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A philosophical explorer of the occult tradition
Historically, the occult field seems to have been made up of three kinds of people: those with an impartial intellectual interest, those seeking a way of increasing personal power, and those wishing to penetrate ‘divine mysteries’ and arrive at profound wisdom and understanding.
It’s possible that one could embrace all three approaches at the same time, although dedication to the effort of attaining wisdom and self-realisation might well override the other two endeavours.
Perspicaciously, the philosopher, novelist and critic Colin Wilson (1931–2013), doubtless falling into the first of those categories above, addresses facets of all three, in one way or another, in an agreeable and informative selection of his writings from 1972–1989 which followed on the heels of publication in 1971 of one of his major works, The Occult.
Introducing the Occult: Selected introductions, prefaces, forewords and afterwords by Colin Wilson (Axis Mundi Books, December 2022) is selected, edited and introduced by Wilson’s esteemed bibliographer Colin Stanley, and reflects how Wilson became sought after for such commentaries by genre writers after The Occult had become a best-seller.
Being of particular interest to readers of Wilson who are already familiar with his prolific oeuvre, the selection comprises…
