The White Dominican
1921
First Published
3.91
Average Rating
176
Number of Pages
The White Dominican is Meyrink's most esoteric novel, and draws on the wisdom of a number of mystical traditions, the most important of which is Tao. It is set in a mystical version of the Bavarian town of Wasserburg, which sits on a promontory surrounded on three sides by the River Inn. The novel describes the spiritual journey of the simple hero, who, guided by a number of figures, (his eccentric father, the spirit of a distant ancestor, the protecting presence of his dead lover and the mysterious figure of the White Dominican), escapes the 'Medusa's head' of the world to a transfiguration, through which he joins the 'living chain that stretches to infinity.'
Avg Rating
3.91
Number of Ratings
392
5 STARS
35%
4 STARS
32%
3 STARS
24%
2 STARS
7%
1 STARS
2%
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Author
Gustav Meyrink
Author · 11 books
The illegitimate child of a baron and an actress, Meyrinck spent his childhood in Germany, then moving to today's Czech Republic where he lived for 20 years. The city of Prague is present in most of his work along with various religious, occult and fantastic themes. Meyrinck practiced yoga all his life. Curious facts: He unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide at the age of 24. His son committed suicide at the same age with success. Meyrinck founded his own bank but was accused of fraud for which he spent 2 months in prison. He worked as a translator and translated in German 15 volumes by Charles Dickens while working on his own novels. Among his most famous works are Der Golem (1914) and Walpurgisnacht (1917).
