The place of enchantment British occultism and the culture of the modern

Numerous recent books, articles, and dissertations have sought to put the international occult revival of the late 19th century into its proper historical context. Treitel (history, Wellesley College) and Owen (history, Northwestern Univ.) examine the role of occult beliefs and practices in Germany and Britain, respectively. Both authors argue that occultism was neither marginal nor atavistic, maintaining instead that it represented, in Treitel's words, an "alternative modernity," a response to rapid social changes and a generalized crisis of belief brought about by the triumph of scientific materialism. Both authors further maintain that occult beliefs were broadly influential in fin de siecle society, shaping developments in psychology, literature, art, and social thought. These two studies take contrasting but complementary approaches to their common topic. Treitel offers a social history of the German occult, panoramic in scope, which seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of a variety of occult organizations and their relationship to Wilhelmine society at large. She also addresses the political dimension of German occultism, rejecting the commonly held notion that Nazism had significant occult roots and arguing instead that German occultism was politically eclectic and ultimately suppressed under the Third Reich for its individualistic and universalistic traits. Owen, by contrast, focuses primarily on a small group of Britons who were affiliated with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, perhaps the most celebrated occult association of modern times. Her study is an intellectual history of British occultism that explores the beliefs and practices of its proponents, particularly psychic powers and astral projection, in great detail. Treitel and Owen both make a strong case for situating occultism prominently in any discussion of fin de siecle culture and mentalites. Their two studies should prove both enlightening and entertaining to scholars and general readers alike. ^BSumming Up: Recommended, both titles. All public and academic levels/collections. D. A. Harvey New College of Florida

While many enlightened individuals in Victorian England were ushering in the Modern Age, other upper-crust Victorians were delving into various aspects of the occult. These two extremes are what make this latest from Owen (history & gender studies, Northwestern Univ.; The Darkened Room) such a fascinating work. While Charles Darwin and Sigmund Freud were shaking up all of society with their new theories, Aleister Crowley, W.B. Yeats, and members of secret magical societies like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn were exploring another realm altogether. In this respect, Owen argues, astral travel, mind-altering drug experimentation, sex magic, and alchemy were as important cultural phenomena in late Victorian England as were rationalism and science. Much of the interest in the occult, she explains, arose from a crisis in the Christian religion, which forced many to search for spiritual meaning outside the organized church. Owen's scholarly and unique look at Victorian England is highly recommended for academic and large public libraries, particularly those with special collections in religion and spirituality or British social history.-Mary E. Jones, Los Angeles Cty. P.L., Agoura Hills (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.