The Unlikely Occultist
By Isobel Blackthorn
I am happy to be a part of the blog tour for this interesting and thought-provoking biographical novel. I had not heard of Alice Bailey until I read this well-researched and informative story. I appreciated that the author used a fictional format to enliven the life and times of Alice Bailey. Let’s learn more about this story- with thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author.
The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey
Librarian Heather Brown discovers the fascinating life of Alice Bailey – a long forgotten occultist.
Back in 1931, Alice is preparing to give a speech at a Swiss summer school. But how can she stave the tide of hatred and greed set to bring the world to its knees?
Soon after, Alice is put on Hitler’s blacklist. What she doesn’t realize is the enormity of her influence to the world, and the real enemies who are much closer than she thinks.
A dynamic and complex figure, Alice Bailey’s reach was huge. She was influential among people and organizations of global power, especially the United Nations, and is widely regarded as the Mother of the New Age.
Yet today she is maligned by fundamentalist Christians, Theosophists, Jews, academics and above all, by conspiracy theorists. Are any of these groups justified in rejecting the unlikely occultist?
“Blackthorn’s exploration of Alice Bailey’s life and work provides a unique and intimate insight into Bailey’s life and the times in which she lived. For anyone seeking to explore the roots of Bailey’s influence on the New Age movement as well as her unsought role as the bête noire of the conspiracy scene, there’s no better place to begin.” – Aaron John Gulyas, associate professor and author of Conspiracy Theories
Here’s What People are Saying about this Book!
“Blackthorn’s book offers a fascinating portrait of a woman dismissed by mainstream thinkers and religions, a woman whose current obscurity is all the more poignant considering the grandeur of her ambitions and her hopes for a healed world.” – Misty Urban, Historical Novels Society, Issue 88 May 2019
“[Isobel Blackthorn] has given us back the idea of Bailey, and the inspiration to re-read her work and re-examine her remarkable ideas…Blackthorn is to be thanked for her scrupulously-researched novel…” – Walter Mason, New Dawn Magazine, July 2019
“The author details a great deal of her life, no doubt founded in meticulous research, and indeed it is a biographical novel which makes her life feel very real. The author has an elegant writing style and tailors her idiom to the era – either present day or back to the formality of the early 20th Century.
The title, considering the content, is really very apt (and if like me you are not drawn to books with ‘occult’ or similar in the title, don’t be put off!). A very interesting and unusual read!” – Tina for the TripFiction Team, July 2019
JENA’S REVIEW
The Unlikely Occultist: A Biographical Novel of Alice A. Bailey by Isobel Blackthorn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am always keen to learn about people and their lives, so I was eager to read about Alice Bailey. I’m surprised that I had never heard of her before I read this book. The author has written a biographical novel about her life. The author supplements the facts of Ms. Bailey’s life with well-written fictional accounts of Alice’s day-to-day life, which brings this enigmatic person to life.
In addition to Ms. Bailey’s story from the past, we also read about a fictional woman, Heather, who lives in present-day Australia and is researching the life of Alice Brown. Heather is at a turning point in her own life, so she bonds with Alice. Again, this helped me to care about Alice and made me realize Alice Bailey still has a following in the present day.
So who was Alice Bailey? She lived from June 16, 1880 – December 15, 1949. She was born in England to an aristocratic family. She was deeply religious and felt a strong desire to serve. As a young woman, she worked at a Soldier’s Home, in Ireland and India, which were gathering places for British soldiers that provided snacks, entertainment and Bible services, Ms. Bailey married a young soldier and they moved to America and started a family.
However, Ms. Bailey’s husband physically abused her and she finally left him. This traumatic time led her to get to know some of the new Theosophy Centers in California. This would change her life. From then on she became committed to this cause and eventually was a major factor in the idea of a New Age of Aquarius. Living through two world wars also inspired her to focus on peace and enlightenment.
Bailey’s works, written between 1919 and 1949, describe a wide-ranging system of esoteric thought covering such topics as how spirituality relates to the Solar System, meditation, healing, spiritual psychology, the destiny of nations, and prescriptions for society in general. She channeled writings from “The Tibetan” a spirit.
I truly have no interest in any of Alice Bailey’s writing or thoughts. However, I enjoyed reading the book as it is quite engaging. Thanks to the author and Rachel’s Random Resources for a review copy. This is my honest review.
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Author Bio –
Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including psychological thrillers, gripping mysteries, captivating travel fiction and hilarious dark satire.
Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel, The Unlikely Occultist.
Social Media Links –
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