In the Hall of Magic Mirrors: Reckoning with Madame H.P. Blavatsky
<p>How controversial is globe-spanning Russian occultist Madame H.P. Blavatsky (1831–1891), whose exploits and exotic claims enthralled Victorians and future generations?</p>
<p>Here’s a story from my publishing days. In 2012, at the corner of Penguin Random House focused on metaphysical literature, I issued an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Madame-Blavatsky-Mother-Modern-Spirituality/dp/1585428639" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">excellent biography</a> of the nineteenth-century icon by historian Gary Lachman.</p>
<p>The book received wide praise — as well as scrutinizing and caustic coverage in arteries of mainstream culture, including <em>Harper’s Magazine </em>and <em>The Paris Review</em>. We had never sent them the book nor sought their attention.</p>
<p><a href="https://mitch-horowitz-nyc.medium.com/in-the-hall-of-magic-mirrors-reckoning-with-madame-h-p-blavatsky-57d60d275c3e"><strong>Learn More</strong></a></p>