On marble rocks

Ernst Jünger /Ernst Jünger/ (1895–1998) is a German writer, publicist and ideologue of the conservative revolution, who participated in both world wars. Due to his early artistic and journalistic works, he is considered a forerunner of National Socialism, although his later works, written after 1933, are marked by criticism of the NSDAP. Taking part in the First World War as an officer, Junger writes one of his most famous books, "In Steel Storms", in which he interprets the phenomenon of war, gaining recognition both among militarists and pacifists.

After Hitler came to power, Jünger consistently rejected the proposals of the ruling party to enter its structures, while at the same time adhering to right-wing conservative views. Despite his free-thinking and independent attitude, Jünger remains untouchable because Hitler respects Jünger for his services in the First World War.

Ernst Jünger's post-war years were marked by fruitful work and winning many awards in the field of literature and culture. In general, Jünger is the author of about fourteen books of an extremely wide spectrum: from reflections on the phenomenon of war and memories of participation in hostilities, to the fantastic novels "Heliopolis", "Glass Bees" and "Oymesville", where he begins to explore the concept of posthistory, and up to the marked autobiographical reflections on the influence of alcohol and various psychotropic drugs, including LSD, on human consciousness.

Undoubtedly, Ernst Jünger is an outstanding writer and thinker who was lucky enough to survive the terrible, epochal upheavals of Europe in the 20th century and melt his experience into timeless works, one of which is offered to you in this book.

"On the Marble Rocks" is Ernst Jünger's first fiction novel, published in 1939, shortly before the start of World War II. In this work, the author depicts the clash of good and evil, a calm, orderly world and totalitarianism in the form of a metaphorical parable.

The plot of the work revolves around two brothers who live on the Marble Rocks, engaged in botany, nurturing plants, reading, studying, applying the acquired knowledge to explore the mysteries of nature, drinking wine, enjoying the fruits of their labor and a quiet and peaceful life. However, dark forces begin to stir in the world under the rocks, which threaten the very foundations of their usual way of existence. An elder forester, thirsty for violence, indifferent to the sciences, arts, harmony with nature and the usual way of life, gains power in the surrounding areas, so the forces of good have to face the evil that is spreading in the world.

In the figure of the senior forester, Hitler's Third Reich can be seen, but at the same time it can be interpreted as Stalinism, and as communism, and as any other totalitarian regime hostile to a free person.

Junger's allegory remains timeless and extremely relevant in our present.