About the author
Alexandra David-Néel (born Louise Eugénie Alexandrine Marie David; 24 October 1868 – 8 September 1969) was a French explorer, spiritualist, Buddhist, anarchist, opera singer, and writer. She is most known for her 1924 visit to Lhasa, Tibet, when it was forbidden to foreigners. David-Néel wrote over 30 books about Eastern religion, philosophy, and her travels, including Magic and Mystery in Tibet, which was published in 1929. Her teachings influenced the beat writers Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, the popularisers of Eastern philosophy Alan Watts and Ram Dass, and the esotericist Benjamin Creme. == Biography == === Early life and background === In 1871, when David-Néel was two years old, her father Louis David, appalled by the execution of the last Communards, took her to see the Communards' Wall at the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris; she never forgot this early encounter with the face of death, from which she first learned of the ferocity of humans. Two years later, the Davids emigrated to Belgium.
📖 Where to start with Alexandra David-Neel
💬 What our editors say about Alexandra David-Neel's books
“This account delivers a vivid, first-person perspective on Tibetan spirituality that remains compelling for its raw honesty and detailed observation. However, it is not suitable for readers seeking dry academic rigor or those…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Magic and Mystery in Tibet: Discovering the Spiritual Beliefs, Traditions and Customs of the Tibetan Buddhist Lamas - An Autobiography
“This text stands as a vital historical document for occultists and esoteric scholars interested in Tibetan Buddhism. However, readers seeking dry academic anthropology or detached scientific analysis may find the personal…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Magic and Mystery in Tibet
“This volume serves as a vital window into the mystical heart of Tibet, offering candid details on psychic abilities and supernatural phenomena encountered by a daring explorer. However, it may not suit readers seeking purely…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Magic and Mystery in Tibet
📋 Editions by Alexandra David-Neel in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic and Mystery in Tibet: Discovering the Spiritual Beliefs, T | 1931 | Pantianos Classics | 202 | 9781789871500 |
| Magic and Mystery in Tibet | 2021 | Must Have Books | 200 | 9781774641743 |
| Magic and Mystery in Tibet | 2021 | Parker Publishing | 354 | 9788000516868 |
| Magic and Mystery in Tibet | 2000 | Book Tree | 356 | 9781585090976 |
| Immortality and Reincarnation: Wisdom from the Forbidden Journey | 1997 | Inner Traditions Internati | 176 | 9780892816194 |
