Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #986875 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Customer Reviews

Invaluable Introduction to a Catholic Magician


I love this book. It is precious to me and performs a true service. Not only is it the only in-print book in English on its subject, it really is an admirable effort. And although MacIntosh's out of print title has more information about Levi's life, I prefer Williams' effort. Quantity is not the same as quality, and although less is on offer here, I feel Williams captures more of the essential heart of who the remarkable Eliphas Levi really was. (Not that MacIntosh's volume is not also excellent and deserves reprinting).

Who was Eliphas Levi? I echo Williams completely, when he writes as to his reasons for writing the book: `The more I found out [about Levi], the more interested I became. Levi emerged as a far richer personality than I would ever have suspected.' I concur - the more I've pursued Levi, the more I've found a very generous and noble heart, a very human thinker.

Williams' takes us through Levi's whole life: his life changing first communion, his ordination in the Catholic Church, his years of radical utopianism, his veneration of the feminine, his works on magic. Unfortunately, the information on Levi's last years is thinner - which is regrettable inasmuch as I find the mature Levi the most moving of all - as he leaves behind his ceremonial magic for an ever deeper engagement with the Catholic Mystery. But it's a minor regret. Again, Williams captures Levi's *heart*.

Levi deserves not to be forgotten. As I said in my review of The Key of the Mysteries: `Levi is also notable because, although he could be seen as one of the fathers of the New Age movement, he doesn't have a `New Age politics'. That is, one the one hand, many ideas that now inform New Age thinking - such as `the interconnectedness of everything and how you effect others with your energy' to put it in `New Age speak' - are prefigured here in [Levi]. One the other hand, Levi has none of the New Age ideas of rejecting religion and the establishment. He is deeply Catholic and seeks a transformed Church vigorously supporting and informing the established order. Many of the thoughts here seem like rough drafts of what the anonymous author of Meditations on the Tarot would later develop with far more finesse.'

So in addition to all the above reasons, those seeking to understand the background to the astonishing Meditations on the Tarot will also find Williams' book a most valuable resource.

Untill the real thing comes along
To start off with I was disappointed to find so many typo's in this second edition. While annoying it doesn't spoil the reading experience. The extensive use of long sections of quotation from other sources is far worse. This may not be intended as filler material but it does break the flow with unfortuate regularity. There is much in the way of interesting personal information that is not included. This is not difficult to source as I found it easily at a couple of on-line bio's.
The lack of a definitave biogaphy of Levi is a glaring omission in Occult literature. While this book doesn't fill the void it's the only one available. Worth reading untill the real thing comes along.

What they are saying....
This is an often enjoyable, well-documented, readable biographical book on Lévi and his influence . . . . A significant book.
-Choice

Thomas A. Williams offers to our understanding a knowledge of what the occult is as well as of Eliphas Lévi, one of the most important revivers of the lore and language of the esoteric doctrines. . . . Williams offers useful materials on the Cabala, numerology and the Tarot. . . .
-Christian Scholar's Review

Thomas Williams gives us for the first time a well-researched, honest and unbiased biography of one of the giants of occultism. . . . Mr. Williams has done the occult, or psychic, world a service that should be acknowledged by all concerned. . . . We should all stand up and cheer!
-Spiritual Studies Center Booknews