Comte de Gabalis is a 17th-century French text by Abbé Nicolas-Pierre-Henri de Montfaucon de Villars (1635–1673). The titular "Comte de Gabalis" ("Count of Cabala") is an esotericist who explains the mysteries of the world to the author. It first appeared in Paris in 1670, anonymously, though the identity of the author came to be known. The original title as published by Claude Barbin was Le comte de Gabalis, ou entretiens sur les sciences secrètes, "The Count of Cabala, Or Dialogs on the Secret Sciences".
The book was widely read in France and abroad, and is a source for many of the "marvelous beings" that populate later European literature.[1] French readers include Charles Baudelaire[2] and Anatole France – it was the main source for his At the Sign of the Reine Pédauque (1892).[3] In English literature, it influenced Alexander Pope, who borrowed from it to create the sylphs in The Rape of the Lock (1714), and in German, it is a likely source for Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué's Undine.[1] In recent times it has been considered by some to have been intended as a satire of occult philosophy, though in its time it was taken seriously by many readers.[4] Many later authors have also taken it to be a serious source, including Edward Bulwer-Lytton and prominent occult writers such as Éliphas Lévi, Helena Blavatsky and M. P. Hall.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abSeeber, Edward D. (1944). "Sylphs and Other Elemental Beings in French Literature since Le Comte de Gabalis (1670)". PMLA. 59 (1): 71–83. doi:10.2307/458845. JSTOR 458845.
^Blondheim, D. S. (1918). "Notes on the Sources of Anatole France". The Modern Language Review. 13 (3): 333–34. doi:10.2307/3714242. JSTOR 3714242.
^Veenstra, Jan R. (2013). "Paracelsian Spirits in Pope's Rape of the Lock". In Olsen, Karin E.; Veenstra, Jan R. (eds.). Airy Nothings: Imagining the Otherworld of Faerie from the Middle Ages to the Age of Reason: Essays in Honour of Alasdair A. MacDonald. BRILL. pp. 213–240. ISBN978-90-04-25823-5.
^Nagel, Alexandra H.M. (2007). Marriage with Elementals From Le Comte de Gabalis to a Golden Dawn ritual (Thesis). University of Amsterdam.
External linksedit
Full text of Comte de Gabalis in English translation
Le Comte de Gabalis, ou Entretiens sur les sciences secrètes, nouvelle édition augmentée des Génies assistans et des gnomes irréconciliables, par l'abbé de Villars (1742 French edition)
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comte, gabalis, 17th, century, french, text, abbé, nicolas, pierre, henri, montfaucon, villars, 1635, 1673, titular, count, cabala, esotericist, explains, mysteries, world, author, first, appeared, paris, 1670, anonymously, though, identity, author, came, know. Comte de Gabalis is a 17th century French text by Abbe Nicolas Pierre Henri de Montfaucon de Villars 1635 1673 The titular Comte de Gabalis Count of Cabala is an esotericist who explains the mysteries of the world to the author It first appeared in Paris in 1670 anonymously though the identity of the author came to be known The original title as published by Claude Barbin was Le comte de Gabalis ou entretiens sur les sciences secretes The Count of Cabala Or Dialogs on the Secret Sciences The book was widely read in France and abroad and is a source for many of the marvelous beings that populate later European literature 1 French readers include Charles Baudelaire 2 and Anatole France it was the main source for his At the Sign of the Reine Pedauque 1892 3 In English literature it influenced Alexander Pope who borrowed from it to create the sylphs in The Rape of the Lock 1714 and in German it is a likely source for Friedrich de la Motte Fouque s Undine 1 In recent times it has been considered by some to have been intended as a satire of occult philosophy though in its time it was taken seriously by many readers 4 Many later authors have also taken it to be a serious source including Edward Bulwer Lytton and prominent occult writers such as Eliphas Levi Helena Blavatsky and M P Hall 5 References edit a b Seeber Edward D 1944 Sylphs and Other Elemental Beings in French Literature since Le Comte de Gabalis 1670 PMLA 59 1 71 83 doi 10 2307 458845 JSTOR 458845 Eigeldinger Marc 1969 Baudelaire et Le Comte de Gabalis Revue d Histoire litteraire de la France 69 6 1020 21 JSTOR 40523636 Blondheim D S 1918 Notes on the Sources of Anatole France The Modern Language Review 13 3 333 34 doi 10 2307 3714242 JSTOR 3714242 Veenstra Jan R 2013 Paracelsian Spirits in Pope s Rape of the Lock In Olsen Karin E Veenstra Jan R eds Airy Nothings Imagining the Otherworld of Faerie from the Middle Ages to the Age of Reason Essays in Honour of Alasdair A MacDonald BRILL pp 213 240 ISBN 978 90 04 25823 5 Nagel Alexandra H M 2007 Marriage with Elementals From Le Comte de Gabalis to a Golden Dawn ritual Thesis University of Amsterdam External links editFull text of Comte de Gabalis in English translation Le Comte de Gabalis ou Entretiens sur les sciences secretes nouvelle edition augmentee des Genies assistans et des gnomes irreconciliables par l abbe de Villars 1742 French edition nbsp This article about a 17th century novel is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it See guidelines for writing about novels Further suggestions might be found on the article s talk page vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Comte de Gabalis amp oldid 1208437357, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
