Abstract
<p>Carl Schmitt (1888–1985), the constitutional theorist whose work has been the subject of global debate, became acquainted with the Expressionist poet Theodor Däubler (1876–1934) at an early age and published his first monograph on Däubler’s ‘Northern Lights’ vision of the philosophy of history as early as 1916. Reinhard Mehring examines Schmitt’s canonisation policies, his literary influences and his political-theological aesthetics which distances him from Heidegger and brings him closer to Däubler, whom Schmitt praised throughout his life as a ‘poet for tomorrow’. This is documented for the first time through Schmitt’s personal copies, illustrated by Däubler’s work and confirmed by the publication of previously unknown sources. Mehring analyses and puts into perspective the legend of Schmitt’s ‘Catholic turn’ towards Annette von Droste-Hülshoff and Konrad Weiß. Schmitt’s departure from conventional Christianity is further demonstrated by his reflections on Kaspar Hauser as the ‘last Christian myth’. Instead of conceiving a book on Hitler or else an open retrospective examination of National Socialism, Schmitt after the war went on to write the Shakespeare book “Hamlet or Hecuba”, which is here discussed as a didactic text and an esoteric legend concerning Schmitt’s own role in National Socialism.</p>