Literature and the Theosophical Movement

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Art as an expression of spirituality is important to the Theosophical Movement. This article explores how Theosophy has influenced literature, how Theosophists have written fiction and poetry informed by Theosophical concepts. See also:

Art and the Theosophical Movement

Music and the Theosophical Movement

Performing Arts and the Theosophical Movement

Popular Culture and the Theosophical Movement

Occult fiction

Fiction writers influenced by Theosophy

These are writers of novels and short fiction who were Theosophists, were influenced by Theosophy, or were influential to Theosophists.

• L. Frank Baum (1856–1919) was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He and his wife Maud were members of the Theosophical Society.
• Algernon Blackwood ([1869–1951) was an English short story writer and novelist, one of the most prolific writers of ghost stories in the history of the genre. He was active in Theosophical lodges in Toronto and London.
• Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-73) was a English aristocrat and a member of the English Rosicrucian Society. His enormously popular novels were much appreciated by early Theosophists.
• Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) was an American writer best known for his creations of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres. There is evidence in his novels of Theosophical influence.
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a British physician and writer who is most noted for his novels and stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. He wrote of his interest in Spiritualism and Theosophy.
• Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909) was an American writer noted for his many novels set in Italy, and for his classic weird and fantastic stories. His novel Mr. Isaacs was well known to early Theosophists.
• Edward Douglas Fawcett (1866-1960) was an English writer who knew Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. He wrote fiction, poetry, and nonfiction about many topics, including metaphysics and flying.
• Nicolas Camille Flammarion (1842-1925) was a French astronomer, prolific author of more than fifty titles and member of the Theosophical Society. His writings include popular science works about astronomy, several notable early science fiction novels, and works on psychical research and related topics.
• Dion Fortune (1890-1946) was a prominent British Occultist and Theosophist who founded the Society of the Inner Light. She wrote occult novels such as The Sea Priestess and many non-fiction works.
• Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856–1925) was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a founder of the Lost World literary genre. He is most famous for his book King Solomon's Mines. He was aware of Theosophy and Mme. Blavatsky praised one of his books, She.
• Manly Palmer Hall ([1901–1990) was a Canadian-born mystic, eclectic philosopher and founder of the Philosophical Research Society. He was the 20th century’s most prolific writer on mysticism, magic, and ancient philosophies, authoring more than 200 books. Some were fiction, such as the occult stories in Shadow Forms.
• Robert E. Howard (1906–1936) was an American author who wrote fiction in several genres. He is well known for his character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre. Howard was influenced by H. P. Lovecraft, and also by Theosophists H. P. Blavatsky and William Scott-Elliott.
• Marc Edmund Jones was an American writer, lecturer, and Presbyterian minister. An active Theosophist and Rosicrucian, he has been called "the dean of American astrology." Jones wrote numerous screenplays and novelizations of films.
• Alma Karlin (1889–1950) was a Slovene traveler, writer, poet, collector, polyglot and Theosophist. She was one of the first European women who circled the globe alone. Her written works include novels and occult non-fiction.
• D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter. As a member of the Symbolist movement, he was influenced by the Theosophical literature.
• Dane Rudhyar (1895-1985) was a French-American composer, writer, artist, and astrologer. He wrote several novels and numerous non-fiction works.

See also

• Artists

Additional resources

Bibliographies

• Bibliography on Arts and Music from the Henry S. Olcott Memorial Library.