Youth Without Youth, Mircea Eliade

Francis Ford Coppola wrote the foreword for Youth Without Youth. Please do not read it. Not before you finish reading the book. Also, he adapted it into a movie. Again, do not watch it.

Promise you’ll look at this novella with fresh eyes. That’s far more difficult than following a signposted path. Actually it goes for all books: never read the preface. Not before you read the book. Be brave; embark on a voyage of discovery. That’s more rewarding ;) There’s no telling what one might bring home from such a journey. Oh, sorry! That’s from another book. Let’s not go there just yet.

All books can be read on different levels. I didn’t quite know how to read this one. Then of course, when I did read it, I couldn’t decide what to write about it. Should I use clever words? Pretentious jargon maybe? Shall I impress you talking about gnostic parables, references to Goethe’s Faustus, hermeneutic labyrinths or invisible parallelism?

Luckily I found Eliade’s words:

We create through play, and we realise that dimension of dream wherein we enjoy absolute freedom, where the categories of existence are ignored and fate is suspended. […] The fantastic elements […] create a series of “parallel worlds” which do not pretend to be symbols or something else. Thus, it is fruitless to read into the events and characters of the stories a hidden meaning that may illuminate certain aspects of immediate reality.

Then I knew: at the risk of sounding casual, no big words and no search for hidden meanings. Just enjoy the story!

1938. In front of Gara de Nord, an old man planning to commit suicide was lucky enough to be struck by lightning. Then the story of rejuvenating, new set of teeth come in, speed reading powers, amazing intellect, very soon erotic dreams. Or not. Hunted by the Nazis for their medical experiments, our hero flees through Switzerland, Malta, and India. Oh, and he falls in love. What next? That’s for you to discover.

When you’re done, do read the foreword. You could even watch the movie. Please let me know how it ends. I loved the book, but for the last two months, I’ve kept falling asleep trying to watch the movie.

Youth Withouth Youth, Mircea Eliade

Author: Vlad Mereuta

Comments (3)

There are very few movies that can match the books they were made after. I know of only one case: I think “The 13th Warrior” (1999) starring Antonio Banderas is way better than the novel “Eaters of the Dead” (1976) by Michael Crichton (God bless him, he passed away last November).

Comment by mvs posted on 23 June 2009

Yes, if you ask me the film was nothing like the book. We're meeting up to discuss this book at the end of this week (see the blog section for details), probably the film will come up, so it'll be very interesting to find out what the others think. I really look forward to hearing everyone's opinions!

Comment by Diana posted on 23 June 2009

We had our first "Read it! Swap it!" joint meeting this Sunday and we discussed this book. Unfortunately, Crina couldn't make it, but she send me her thoughts. I found her words very interesting and therefore I'd like to share them with you:

"Dear All

I am referring here to one particular line in the end of the book where Eliade writes about the eschatology of light/ electricity.

Eschatology (from the Greek ἔσχατος, Eschatos meaning "last" and -logy meaning "the study of") is a part of theology and philosophy concerned with what is believed to be the final events in the history of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world. (Source: Wikipedia)

Eschatology as a theological term refers to the end-times when Christ returns to earth as judge as the last God's plan for humanity and the world. Eliade in the novel presents a different view of human destiny that does not include God at all. The "eschatology of electricity" is an attempt through artificial means to create a deified "superhuman". (and the whole book is about his desire of creating a superhuman)
A superhuman that can equal God and have hidden knowledge.

From a psychological perspective, for those who have seen the movie and read the book also, have probably noticed that the main character Dominic Matei presents as a person with an alter ego leading a double life. In our times this is closely connected to Schizophrenia where someone will present with bizarre delusions or disorganised speech and thinking. However, I believe that we should not see people with unconventional behaviour as not being normal as it is difficult to clearly say what represents normality and abnormality this depending on each individual life experiences and the times they were born.

Hope it helps and looking forward to meeting the group next time!

My apologies this time.

Love,
Crina"

Comment by Diana posted on 1 July 2009

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