Hanns Heinz Ewers

[Mr. Veech]

I started reading The Sorcerer's Apprentice. It reminds me of a rural gothic rendition of There Will Be Blood. Aside from the occasional passage regarding race which hampers the narrative, I'm loving the book. I'm hoping the morally savage protagonist encounters more than he bargained for.

I'm reading the Brandel translation. Although I've encountered the occasional comma splice, I haven't discovered any major typos. I don't really see splices as "typos" in the strict sense. I don't like to use them, but there are plenty of writers who do use them for stylistic reasons.

[Side Real Press]

Dear all,


I am sure many of you will already know of the latest Side Real book, the (very long overdue) 'Sorcerer's Apprentice'.


For those that don't see below some information on it. With all its extras its quite a beast...

'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' was the debut novel by the controversial German author Hanns Heinz Ewers (1871-1943) and the first of the so called 'Frank Braun' trilogy which included 'Alraune' (1911) and 'Vampire' (1921). The novel concerns the creation and implosion of a religious cult. Readers familiar with Ewers' other works will not be surprised to learn that obsession, ritual and blood play significant parts in the narrative.


The Side Real volume is largely a reprint of the 1927 John Day edition (complete with the Mahlon Blaine artwork), which was closely overseen "line by line" by Ewers himself. However that publication had a number of passages removed, partly over issues relating to its sexual content. These have been restored to the Side Real edition, courtesy of Joe E. Bandel, thus making this edition the most complete version in English.

This edition also contains a number extra items, the most significant being previously unpublished typescript of a U.S. stage adaptation of the book prepared in the 1920's by Howard Phillips and located in the Ewers archive. It is impossible to ascertain Ewers' influence on the adaptation but the stage adaptation has a different ending to his original novel.

Ewers based the book on a number of sources, one being a real life cult created in the early Nineteenth century in Switzerland. Sabine Baring-Gould's essay 'A Swiss Passion Play' (reprinted from his book 'Freaks of Fanaticism', 1891) is the fullest account in the English language.

Ewers also drew upon his interests in mysticism and psychology in the writing of the novel and in an illustrated essay'Mystics and Mesmerism in The Sorcerer's Apprentice', John Hirschhorn-Smith contextualises the book with particular emphasis on its ecstatic, mystic and occult sources.

CONTENTS:

• Foreword by John Hirschhorn-Smith.

• The fully restored version of 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' complete with the illustrations by Mahlon Blaine.

• 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' a 1920's U.S. stage adaptation of the novel.

• 'A Swiss Passion Play' by Sabine Baring-Gould.

• 'Mystics and Mesmerism in 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' by John Hirschhorn-Smith.

It's an edition of 350 numbered copies orderable through the website.


Thanks!


J

[Lucian Taylor]

My copy arrived in the South West of England a week ago. I was quite taken a back at how thick the book was. A lot thicker than any of the previous books. Really looking forward to reading this :-)

[anarchistbanjo]

Hanns Heinz Ewers Volume III continues the incredible journey of discovery of this all but forgotten author of horror and dark fantasy.
Several of the stories in this selection really stir the emotions. “The Petersen Case” touches upon child abuse. “Tomato Sauce” is almost sickening in its portrayal of blood sports. But there is incredible beauty and sensitivity as well in “I Ride In The Rain”, a simple story with a beautiful message. “The Highest Love” challenges us in a totally different way by suggesting the power of love and sacrifice.
All of these stories have things to share and emotions to stir deep inside of us and they touch us as only Hanns Heinz Ewers can touch us. Enjoy!
The Execution of Damiens, Typhoid Mary, Trecento, Eileen Carter, I Ride In The Rain, Tomato Sauce, Gentlemen of the Bar, John Hamilton Llewellyn’s End, The Dead Jude, The Tophar Bride, The Petersen Case, The Highest Love, The Jews of Jeb.