Occult Paris
The Lost Magic of the Belle Époque
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Published:15th Dec '16
Should be back in stock very soon
The book Occult Paris explores the intertwining of art and magic in Belle Époque Paris, revealing the influence of occult practices on modern culture.
In Occult Paris, Tobias Churton delves into the vibrant cultural landscape of fin-de-siècle Paris, a period marked by a remarkable revival of magical practices and doctrines reminiscent of the Renaissance. During the Belle Époque (1871-1914), Paris became a melting pot for various artistic movements, including Symbolism, Impressionism, and Art Nouveau. These movements not only shaped the modern cultural narrative but also coincided with a surge of occult activity, intertwining the realms of art and mysticism in profound ways.
Churton explores the diverse community of occultists who called Paris home, including notable figures such as Joséphin Peladan, Papus, and Jules Doinel, alongside lesser-known practitioners. He meticulously examines how these individuals contributed to the esoteric traditions of the time and their influence on contemporary culture. The author highlights the interplay between artists and occultists, revealing how the works of composers like Claude Debussy and Erik Satie, as well as writers such as Arthur Rimbaud and Charles Baudelaire, were deeply infused with the mystical currents that flowed through Paris.
Ultimately, Occult Paris serves as a compelling exploration of how the creative and magical energies of the City of Light during the Belle Époque have left an indelible mark on modern spirituality and the arts. Churton raises intriguing questions about the legacy of this period, pondering the impact it has had on figures like Aleister Crowley and the contemporary magical community, suggesting that the essence of this vibrant era continues to resonate today.
". . . a massive, focused exploration of the relationship between the mystical and the creative. . .This entertaining volume will please fans of esoterica and the City of Light." * Publishers Weekly *
“With Tobias Churton as the cicerone--or dare I say psychopomp?--the reader is expertly guided in the labyrinthine world of the Occult Paris of the Belle Époque (1871-1914). This is the best introduction to the French occult revival ever written in English.” * Henrik Bogdan, professor of religious studies at the University of Gothenburg *
“Music, art, literature, mysticism--fin-de-siècle Paris had it all in great abundance, and in Tobias Churton’s latest tome he uncovers the hidden and not-so-hidden connections between Satie, Debussy, Redon, Rops, Khnopff, Gauguin, Crowley, Lévi, Papus, Mathers, Péladan, Michelet, Blavatsky, Reuss, Huysmans, Breton, and countless others. . . . Eminently readable and filled with meticulous historical details, this is a fabulous depiction of one of the most exciting and fervent periods of creativity in modern times.” * John Zorn, composer-performer *
“A tour de force. A stunning account of fin-de-siècle Occult Paris and its lasting influence on the counterculture. . . . Churton gives comprehensive portrayals of such occult luminaries as Péladan, Papus, and de Guaita as well as a portrayal of their movements and a seminal analysis of esoteric art--in particular the ‘Rosicrucian’ art of the salons--locating its place in the intellectual, cultural, and political milieu of the Belle Époque. Tobias is as erudite as he is excited and exciting. His scholarship is alive with passion, imagination, humor, and, most of all, humanity. A must-read for students of European history, Art Nouveau, Symbolism, Idealism, Surrealism, and the Decadents as well as for neo-Rosicrucian, Templar and Gnostic esotericists, and modern-day alchemists and magicians.” * Stephen J. King (Shiva X°), Grand Master, Ordo Templi Orientis *
“No one can evoke the feel of a place and an era like Tobias Churton! This is Paris in the Belle Époque, but behind the city of the can-can, Toulouse-Lautrec, and the Moulin Rouge, Churton shows us a Paris of seekers in mysterious worlds--magic, Hermeticism, Kabbalah, alchemy--and of artists, writers, and composers who were also drawn to those realms. The spirit of their compelling quest is stamped on every page of this book.” * Christopher McIntosh, Ph.D., author of Eliphas Lévi *
“Tobias Churton brings this amazing era to life. Gnostics, Free Masons, Rosicrucians, Hermetics…The echos of Paris’ Belle Epoque is still heard in cultural and spiritual movements today.” * The Echo *
ISBN: 9781620555453
Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 30mm
Weight: 882g
528 pages