Book of the week
Occultism: Secrets of the Hidden World
by Julien Tondriau
Small format Paperback 264 pages
First published 1968 by Gerard and Co, Belgium.
Our copy 1972 English translation reprint with the original cover and images , released by Bay Books, New South Wales, Australia.
Also published under titles like “The Occult: Secrets of the Hidden World”) and this paperback book by Julien Tondriau (sometimes credited as Julian Tondriau).
It was originally published in English in 1972 runs around 253–264 pages ( the latter being our own copy) , depending on the edition, and features illustrations, including black-and-white photos and inserts.
Now a little dated , this book is very much a product of the era it came from but there’s some interesting and useful stuff in this book.
We’ve had it in our collection for about 15 years now and it’s one that we dip into for wisdom from its aged brown paper. It’s long out of print but used copies are available for around £15. The complete version with the original diagrams is the better option too.
The book serves as an illustrated guide to the world of the occult. It explores the “intriguing mysteries and powers” associated with:
• Sorcerers
• Witches
• Occultists
• Various hidden or esoteric traditions
The illustrations and artwork in the full version are wonderfully accurate and detailed given the age of the title. It delves into the mysterious aspects of occultism in a broad, accessible way, often described as a popular nonfiction overview rather than a deeply academic or practical manual. The style reflects 1970s popular interest in the occult (during a boom in such topics following the 1960s counterculture).
Readers have noted it as somewhat outdated today, with an anthropological or historical lens on occult practices rather than modern esoteric interpretations. Some describe it as containing “good nuggets of wisdom” amid an “absurd anthropology” approach, though it’s still valued by collectors of vintage occult paperbacks. We like it and take it at face value and in context.
It’s not a rare or extremely sought-after title but appears regularly in used bookstores, online marketplaces like eBay, AbeBooks, and ThriftBooks, often in good to acceptable condition for its age (pages may show browning typical of 1970s paperbacks).
If you’re interested in vintage occult literature from that era, this fits alongside other popular 1970s introductions to the subject—more of a survey/exploratory read than an in-depth or how-to guide.
About the Author
Julien Tondriau (1917–1966) was a Belgian author known for writing on esoteric, occult, and related subjects. He passed away several years before this book’s English publication, suggesting it is likely a translation or posthumous edition of an earlier French-language work (Tondriau wrote several books on occult topics, demons, and mysticism in French during his lifetime). He is also known for titles like Dictionary of Devils and Demons.
Used copies are available from Abe books
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780854682850/Occultism-Secrets-Hidden-World-Tondriau-0854682856/plp
ISBN 10: 0854682856 ISBN 13: 9780854682850
About Julien:
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