A controversial issue of public debate during the recent years; esotericism can be described as the search for an absolute but hidden knowledge that people claim to access through mystical vision; the mediation of higher beings; or personal experience. In Western cultural history these claims often led to conflicts with more established forms of scriptural religions and with reductionist interpretations in science and philosophy. In this highly readable book Kocku von Stuckrad describes the impact of esoteric currents from antiquity to the present and pursues the continuities and breaks in a tradition that significantly influenced the formation of modernity. When Hermes Trismegistos reveals wisdom of an absolute quality; the unveiling of hidden knowledge in Jewish Kabbalah is transformed by Christians; Renaissance thinkers speak of an 'eternal philosophy;' or when in the 'New Age' people try to get in contact with a source of superior understanding--in every case the dynamic of concealment and revelation is at stake and the ways this hidden knowledge can be made accessible for human curiosity.
#2436057 in Books 2005-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x .36 x 6.04l; .64 #File Name: 1844151689144 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. The prequel to Waterloo...By HMS WarspiteIn this short but informative book; Peter Hofschroer places the battles of Quatre Bras and Ligny in their proper context within the campaign of Waterloo; as missed opportunities for Napoleon's hope of a quick and decisive victory.Hofschroer provides a very competent narrative of the campaign; including Napoleon's initial success in achieving tactical surprise and gaining a position between the Prussian and Anglo-Dutch armies. As described by Hofschroer; mismanagement by Napoleon and his subordinates contributed to a lost opportunity to defeat one or both of the Allied armies in detail; setting up the famously decisive battle at Mount St. Jean. The book includes concise biographies of the key leaders and is nicely outfitted with photographs; period illustrations; and diagrams. An appendix provides the respective orders of battle.Hofschroer offers some strong judgments on the leaders of the respective armies; which are generally factually-based. He pursues two themes in his narrative. One is to apportion proper credit to the Dutch; German; and Prussian units who did most of the fighting on 15 and 16 June; a fair criticism of earlier books on Waterloo. The second is that Wellington badly mismanaged his army on 15 and 16 June; a continuing controversy that relies on a fairly harsh interpretation of Wellington's options and actions and that is beyond the scope of this short book to resolve."Waterloo 1815: Quatre Bras and Ligny" is cautiously recommended to the general reader interested in a wider look at the campaign of Waterloo.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not for the noviceBy BruceVery detailed account of troop movements and army structures; not for the general reader. Good view of battle of ligny; about which too little has been written.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. okayBy Steven RoseGood insights; but this edition is marred by language errors and confusing passages. It's okay; but nothing special.He definitely is pro-Prussian.
