Frank Graegorius
Il Golem

THE REVIEW

Dagon Press by Pietro Guarriello (expert in H.P. Lovecraft and fantastic literature), a small yet fierce publishing house specialized in "weird" literature, publishes, in its usual and refined graphic style, The Golem by Frank Graegorius alias Libero Samale (1889-1985), a novel originally appearing in the legendary series I Racconti di Dracula. Dagon already dedicated a volume to Frank Graegorius comprising 3 of his best novels in the series I Capolavori de I Racconti di Dracula. Now, it continues the exhumation of this author with this volume which undoubtedly represents a gem not to be missed for lovers of gothic and fantastic narratives. The authors of I Racconti di Dracula always wrote under a strictly English pseudonym, and their real name was that of the translator. Although it is "popular" narrative, some works are not at all negligible and demonstrate how even Italy had its dark literature. Libero Samale is indisputably one of the giants of this local stream dedicated to the "weird" and macabre. The Golem is one of his best books and revisits the legend from the Jewish mythology and medieval folklore of the clay colossus. It is impossible not to think of the great masterwork novel by Gustav Meyrink of the same name. The setting is still in Bohemia but not in Prague, rather in a small and dark town (Poldice) located in the Tatra mountains. The atmosphere created by Frank Gregorius is dark and gothic. Young legal prosecutor Jan Hozda visits the remote village of Poldice (weighed down by ancient magical traditions) to see the old Jew - suspected of heresy - Simeon Goldstein, intent on selling his property. From here onwards, inexplicable events occur, and Hozda has mysterious nightmares. The young man finds himself involuntarily involved in the superstitions of the gypsy community. The population, exacerbated by Goldstein’s presence, whom they blame for disastrous events like the death of a young man, tries to rid themselves of the Jew by attacking his home, but he defends himself by unleashing the terrible destructive power of the Golem. Unlike the Meyrinkian book where the Golem was a sort of ghostly specter that terrified the commoners without ever revealing itself, here the creature appears in all its tremendous force. The second part of the volume focuses on the figure of Libero Samale through the memoirs of the well-known musician Sergio Rendine, his great friend and follower. Libero Samale was indeed a person of absolute importance and great cultural depth. He was a doctor and psychoanalyst and expert in Occultism and Psychic Sciences, to the point where he can be considered a small "Meyrink" of Italy. He had a library of 6000 volumes comprising very rare texts on medieval magic. Rendine, who was his disciple, leaves us a portrait of a charismatic and very cultured character, yet with a sense of irony, retracing his "initiatory" path with Samale that led him to affiliate with the Freemasons. It is a unique testimony that finally sheds light on the mysterious figure of Frank Graegorius and makes this volume from Dagon Press – enriched with a photographic apparatus showing rare photos of Libero Samale – unmissable. The Golem can be purchased at lulu.com or requested from Dagon Press.

Frank Graegorius “The Golem – Supernatural Novel” – Dagon Press – 227 pages – 2014 – Euro 15