Rosicrucians & Alchemists of la Belle Epoque

A fascinating insight into the Rosicrucian and Alchemic movements popular in France during La Belle Epoque. Beneath the eccentricities detailed in this work lies a tradition of serious esoteric enquiry that occupied some of the greatest minds of the day. The real identity of Fulcanelli is investigated fully, as are the international roots of the Rosicrucian revivalists of this era. During this period, France was gripped by an anti-Freemasonic and anti-secret society wave of hysteria promoted by the Church and the immense popularity of Rosicrucianism & Alchemy arose as a response to this. This is a story of immensely wealthy patrons of esoteric lore – some even able to afford the redesign of numerous Château in the style of Tarot Card iconography – and the influential writers and thinkers who defined the era.