Surrealism and Operative Alchemy: The Secret Language at the Origins of the Surrealist Movement
Language: English
Published by Inner Traditions, 2026
- Hardcover
- New

Seller: Brook Bookstore On Demand, Napoli, NA, ItalyBrook Bookstore On Demand
AbeBooks seller since October 11, 2022
Condition: New
£ 36.24
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- Title
- Surrealism and Operative Alchemy: The Secret Language at the Origins of the Surrealist Movement
- Author
- Lepetit, Patrick
- Publisher
- Inner Traditions
- Publication year
- 2026
- Condition
- new
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 13
- 9798888501672
- Item weight
- 0.71 kilograms
• Draws on rare primary documents to reveal the connections between surrealism, 20th century alchemy, and 19th century occultism
• Explores Éliphas Lévi, Jewish and Christian Kabbalah, and Hermeticism to show how surrealist symbology contained an initiatory dimension or “secret teaching”
• Details collaborations between surrealists André Breton, Bernard Roger, and Salvador Dalí and alchemists René Alleau, Eugène Canseliet, and Fulcanelli
Over the last century the symbols and strangeness of the surrealists have become world-renowned, but what isn’t so well-known is the hidden relationship between surrealism and alchemy. The works of both traditions not only had a decisive influence on each other but created a unique path for alchemy to leave its underground workshops to shine in the light of popular culture.
Patrick Lepetit draws on rare primary documents to reveal the connections between surrealism, 20th-century alchemy, and 19th-century occultism. He examines the hidden subtleties of surrealism to see the esoteric messages embedded in its vision of the self and cosmos. Exploring the writings of Éliphas Lévi, Jewish and Christian Kabbalah, and Hermeticism, Lepetit shows how surrealist symbology contained an initiatory dimension, a “secret teaching” that was integral to its expression and deeply inspiring to the surrealists. Early alchemists used codes and word games, such as the perfect and divine “language of the birds,” to discuss the work in ways that would baffle the uninitiated and evade the suspicions of the church. Readers will learn about the artists André Breton, Salvador Dalí, Irene Hillel-Erlanger, Bernard Roger, and Jorge Camacho and how they worked with alchemists Fulcanelli, René Alleau, and Eugène Canseliet.
Surrealism and Operative Alchemy is a deeply researched study that situates the surrealists in their proper place as members of an age-old tradition of wisdom.
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About the Author
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Brook Bookstore On Demand
Napoli, NA, Italy
AbeBooks seller since October 11, 2022
Shipping rates from Italy to U.S.A.
| Item | 25 to 40 business days | 60 to 60 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 5.76 | £ 432.53 |
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Brook Bookstore On Demand offers a wide selection of books with a continuously updated catalog and fast shipments all over the world. We hold distribution rights with all of the publishers we promote and are in continuous search of new interesting titles to propose to our customers. We are part of Brandon Group SRL (an Italian company) and all of the orders are shipped from Europe. Depending on availability orders will be picked from our different warehouses.
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