Algernon Blackwood

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Algernon Henry Blackwood, CBE (March 14, 1869 – December 10, 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 also a journalist and a broadcasting narrator.

Theosophical influence

On February 2, 1891, at age 21, Algernon Blackwood applied to become a member of the Theosophical Society in Toronto. His sponsors were Dr. Emily H. Stowe and Mrs. E. Day MacPherson. The date of his diploma, issued from New York, was February 17, 1891. However, Ted G. Davy writes:

It is probable, however, that Blackwood had already made contact with the Theosophical Society, or at least one or more of its members, either in England or when he was studying in Edinburgh. Certainly he was already aware of H.P. Blavatsky's magazine Lucifer, in which three of his articles were published, one of them appearing prior to his becoming a member of the Society.

In his partial autobiography Episodes Before Thirty Blackwood relates his brief association with the Toronto Theosophical Society.

Online resources

Articles

• Algernon Blackwood's Brief "Episode" in the T.S. by Ted G. Davy