Arthur Koestler fue un prolífico escritor de ensayos, novelas y autobiografías. Su carrera temprana se desarrolló en el periodismo, y más tarde se hizo conocido por sus intrincados ensayos y novelas que a menudo exploraban complejas ideas políticas y filosóficas. Basándose en sus experiencias, profundizó en temas como la creencia, la traición y la búsqueda de sentido en tiempos turbulentos. Su obra se caracteriza por un agudo intelecto y un poderoso estilo narrativo.
Rusbashov, miembro de la vieja guardia bolchevique y héroe de la Revolución Soviética, ha sido encarcelado acusado de traición al gobiernode Moscú. Es incitado a autoinculparse de una serie de delitos y traiciones que no ha cometido, pero termina por confesar a fin de salvar la Revolución. Esta obra cumbre de la literatura política nos ofrece un testimonio excepcional de la angustia que sufrieron cientos de antiguos miembros del Partido que desaparecieron, fueron encarcelados y juzgados o llegaron a autoinmolarse para salvarlo
Taken together, Arthur Koestler's volumes of autobiography constitute an
unrivalled study of twentieth-century man and his dilemma. It puts in
perspective his experiences in Franco's prisons under sentence of death and in
concentration camps in Occupied France and ends with his escape in 1940 to
England, where he found stability and a new home.
This book traces the history of the ancient Khazar Empire, a major but almost
forgotten power in Eastern Europe, which in the Dark Ages became converted to
Judaism. Khazaria was finally wiped out by the forces of Genghis Khan, but
evidence indicates that the Khazars themselves migrated to Poland and formed
the cradle of Western Jewry. To the general reader the Khazars, who flourished
from the 7th to 11th century, may seem infinitely remote today. Yet they have
a close and unexpected bearing on our world, which emerges as Koestler
recounts the fascinating history of the ancient Khazar Empire. At about the
time that Charlemagne was Emperor in the West. The Khazars' sway extended from
the Black Sea to the Caspian, from the Caucasus to the Volga, and they were
instrumental in stopping the Muslim onslaught against Byzantium, the eastern
jaw of the gigantic pincer movement that in the West swept across northern
Africa and into Spain. Thereafter the Khazars found themselves in a precarious
position between the two major world powers: the Eastern Roman Empire in
Byzantium and the triumphant followers of Mohammed. As Koestler points out,
the Khazars were the Third World of their day. They chose a surprising method
of resisting both the Western pressure to become Christian and the Eastern to
adopt Islam. Rejecting both, they converted to Judaism. Mr. Koestler
speculates about the ultimate faith of the Khazars and their impact on the
racial composition and social heritage of modern Jewry. He produces detailed
research to support a theory which could make the term 'anti-Semitism' become
void of meaning
In this penetrating selection of essays and reviews, Arthur Koestler roves from Indian politics to the paranormal, from materialism to mysticism. Whether he is addressing a learned society on education or psychiatry, discussing ESP, reporting the Fischer-Spassky chess championship or taking a step into the 1980s, Koestler is always controversial, forthright and stimulating — above all, compulsively readable. [Taken from the back cover]
The first volume of the remarkable autobiography of Arthur Koestler, author of
Darkness at Noon. In 1931, Arthur Koestler joined the Communist Party, an
event he felt to be second only in importance to his birth in shaping his
destiny.
Drawing from his harrowing experiences as a political prisoner during the Spanish Civil War, the author delivers a powerful critique of capital punishment. Having faced execution by a firing squad, he reflects on the moral implications and human cost of such a system, shaped by the suffering of fellow inmates. Originally published in 1956, this work combines personal narrative with broader societal commentary, making it a poignant exploration of justice and inhumanity.
The book explores the historical foundations of the State of Israel through a unique lens, emphasizing the influence of irrational forces and emotional biases alongside traditional politico-economic factors. It is divided into three parts: "Background," which surveys key developments; "Close-up," focusing on specific events; and "Perspective," offering broader insights. The author aims to provide a balanced view by highlighting psychological elements in history, presenting a "psycho-somatic" understanding of this significant modern episode.
The book focuses on the scarcity and rising costs of early 20th-century literature. It emphasizes the effort to republish these classic works in accessible, high-quality editions that retain the original text and artwork. This initiative aims to make timeless literature available to a broader audience while preserving its historical significance.
