The esoteric origins of the American renaissance /
Versluis, Arthur, 1959-
The esoteric origins of the American renaissance / Arthur Versluis. - Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2001. - 1 online resource (234 pages)
Includes bibliographical references (217-230) and index.
1 Introduction; 2 European Esoteric Currents; 3 Esotericism in Early America; 4 The Esoteric Ambience of the American Renaissance; 5 Hitchcock; 6 Poe; 7 Hawthorne; 8 Melville; 9 Greaves; 10 Alcott; 11 Emerson; 12 Fuller; 13 Whitman; 14 Dickinson; 15 The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance; Notes; Bibliography; Index
The term "Western esotericism" refers to a wide range of spiritual currents including alchemy, Hermeticism, Kabbala, Rosicrucianism, and Christian theosophy, as well as several practical forms of esotericism like cartomancy, geomancy, necromancy, alchemy, astrology, herbalism and magic. The early presence of esotericism in north America has not been much studied, and even less so the indebtedness to esotericism of some major American literary figures. In this book, Arthur Versluis breaks new ground, showing that many writers of the so-called American Renaissance drew extensively on and were inspired by Western esoteric currents. Before offering his detailed analysis of the esoteric elements in the writings of figures from the American Renaissance, Versluis offers an overview of esotericism in Europe and its offshoots in colonial America.
English.
1423762282 (electronic bk.) 9781423762287 (electronic bk.) 1280481080 9781280481086 (Cloth) 0195350049 9780195350043
1800-1899
American literature--History and criticism.--19th century
Occultism--History--United States--19th century.
American literature--European influences.
Transcendentalism (New England)
Occultism in literature.
Littérature américaine--Histoire et critique.--19e siècle
Occultisme--Histoire--États-Unis--19e siècle.
Littérature américaine--Influence européenne.
Transcendantalisme (Philosophie américaine)
Occultisme dans la littérature.
LITERARY CRITICISM--American--General.
American literature.
American literature--European influences.
Intellectual life.
Occultism in literature.
Occultism.
Transcendentalism (New England)
United States--Intellectual life--19th century.
États-Unis--Vie intellectuelle--19e siècle.
United States.
Electronic books.
Electronic books.
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
History.
PS217.O33 / V47 2001eb
810.9/37
The esoteric origins of the American renaissance / Arthur Versluis. - Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2001. - 1 online resource (234 pages)
Includes bibliographical references (217-230) and index.
1 Introduction; 2 European Esoteric Currents; 3 Esotericism in Early America; 4 The Esoteric Ambience of the American Renaissance; 5 Hitchcock; 6 Poe; 7 Hawthorne; 8 Melville; 9 Greaves; 10 Alcott; 11 Emerson; 12 Fuller; 13 Whitman; 14 Dickinson; 15 The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance; Notes; Bibliography; Index
The term "Western esotericism" refers to a wide range of spiritual currents including alchemy, Hermeticism, Kabbala, Rosicrucianism, and Christian theosophy, as well as several practical forms of esotericism like cartomancy, geomancy, necromancy, alchemy, astrology, herbalism and magic. The early presence of esotericism in north America has not been much studied, and even less so the indebtedness to esotericism of some major American literary figures. In this book, Arthur Versluis breaks new ground, showing that many writers of the so-called American Renaissance drew extensively on and were inspired by Western esoteric currents. Before offering his detailed analysis of the esoteric elements in the writings of figures from the American Renaissance, Versluis offers an overview of esotericism in Europe and its offshoots in colonial America.
English.
1423762282 (electronic bk.) 9781423762287 (electronic bk.) 1280481080 9781280481086 (Cloth) 0195350049 9780195350043
1800-1899
American literature--History and criticism.--19th century
Occultism--History--United States--19th century.
American literature--European influences.
Transcendentalism (New England)
Occultism in literature.
Littérature américaine--Histoire et critique.--19e siècle
Occultisme--Histoire--États-Unis--19e siècle.
Littérature américaine--Influence européenne.
Transcendantalisme (Philosophie américaine)
Occultisme dans la littérature.
LITERARY CRITICISM--American--General.
American literature.
American literature--European influences.
Intellectual life.
Occultism in literature.
Occultism.
Transcendentalism (New England)
United States--Intellectual life--19th century.
États-Unis--Vie intellectuelle--19e siècle.
United States.
Electronic books.
Electronic books.
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
History.
PS217.O33 / V47 2001eb
810.9/37