Among the gnomes — Reading Notes

Geography as a Gateway to the Occult

The Untersberg is not merely a setting but a character in its own right, described with the precision of a travelogue. Hartmann details its “perpendicular walls, formed of marble rocks thousands of feet high,” its “deep ravines and chasms,” and the “mysterious caves” that seem to penetrate into the mountain's bowels. This geographical specificity grounds the occult in a real, locatable place—the Austrian Alps near Salzburg. The narrator insists that the mountain appears as a chain of separate links, each with its own aspect, and that the inexperienced may lose their way if misled by gnomes. This blending of topographic fact with supernatural warning is a recurring technique, lending credibility to the fantastic elements.

The Princess Adalga and the Limits of Civilization

The princess Adalga is presented as a being of natural sincerity, lacking the “sweet little lies” of modern civilization. The narrator admires her purity but regrets her inability to hide her true sentiments. Their dialogue reveals a central tension: Adalga wishes to become human to achieve immortality, but the narrator insists she must first learn logic, syntax, and the art of doubting everything. This exchange, drawn from the excerpts, positions the book as a critique of contemporary society, where “real human beings” have been replaced by “ghosts and hobgoblins.” The princess's desire for unification with the narrator to become “one immortal being” echoes occult themes of spiritual alchemy, yet the narrator's response—offering to teach her human knowledge—suggests a pedagogical rather than mystical resolution.

The Narrator's Voice: Between Scientist and Mystic

The narrator identifies himself as a doctor and author of works on magic and Paracelsus, and his tone oscillates between empirical observation and esoteric speculation. He describes the gnomes as “elemental spirits of Nature,” some good and some evil, and recounts his stay at the palace of the queen, where he spends time with Adalga. His answers to her questions about humanity are notably ironic: he assures her that millions of people do not know they are immortal, and that clergymen are employed to make them believe it. This dry humor, combined with his willingness to instruct the princess in logic and induction, suggests a narrator who is both a participant in and a critic of the occult world he describes. The excerpts do not reveal the outcome of his civilizing mission, leaving the reader to wonder whether his rational methods succeed or fail.

Readers approaching Among the Gnomes should expect a work that prioritizes philosophical dialogue over plot. The excerpts offer no clear narrative arc, only a series of encounters and conversations. Pay attention to the narrator's shifting stance—sometimes a guide, sometimes a skeptic—and to the way Hartmann uses the mountain's geography to blur the line between natural and supernatural. The book rewards those interested in theosophical ideas and late Victorian occultism, but may frustrate readers seeking a straightforward fantasy adventure.

Rain kept the afternoon indoors, and I lingered over Among the Gnomes, caught in Adalga's longing for mortality—how strange, to want what we forget to miss. That wistfulness followed me to the shelf, where an unassuming volume waited. The Dumpling — Edition Insights offered a softer, homelier echo of that same ache, and I read it before the kettle cooled.