Hidden Symbolism of Alchemy and the Occult Arts [Paperback]

Herbert Silberer (Author), Smith E. Jelliffe (Translator), E. Jelliffe (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1971

The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Symbolism (Psychology); Alchemy; Symbolism (Psychology); Alchemy; Rosicrucians; Society of Rosicrucians; Body, Mind

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 451 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (November 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486209725
• ISBN-13: 978-0486209722
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,779,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where Jung found his life work, September 18, 2007

By 

W. Buttler "jumbuk" (Croydon Hills, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hidden Symbolism of Alchemy and the Occult Arts (Paperback)

Despite the title, this appears to be Jeliffe's English translation of Silberer's magnum opus, "Problems of mysticism and its symbolism".

Jung acknowledged his debt to Silberer in his seminal works on alchemy and psychology. However, I don't think he went far enough. Silberer has preceded Jung's major conclusions, and argues his case in a far more objective and less polemical style. Moreover, Silberer effectively provided Jung with signposts to the important works and figures in the history of alchemy and Rosicrucianism. Despite mentioning Silberer, Jung still attributes his interest in alchemy to one of his own dreams (see "Memories, dreams and reflections").

If you are at all interested in Jung's investigations, you need to read this. It is also useful background to help understand why Freud so vigorously rejected Jung after first asking Jung to help defend his new science against "the black tide of occultism" (Silberer hanged himself after his book was rejected by Freud and he was effectively excommunicated from the Vienna circle).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't pay for the digital version of this book, July 18, 2010

By 

doktoro - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden Symbolism of Alchemy and the Occult Arts (Paperback)

This is a good book, and worth the read. However, don't "buy" the digital edition from Amazon. This book is part of the gutenberg project, and is available for free at a number of websites.