London, 1877. A MISCELLANEOUS CATALOGUE 12 No. 45. OF VALUABLE, RARE, AND CURIOUS BOOKS, offered for Cash at the affixed low nett prices, by BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY, LONDON, W. Madame Blavatsky's Highly Important Work on Oriental Magic, Literature and Religions. Mr. J. W. BOUTON, of New York, announces to the reading public, that he has in press a work with the above title, which will be published early in September, and for which he is now ready to receive orders. The recent revival of interest in Philology and Archæology, resulting from the labours of BUNSEN, LAYARD, HIGGINS. MÜLLER, Dr. SCHLIEMANN, and others, has created a great demand for works upon Eastern topics. No subject of investigation is more attractive and less understood than the Religious Philosophy of the Orientals. The religious and scientific wealth of the oldest peoples on the earth has been so jealously guarded from inquisitive foreigners by mysteries and jargon, that the many have denied the existence of anything worth seeking; and the few so discouraged by the obstacles in the road that, for the most part, they have been compelled to abandon the search. It is with unfeigned pleasure, therefore, that Mr. BOUTON announces the early appearance of a work which will remove many doubts and perplexities, and place in the hands of the intelligent what may serve as a key to the immense storehouses of Oriental learning. The author, Mme. BLAVATSKY, enters the field well equipped. A native of Asia-her childhood passed among the Calmucks, Tartars, Persians and other Eastern peoples; her maturity among Hindus, Cingalese, Thibetans, and Egyptians-Oriental traditions, languages, literature and mythology, have long been her chief study and occupation. The immense fund of information stored up during years of thoughtful study and observant of travel in all lands, enable her to throw more light upon the esoteric philosophy of Eastern nations than, perhaps, any other writer who has contributed to the literature of this important subject. The work is divided into two volumes: one devoted to Science, one to Religion. The author is most careful in stating facts and opinions, always presenting quotations of undeniable authenticity. Numerous translated extracts from the Kabala, the Hermes, the Vedas, etc., are interspersed through the work, bearing at times upon themes treated by high authorities, whom she is often obliged to criticise. Among the subjects dilated upon, the review of Platonism, the discussion of the Genesis of Humanity, the Submerged Continents, the conflicting theories upon the Emigrations of Peoples, the relation of Myths of India, Persia, Scandinavia, Mexico, Peru, and other nations, to modern science and dogma, may be mentioned to give a faint idea of the scope of the work. Startling revelations respecting many physical and psychological phenomena heretofore wrapped in mystery and doubt, frequently occur, at once instructing and amusing the reader. It will be remembered with what avidity the public received and devoured a narrative of the acts of the Thugs unearthed by the English authorities in India some years ago. Our author describes, in a charming manner, the marvellous performances of Fakirs, Magicians, and Sheiks, whose "juggling tricks" delude the senses, and force upon the unwilling mind the conviction that the sources of this bewildering magic must not be sought in mere mechanical legerdemain. To the scholar and the specialist, to the philologist and the archæologist, this work will be a most valuable acquisition, aiding them in their labours and giving to them the only clue to the labyrinth of confusion in which they are involved. To the general reader it will be espec ally attractive because of its fascinating style and pleasing arrangement, presenting a constant variety of racy anecdote, pithy thought, sound scholarship, and vivid description. Mme. BLAVATSKY possesses the happy gift of versatility in an eminent degree, and her style is varied to suit her theme with a graceful ease refreshing to the reader, who is led without weariness from page to page. The author has accomplished her task with ability, and has conferred upon all a precious boon, whose benefit the scientist as well as the religionist, the specialist as well as the general reader, will not be slow to recognize. Agent for the Sale in England: BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 Piccadilly, London. |