OCCULT LONDON - Hardcover

Merlin Coverley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1904048889 ISBN 13: 9781904048886

Publisher: POCKET ESSENTIALS, 2008

Synopsis

London, more than any other city, has a secret history concealed from view. Behind the official facade promoted by the heritage industry, lies a city of esoteric traditions and obscure institutions, of lost knowledge and hidden locations. Occult London rediscovers this hidden history, unearthing the secret city and its forgotten inhabitants. Encompasses history from the Elizabethan age to today, and covers such varied topics as magic, Kabbalah, occult designs and occult organisations. Includes four walk routes and an A to Z of occult locations.

About this title

Review:

"Coverley's approach is an enlightening one. Covering an astounding amount of material, both well known and cult writers feature with equal prominence." --Huffington Post

"Splendid, scholarly and suffused with evocative stories and biographical sketches." --Booklist

Synopsis:

London, more than any other city, has a secret history concealed from view. Behind the official facade promoted by the heritage industry, lies a city of esoteric traditions and obscure institutions, of lost knowledge and hidden locations. Occult London rediscovers this hidden history, unearthing the secret city and its forgotten inhabitants. Encompassing a historical panorama from the Elizabethan age to the present day, we are introduced to the magic of Dr Dee and Simon Forman, the rise of the Kabbalah and the occult designs of Wren and Hawksmoor. Elsewhere we meet figures such as Spring-Heeled Jack and the Highgate Vampyre, and occult organizations from the Invisible College to the Golden Dawn. Today a concern for such hidden traditions has returned and Merlin Coverley explores this revival of interest in the occult tradition, one that accords well with emerging New Age philosophies, the interest in London's Ley Lines, in alternative histories and psychogeography.

Also included is a section entitled Walking Occult London, detailing a series of four walks covering features of occult significance for the Elizabethan, Eighteenth Century, Fin de Siecle and contemporary periods - and an Occult Gazetteer: An A-Z of London's most resonant Occult Locations, from Abney Park cemetery to Wellclose Square, with a series of short descriptive entries including postcode, nearest tube, and map.

About this edition

• Publisher: POCKET ESSENTIALS
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1904048889
• ISBN 13: 9781904048886
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160