Theos-Talk Archives (June 1995 Message tl00085)

According to Astrea:
>
> Has any one seen the book entitled "The Theosophical
> Enlightenment" by Joscelyn Godwin, 1994, State University of New
> York Press, Albany? It's quite a scholarly survey of esoteric
> philosophy and movements in the West from the 18th Century, and
> includes the Theosophical Society, amongst other things.  He
> quotes from "our" Paul Johnson's books on a number of occasions.
> He is not hostile to the society, and seems to acknowledge some
> unexplained goings-ons, but appears to prefer ordinary
> explanations to extra-ordinary ones, when it comes to the Masters
> etc.  I've just skimmed it, and these are my initial impressions.
> It is interesting however, because he brings in some relatively
> obscure figures associated with the early days of the TS, eg the
> Egyptians HBP associated with before she founded the Soceity.

I hope that even those Theosophists who dislike my books will
find something of value in Joscelyn's.  His time frame is roughly
1770-1910, and most of the coverage is of esoteric currents prior
to HPB's arrival on the scene.  Yet even though she doesn't enter
until chapter 13 (of 16?? or so) she is the central character by
virtue of the way various currents meet in her life and work.
Gnosis nominates The Theosophical Enlightenment as the best book
on esoteric topics to be published in 1994.  It provides
fleshed-out portraits of people who heretofore have been mere
names to Theosophical readers: Emma Hardinge Britten, P.B.
Randolph, Hargrave Jennings, Samson Mackey, etc.