In this book, first published in 1946 as a second impression of a 1941 original, Butler profiles the influential poet Rainer Maria Rilke, seeing in him and his works a counteracting force to that of the destructive war in Europe. The biography addresses Rilke's life and the influences on his poetry, especially his time spent in Paris and his traumatizing military service in WWI. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Rilke.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Butler, E.M.

Octagon Books

This work is a powerful and astute examination of the connection between magic in literature and magic in history. It traces the evolution of the Faust tradition and its relationship to the practice of magic in European history. Written by one of the most distinguished scholars in the field of German literature, this book, first published in 1952, is a classic text. Butler follows the magic tradition of the Magus--the priest-king--and its reformulation in the Christian world. In the process, the Magus was transformed into a wicked sorcerer who comes to a bad end in this world and a worse one hereafter. This conception, which gained ground in the Middle Ages, received its most categorical statement in the Faust legend.The celebrated pact between Faust and the devil was in fact an invention of Christian mythologists who had interpreted occult rituals in accordance with the Christian belief that magicians were the servants of Satan. Occultists replied by denying the pact with the devil and by associating Faust with ritual magic traditions. Butler draws on her detailed knowledge of literature, religion, and history to produce an authoritative synthesis that all those interested in the development of mythology will find indispensable.

Fortunes of Faust

Religion & Spirituality

Cambridge University Press

The Magus, a legendary magician of superhuman powers, is an archetype central to myth and religion across many cultures. Identifying its anthropological origins in ancient rituals performed by a shaman or wizard to ensure the prosperity of his tribe, E. M. Butler goes on to trace its subsequent development in pre-Christian religious and mystic philosophers, in medieval sorcerers and alchemists, and finally in the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century occult revival. From Zoroaster to Solomon, Merlin to Faust, Cagliostro to Rasputin, legends of the Magus are explored and where possible compared with the historical record in this fascinating account, first published in 1948, of one of the major figures in religious and occult mythology.

The Myth of the Magus

This is the third and concluding volume of Professor Butler's wide-ranging study of the Faust legend and its attendant mythologies - The Myth of the Magus, The Fortunes of Faust. In ancient times the Magus was likened to a priest, a king, or even a god; his origins were often supernatural, his death was often followed by resurrection. With the coming of Christianity, however, his status rapidly diminished to that of a wicked sorcerer who came to a bad end in lie and a worse one thereafter. This conception, which gained ground during the Middle Ages, received its most categorical statement in the Faust legend, which condemned the Magus inexorably to eternal perdition. The celebrated compact between Faust and Mephistopheles was in fact an invention of Christian mythologists who had misinterpreted occult rituals in accordance with the Christian belief that magicians were the servants of Satan. Occultists replied by denying the pact with the devil, and by associating Faust with the immemorial traditions of their craft. This conflict was later taken up in the poetic and dramatic treatments which form the subject matter of this book: the fortunes of Faust in literature from the Spiess Faustbbok of 1587 through Marlowe, Goethe, and a host of lesser versions, to Thomas Mann's great novel of 1947.

The Magus, a legendary magician of superhuman powers, is an archetype central to myth and religion across many cultures. Identifying its anthropological origins in ancient rituals performed by a shaman or wizard to ensure the prosperity of his tribe, E. M. Butler goes on to trace its subsequent development in pre-Christian religious and mystic philosophers, in medieval sorcerers and alchemists, and finally in the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century occult revival. From Zoroaster to Solomon, Merlin to Faust, Cagliostro to Rasputin, legends of the Magus are explored and where possible compared with the historical record in this fascinating account, first published in 1948, of one of the major figures in religious and occult mythology.

The Myth of the Magus (Canto original series)

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

El mago, figura legendaria de poderes sobrehumanos, es uno de los principales arquetipos del mito y la religión de muchas culturas. Tras fijar sus orígines antropológicos en antiguos rituales llevados a cabo por un chamán o un brujo para asegurar la prosperidad de su tribu, E. M. Butler analiza su posterior desarrollo en los filósofos religiosos y místicos precristianos, en los hechiceros y alquimistas medievales y, finalmente, en el renacimiento esotérico de los siglos XVIII y XIX. De Zoroastro a Salomón, de Merlín a Fausto, de Cagliostro a Rasputín, este fascinante estudio explora las leyendas del Mago y analiza, allí donde es posible, sus conexiones históricas. 'Lectura deliciosa y muy instructiva.' Bertrand Russell 'Erudito, original y ameno'. The Times Literary Supplement 'Este libro está lleno de valiosas historias y de un rico e interesante material. Constituye una excelente lectura.' Washington Post

El mito del mago (Spanish Edition)

There are three main branches of occult knowledge and practice: Astrology, which aims to guide human fortune by means of foreknowledge; Alchemy, which tries to secure power through the agency of the philosopher's stone; and Ritual magic, which seeks to control the spirit world.

Ritual Magic

Occult & Paranormal

Sutton Pub Ltd

1949. The chief focus of interest of this book lies in the Faustian rituals and the conclusions they have suggested: the relationship between ritual and legend, the burning 'hen or egg' question of priority. Contents: Part 1) Pre-Christian rites and ceremonies: some ancient magical texts, poetical records of magic, Jewish elements in magic; Part 2) Medieval and modern rites and ceremonies: Solomonic cycle, disciples of 'Solomon,' Faustian school, Faustian adepts, the Art in England, exponents of the Art; Myth of Satanism; Bibliography. Illustrated.

Kessinger Pub Co

There are three main branches of occult knowledge and practice: Astrology, which aims to guide human fortune by means of foreknowledge; Alchemy, which tries to secure power through the agency of the philosopher's stone; and Ritual magic, which seeks to control the spirit world.

Newcastle Publishing Co Inc.,U.S.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Butler, E.M.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Butler, E.M.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Butler, E.M.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Fortunes of Faust

The Myth of the Magus

Fortunes of Faust

The Myth of the Magus

The Myth of the Magus (Canto original series)

El mito del mago (Spanish Edition)

Ritual Magic

Ritual Magic

Ritual Magic