Cynical Mysticism: The Role of Fairies in Late-Victorian Esotericism
Throughout the esoteric literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, there is a frequent confluence of ritual magic and occultism with belief in the fairies at the bottom of the garden. At first glance, such a pairing may seem peculiar, even somewhat ridiculous; on closer inspectio...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
[2017]
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| In: |
Literature and theology
Year: 2017, Volume: 31, Issue: 3, Pages: 285-304 |
| IxTheo Classification: | AZ New religious movements CD Christianity and Culture TJ Modern history |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Throughout the esoteric literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, there is a frequent confluence of ritual magic and occultism with belief in the fairies at the bottom of the garden. At first glance, such a pairing may seem peculiar, even somewhat ridiculous; on closer inspection, this affinity seems to rise from cynicism about the modern world. Examining works by Arthur Conan Doyle, W.B. Yeats, and the surprising influence of George MacDonald on A.E. Waite, this article discusses how a profound cynicism may underlie the apparent desire to believe in fairies. |
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| ISSN: | 1477-4623 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Literature and theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/litthe/frw021 |