Meyrink Gustav - The Golem

1868

19 January. Gustav Meyer born (Meyrink will be his nom de plume), illegitimate son of Baron Karl Varnbler von und zu Hemmingen, minister of state for Wurttemburg, and Maria Meyer, a Bavarian actress. Born in Vienna and baptised and raised as a Protestant. Education in Munich, Hamburg and Prague.

18821902

One of the directors of the Meyer and Morgenstern Bank in Prague. Becomes well known as a man about town.

1891

Nervous breakdown and suicide attempt. Interests himself in occultism and becomes a founder member of the Theosophical Lodge of the Blue Star.

1892

Marries Hedwig Aloysia Certl.

18936

Investigates Cabalism, freemasonry, yoga, alchemy and hashish.

1896

First meeting with Philomena Bernt, a bankers daughter.

1901

While convalescing in a tuberculosis sanatorium in Dresden, he begins to write. The first short story The Burning Soldier is published in Simplicissimus on 29 October.

1902

Fights a series of duels with officers of a Prague regiment. Rumours that he was directing the banks affairs according to spirit guidance. Accused of fraud and imprisoned. Temporarily paralysed. Freed after two and a half months, but financially ruined. Recovers his health through the practice of yoga.

1903

His first anthology of grotesque and satirical short stories published under the title The Burning Soldier.

1904

Moves to Vienna. Orchids (more short stories) published.

1905

Divorces first wife and he and Philomena Bernt travel to Dover where they can get married out of the reach of scandal.

19056

His anti-militarist writings make it necessary for him to exile himself in Switzerland for a while.

1906

Moves to Bavaria.

1907

The Cabinet of Wax Figures published (short stories). Begins writing The Golem.

1908

His son Harro born.

190910

Translates the works of Dickens.

1911

Settles by Lake Starnberg in Bavaria.

1913

The Enchanted Horn of the German Petit Bourgeois published (short stories).

191314

The Golem appears in serial form in Die Weissen Blatter.

1914

Paul Wegeners first film version of The Golem.

1915

The Golem is published in book form by Karl Wolff, Leipzig. It is Meyrinks first novel.

1916

His second novel The Green Face published.

1917

Meets B Yn R. Official change of name to Meyrink. Walpurgisnacht published. Allegedly requested by German government to write a novel showing that the freemasons started the Great War, but refused under pressure from the freemasons.

1920

Wegeners second film version of The Golem. (It is the only one which has survived.)

1921

The White Dominican, a novel.

19215

Edits a series of alchemical, occult and mystical works.

1925

Tales of the Gold Seekers (short stories about alchemists).

1926

Translates Kipling.

1927

The Angel of the West Window (a novel about Elizabeth I and John Dee, the sorcerer). Money and health problems.

1928

Pemberton translation of The Golem.

1932

Harro, his son, commits suicide. 4 December Gustav Meyrink dies in The House of the Last Lamp looking east over Lake Starnberg.

1936

Duvivier film version of The Golem.

1971

French television version of The Golem.

1985

Dedalus republishes Pembertons translation of The Golem.

19914

Mike Mitchells first English translation of