What does an author of fantastical novels from the beginning of the twentieth century have to do with the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica? More than you would think at first sight; as you are bound to find out in our newest publication and exhibition!

Gustav Meyrink

On 21 November the Westerkerk was the venue for the latest publication of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica, an abundantly illustrated book on the ‘magical’ man of letters Gustav Meyrink (Vienna 1868-Starnberg 1932) was launched in Amsterdam’s Westerkerk on 21 November.
At the same time, an exhibition devoted to his work was opened officially (location: Bloemstraat 15).

All his life Meyrink was urged on by an inner unrest and a dissatisfaction with life, driven by an indeterminable feeling of unease fed by an increasingly intense longing for metaphysical knowledge and experience. On the one hand he was fascinated by the grotesque and the occult, by popular spiritism and mediumism, on the other hand he regarded all that as a hazardous and erroneous way. Yoga, Taoism and alchemy finally led him to achieve new insights concerning the spiritual world. From the start, Meyrink wrapped his message, or rather concealed it, in amusing tales and occasionally oppressive novels. It is up to today’s reader to rediscover in Meyrink’s magical oeuvre the Doppelgänger who invariably sends out the message. (For more information www.ritmanlibrary.nl/meyrink-exhibition)

Programme Meyrink-manifestation 21 November 2008
Westerkerk, Amsterdam

13:00                      Admission
13:30                      Word of welcome by Esther Oosterwijk-Ritman, executive director Bibliotheca                        Philosophica Hermetica, followed by book presentation to Joost R. Ritman
13:35                      Dr Amanda Ch. Boyd (University of North Dakota)
                       Gustav Meyrink’s Fiction of the Spirit
14.00                      Piano improvisations by Frans Smit
14:05                      Dr Eric J. Klaus (Hobart & William Smith Colleges)
                       Unmasking the Doppelgänger: Gustav Meyrink as a Gnostic  
14:30                      Piano improvisations by Frans Smit
14:35                      Hans Radloff reads passages from Gustav Meyrink’s work
14:50                      coffee/tea break
15:15                      Michael Mitchell (author/translator)
                       Gustav Meyrink and the First World War
15:40                      Piano improvisations by Frans Smit
15:45                      Hans Radloff reads passages from Gustav Meyrink’s work
15:55                      Dr Theodor Harmsen (Ritman Institute)
                       Gustav Meyrink in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (in Dutch)
16:20                      Simon Vinkenoog rounds up the day
16:35                      Word of thanks by Esther Oosterwijk-Ritman
16:40-17:45          Reception in the Westerkerk; opportunity to visit the exhibition until 20:30

www.ritmanlibrary.nl/meyrink-publication