individual living one's life in accordance with the eternal doctrines of the Primordial Tradition. Much more than an autobiography, The Cinnabar Path in describing the course of Evola's life illuminates how the traditionally-oriented individual might avoid the many pitfalls awaiting him in the modern world. More a record of Evola's thought process than a recitation of biographical facts, one will here find the distilled essence of a lifetime spent in pursuit of wisdom, in what is surely one of his most important works.
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
9 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
About the author
Julius Evola
209 books1,011 followersJulius Evola (19 May 1898 – 11 June 1974), 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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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 2, 2009
"The Path of Cinnabar" is the book to checkout if you're looking for a serious introduction to Julius Evola. The book is an "intellectual autobiography" where Evola explains his life through his works and where he was at that point in his life. For example, Evola explains why he was a Dadaist painter instead of a Futurist artist(like most "fascist" artists of his time). Evola was always the unconventional "fascist" writer that was way ahead of his "comrades." That being said, Julius Evola also talks about how his theories influenced Benito Mussolini. Also, Evola explains why he had an interest in Eastern religions and how they influenced him as an individual. Evola's discussion of the "Left Hand Path" is also quite fascinating. I especially liked how Evola bashes certain French "scholars" that propagated the myth that Hitler and The Third Reich were "powered" by Occult forces.
Integral Tradition Publishing also did a wonderful job with this book. The book is filled with tons of VALUABLE footnotes which point you into the direction of important books and historical figures that are largely forgotten.
Integral Tradition Publishing also did a wonderful job with this book. The book is filled with tons of VALUABLE footnotes which point you into the direction of important books and historical figures that are largely forgotten.
February 7, 2021
Probabilmente il libro che ha contribuito a creare il "culto" e la mitologia del personaggio di Evola tra i suoi fan più di tutti gli altri. L'autobiografia di Julius Evola in questione è più interessata ad essere più un'autobiografia "dello spirito" e del pensiero che un resoconto della propria vita. In effetti c'è molto molto poco di autobiografico in questo libro in senso stretto: è più una raccolta di saggi che chiariscono e precisano alcuni elementi del suo pensiero inizialmente destinata ad uscire postuma con l'obiettivo di mettere in chiaro alcune idee e non venire frainteso dai suoi seguaci.
Evola racconta la sua carriera dai suoi inizi pittorici e poetici filo-dadaisti, dalla critica al futurismo e l'adesione al fascismo (seppur non ufficiale, non avendo mai conseguito la tessera del partito fascista) e la storia redazionale delle proprie opere, con precisazioni sui precetti di "tradizione", "razza", "gerarchia" etc., le vicende post-belliche in cui Evola rifiutò ogni accostamento coi partiti di estrema destra come l'MSI e le sue riflessioni ambigue sul fascismo storico fatte col senno del dopo.
Di conseguenza, c'è davvero poco di interessante, anche per chi conosce già le altre sue opere e ancor meno per chi vuole conoscere questo bizzarro personaggio del '900. Della sua vita Evola racconta davvero pochissimo e quasi tutto è, quando non il contenuto di altri suoi libri, occasionali aneddoti storico-biografici di dubbia veridicità o non comprovabili poco interessanti.
Evola racconta la sua carriera dai suoi inizi pittorici e poetici filo-dadaisti, dalla critica al futurismo e l'adesione al fascismo (seppur non ufficiale, non avendo mai conseguito la tessera del partito fascista) e la storia redazionale delle proprie opere, con precisazioni sui precetti di "tradizione", "razza", "gerarchia" etc., le vicende post-belliche in cui Evola rifiutò ogni accostamento coi partiti di estrema destra come l'MSI e le sue riflessioni ambigue sul fascismo storico fatte col senno del dopo.
Di conseguenza, c'è davvero poco di interessante, anche per chi conosce già le altre sue opere e ancor meno per chi vuole conoscere questo bizzarro personaggio del '900. Della sua vita Evola racconta davvero pochissimo e quasi tutto è, quando non il contenuto di altri suoi libri, occasionali aneddoti storico-biografici di dubbia veridicità o non comprovabili poco interessanti.
July 19, 2014
A monumental work that covers the gamut of Evola's vast artistic, philosophical and existential opus and the influences behind them. The depth of the material is at least equal to the breadth. The reader is treated to precious insights into a mind that fostered some of the most abstruse visions and inaccessible experiences ever put to paper. A book to return to time and time again. A valuable read.
March 24, 2017
A must read for any admirer of Julius Evola.
August 20, 2019
“Jokingly, I once said that beside 'Evolians' [...] we now also have 'Evolomaniacs'. Similar phenomena are inevitable."
Evola - Interview 6 - 1972 - Path of Cinnabar
Very Interesting and informative intellectual autobiography that will spare us the drooling explanations of many commentators as to why and how he wrote what he wrote. Let him tell us directly and justify himself. He also discusses the errors of his youth, where he changed his opinion, and most importantly the motivation behind his books. Evola remains, however, utterly blind to living tradition, deeming that none exists in our time. Guénon, Burckhardt and others were definitely right concerning him, from beginning to end. For a glimpse, see Titus Burckhart's review of Ride the Tiger - Guénon's correspondance.. etc. I would also encourage people to check Abdal Hakim Murad's "Riding the Tiger of Modernity" talk - for a realistic assessement.
Interview 5
Q. (Gianfranco de Turris)- Many young people today will buy and read any of your books without distinction. What do you think of this?
A. (Evola)- What I think is that this land of behaviour can potentially lead to dangerous isunderstandings. Young people chiefly interested in my work for political reasons should stick to Revolt Against the Modern World, as it provides both a general overview of the world of Tradition and the modern world, and gives the reader an idea of a ‘metaphysics of history’ in contrast to mainstream historiography. One might also want to turn to The Mystery of the Grail and Men Among the Ruins (which was reprinted by Volpe three years ago). However, in the case of the latter book, the reader should bear in mind that it is a work that was written in a particular historical moment, to provide some guidelines for a political front that never came into existence. As for most of my other books dealing with various ‘inner’ or ‘esoteric’ traditional doctrines, they should be read for the sole purpose of broadening one’s intellectual horizons, and certainly not in the foolish hope of achieving any of the goals they describe — goals that, even in times more favourable than our own, were only achieved in extraordinary circumstances by individuals who possessed highly uncommon personal qualifications.
P.S. : "Ye shall know them by their fruits."- no wonder how this new generation of Evolomaniacs will remain kids romanticizing dead pagan european beliefs and making youtube videos (at best) - or will go on experimenting with 'the left hand path' (at worse) - to this latter category, heed Evola's own advice quoted above.
Evola - Interview 6 - 1972 - Path of Cinnabar
Very Interesting and informative intellectual autobiography that will spare us the drooling explanations of many commentators as to why and how he wrote what he wrote. Let him tell us directly and justify himself. He also discusses the errors of his youth, where he changed his opinion, and most importantly the motivation behind his books. Evola remains, however, utterly blind to living tradition, deeming that none exists in our time. Guénon, Burckhardt and others were definitely right concerning him, from beginning to end. For a glimpse, see Titus Burckhart's review of Ride the Tiger - Guénon's correspondance.. etc. I would also encourage people to check Abdal Hakim Murad's "Riding the Tiger of Modernity" talk - for a realistic assessement.
Interview 5
Q. (Gianfranco de Turris)- Many young people today will buy and read any of your books without distinction. What do you think of this?
A. (Evola)- What I think is that this land of behaviour can potentially lead to dangerous isunderstandings. Young people chiefly interested in my work for political reasons should stick to Revolt Against the Modern World, as it provides both a general overview of the world of Tradition and the modern world, and gives the reader an idea of a ‘metaphysics of history’ in contrast to mainstream historiography. One might also want to turn to The Mystery of the Grail and Men Among the Ruins (which was reprinted by Volpe three years ago). However, in the case of the latter book, the reader should bear in mind that it is a work that was written in a particular historical moment, to provide some guidelines for a political front that never came into existence. As for most of my other books dealing with various ‘inner’ or ‘esoteric’ traditional doctrines, they should be read for the sole purpose of broadening one’s intellectual horizons, and certainly not in the foolish hope of achieving any of the goals they describe — goals that, even in times more favourable than our own, were only achieved in extraordinary circumstances by individuals who possessed highly uncommon personal qualifications.
P.S. : "Ye shall know them by their fruits."- no wonder how this new generation of Evolomaniacs will remain kids romanticizing dead pagan european beliefs and making youtube videos (at best) - or will go on experimenting with 'the left hand path' (at worse) - to this latter category, heed Evola's own advice quoted above.
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February 6, 2019Экскурс в знания Юлиуса Эволы. Если бы все так делали, мир был бы полнее.
Что касается самого "пути киновари", то ощущения двойственные. вся та махина знаний переливается и лично для себя почти каждую книгу я записывал в список для ознакомления. но с другой, в пику своей универсальности, ненужные знания меня сначала тяготили как обязанного к чтению и специальной вычитке информации, но далее дали мне волю к пропуску этих мур. Правда, сама личность Эволы достаточно интересная, харизматичная, заставившая книгу дочитать и в конечном итоге, спустя чтения его основных работ, перечитать.
Что касается самого "пути киновари", то ощущения двойственные. вся та махина знаний переливается и лично для себя почти каждую книгу я записывал в список для ознакомления. но с другой, в пику своей универсальности, ненужные знания меня сначала тяготили как обязанного к чтению и специальной вычитке информации, но далее дали мне волю к пропуску этих мур. Правда, сама личность Эволы достаточно интересная, харизматичная, заставившая книгу дочитать и в конечном итоге, спустя чтения его основных работ, перечитать.
January 10, 2023
A good overview on his works. its not a normal autobiography but more an intellectual one. I would skip the chapter on The Absolute Self or whatever. Can't remember. Its a long read, very intense and philosophical. Some historical tidbits on his life are quite fascinating, his persecution by the fascists, and then his persecution by the democratic Italy.
November 20, 2022
Evola describes what animated him to write specific material in different stages of his life. He also reveals information about troubles and encouragement he had in his career. A far superior career retrospective than Nietzsche's "Ecce Homo".
July 17, 2023
Honestly probably one of the more sane Fascists I’ve read; though not without instances of sociopathy common to the personality type. Kind of reminds me of my come- up in some ways, especially in perpetuation of the fable of “wanting to kill yourself and then finding meaning in spirituality”.
May 24, 2022
the best guide to Evola's work that you will ever find.
October 14, 2023
The Path of Cinnabar av Julius Evola är precis vad undertiteln beskriver, nämligen en intellektuell självbiografi. I boken summerar och diskuterar författaren sitt livsverk (besående av fler än 20 böcker och tusentals artiklar) och kryddar sina reflektioner med relevanta anekdoter och beskrivningar av de olika tidsperioderna. Här möter vi en mer personlig sida av Evola, någonting som är ytterst ovanligt i hans övriga verk. Evola utövar vanligtvis en avskild, opersonlig och aristokratisk attityd där fokuset ligger på ämnet och inte på presentatören. Det är därför som han vanligtvis använder ordet vi (som underförstått är vi av den sanna högern, eller vi män av Tradition) istället för jag.
Boken fungerar säkerligen bra som en introduktion till Evola men innehåller även en hel del intressanta detaljer och kommentarer för oss som läst ett antal av hans böcker. Det här är en fantastiskt bra bok som jag rekommenderar varmt till alla. Den är välskriven och proppfull av intressanta tankar och koncept. Vi avslutar i vanlig ordning med ett citat där författaren själv summerar bokens syfte:
”I have sought to continue keeping in touch with those who have followed my work so far; the present pages, instead, I envisage as guidelines which might prevent possible misunderstandings, and offer the reader an overview of the essential character and different phases of my career. If not today, then perhaps one day, the symbolic — rather than merely personal — value of this work will be acknowledged.”
Boken fungerar säkerligen bra som en introduktion till Evola men innehåller även en hel del intressanta detaljer och kommentarer för oss som läst ett antal av hans böcker. Det här är en fantastiskt bra bok som jag rekommenderar varmt till alla. Den är välskriven och proppfull av intressanta tankar och koncept. Vi avslutar i vanlig ordning med ett citat där författaren själv summerar bokens syfte:
”I have sought to continue keeping in touch with those who have followed my work so far; the present pages, instead, I envisage as guidelines which might prevent possible misunderstandings, and offer the reader an overview of the essential character and different phases of my career. If not today, then perhaps one day, the symbolic — rather than merely personal — value of this work will be acknowledged.”
October 31, 2014
Evola életművének áttekintése Evola által. Mint minden Evola könyvet, ezt is ajánlom.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews