The Secret Teachings of All Ages

October 1, 2003
In 1928, a 20-something Renaissance man named Manly Hall self-published a vast encyclopedia of the occult, believing that "modern" ideas of progress and materialism were displacing more important and ancient modes of knowledge. Hall's text has become a classic reference, dizzying in its breadth: various chapters explore Rosicrucianism, Kabbalah, alchemy, cryptology, Tarot, pyramids, the Zodiac, Pythagorean philosophy, Masonry and gemology, among other topics. This affordably priced edition would be vastly improved by a new foreword, placing the work in some kind of historical and critical context and introducing readers to the basic contours of Hall's sweeping corpus. Instead, we have a disciple's adulatory 1975 foreword, which merely parrots the same themes of mystery and esoterica that are espoused in the book. Readers who are unfamiliar with Hall's work will be at a loss in ferreting out which chapters have stood the test of time and which have been vigorously debunked (like the one on Islam, which actually uses novelist Washington Irving as a primary source on the prophet Muhammad). However, they will also marvel at the sheer scope of Hall's research and imagination, and at J. Augustus Knapp's famous illustrations, including a 16-page color insert.

December 1, 2003
Originally published in 1928, this encyclopedia of ancient mythology, symbolism, and arcane mysteries was written when Hall (1901-90), a respected scholar of esoteric traditions and founder of the Philosophical Research Society, was only 27. Now resized and reformatted for ease of understanding, this affordable "reader's edition" retains Hall's original text and bibliography, along with reproductions of the finest illustrations of the original. The work contains hundreds of entries that define everything from "mystery" religions (those with secret lore, legends, and rites) and Pythagorian philosophy to the Qabbalah, the Tarot, alchemy, the Rosicrusians, Islam, and American Indian symbolism. Because Hall was a 33 Freemason, much of the book is devoted to examining how the ancient mysteries have contributed to Masonic symbolism. This classic of the occult must be read with an open mind since many biases of the time are evident. For example, Hall states categorically that Francis Bacon is the real author of Shakespeare's works and that the "true" facts concerning the identity of Jesus are to be found only in the "secret vaults beneath the "Houses of the Brethren." Although none of the secrets of any mystery religion is actually revealed here, its accessible new format will warrant interest among public and academic library patrons.-Kathy Koenig, Ellis Sch., Pittsburgh

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.