Victorian Occultism and the Making of Modern Magic

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. A New Order

   • Alison Butler

   Pages 1-16

3. A New Magic

   • Alison Butler

   Pages 17-61

4. Resurrecting the Past: Hiram, Isis and the Rosy Cross

   • Alison Butler

   Pages 62-98

5. Preservation and Improvisation: Nineteenth-Century Magicians

   • Alison Butler

   Pages 99-124

6. Magical Libraries: What Occultists Read

   • Alison Butler

   Pages 125-137

7. Revolutionizing Magic: The Will Conquers the Spirit

   • Alison Butler

   Pages 138-161

8. Middle-Class Magic

   • Alison Butler

   Pages 162-179

9. Conclusion

   • Alison Butler

   Pages 180-182

10. Back Matter

    Pages 183-225

    PDF

The late Victorian period witnessed the remarkable revival of magical practice and belief. Butler examines the individuals, institutions and literature associated with this revival and demonstrates how Victorian occultism provided an alternative to the tightening camps of science and religion in a social environment that nurtured magical beliefs.

• individual
• revolution
• Tradition

"Victorian Occultism and the Making of Modern Magic provides a comprehensive account of the historical roots and philosophical underpinnings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. From Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and Egyptian magic, to Victorian innovations and inventions, such as making magic collaborative and more egalitarian, Butler's study provides a missing chapter in the history of the occult in the West. I imagine that Butler's Victorian Occultism and the Making of Modern Magic will make a useful reference for all interested in the Victorian occult and the history of magic in the West for years to come." - Sarah Willburn, Victorian Studies

"...an important addition to the growing literature on the history of modern magic. As Butler states, 'It is time to stop apologizing for magic' (x), particularly in the modern period. Her lively synthesis of cultural and intellectual history serves as a valuable contribution to the validity of that field, while also carving out its own significant niche within it." - Karl Bell, Journal of British Studies

"Butler's close attention to the thoughts and activities of the Victorian occultists considered strives to conjure up a bygone moment in history and elicits what meaning it has for us today....The result is a welcome and insightful addition to the

debate on magic." - Leo Ruickbie, The Pomegranate

• St. Francis Xavier University, Canada

  Alison Butler

ALISON BUTLER lecturer at St. Francis Xavier University, Canada, and a social and cultural historian specializing in nineteenth-century Britain. Her research interests include the history of magic and its intersection with science and religion. She has published on these topics and has received fellowships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Rothermere Foundation.

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