First published in 1860, Eliphas Levi's history of magic follows in the wake of his enormously successful Dogme et Ritual de la Haute Magie, which first appeared in 1854. In this book, the French occultist and alleged magician offers a thoroughly comprehensive survey of the idea of 'magic' in Western history, from its origins in Indian, Greek, cabalistic and hermetic traditions to the latest developments in nineteenth-century occult philosophy, as well as his own private recollections of his experience with magic. Levi is adamant in his treatment of magic as a serious science and one compatible with Christianity, encouraging his readers to see magic as the reconciliation point between faith and reason, science and belief, authority and liberty. Extending to almost six hundred pages and with numerous illustrations, this book should appeal to those interested in the nineteenth-century obsession with mysticism and the occult.

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction; Livre I. Les Origines Magiques: 1. Origines fabuleuses; 2. Magie des mages; 3. Magie dans l'Inde; 4. Magie hermetique; 5. Magie en Grece; 6. Magie mathematicienne de Pythagore; 7. Le sainte kabbale; Livre II. Formation et Realisation du Dogme: 1. Symbolisme primitif de l'histoire; 2. Le mysticisme; 3. Initiations et epreuves; 4. Magie du culte publie; 5. Mysteres de la virginite; 6. Des superstitions; 7. Monumenets magiques; Livre III. Synthese et Realisation Divine du Magisme par la Revelation Chretienne: 1. Christ accuse de magie; 2. Verite du christianisme par la magie; 3. Du diable; 4. Les dernier paiens; 5. Les legendes; 6. Peintures kabbalistiques; 7. Ecole d'Alexandrie; Livre IV. La Magie et la Civilisation: 1. Magie chez les Barbares; 2. Influence des femmes; 3. Lois saliques contre les sorciers; 4. Legendes de Charlemagne; 5. Magiciens; 6. Proces celebres; 7. Superstitions relatives au diable; Livre V. Les Adeptes et le Sacerdoce: 1. Pretres et papes accuses de magie; 2. Apparition des Bohemiens nomades; 3. Legende et histoire de Raymond Lulle; 4. Alchimistes; 5. Sorciers et magiciens celebres; 6. Proces de magie; 7. Origines magiques de la maconnerie; Livre VI. La Magie et la Revolution: 1. Auteurs remarquables du XVIIIe siecle; 2. Personnage merveilleux du XVIIIe siecle; 3. Propheties de Cazotte; 4. Revolution francaise; 5. Phenomenes de mediiomanie; 6. Les illumines d'Allemagne; 7. Empire et restauration; Livre VII. La Magie au XIXe Siecle: 1. Les magnetiseurs mystiques et les materialistes; 2. Des hallucinations; 3. Les magnetiseurs et les somnamnules; 4. Les fantaisistes en magie; 5. Souvenirs intimes de l'auteur; 6. Des sciences occultes; 7. Resume et conclusion; Conclusion.