About the author
René Jean-Marie-Joseph Guénon (15 November 1886 – 7 January 1951), also known as Abdalwahid Yahia (Arabic: عبد الـواحد يحيی; ʿAbd al-Wāḥid Yaḥiā), was a French-Egyptian intellectual who wrote on topics ranging from esotericism, "sacred science" and "traditional studies" to symbolism and initiation. In his writings, Guénon proposes to hand down eastern metaphysics and traditions, these doctrines being defined by him as of "universal character", and adapt them to western readers "while keeping strictly faithful to their spirit". Initiated into Islamic esotericism from as early as 1910 when he was 24, Guénon mainly wrote and published in French, and his works have been translated into more than twenty languages; he also wrote in Arabic an article for the journal Al Marifah. == Biography == René Guénon was born in 1886 in Blois in central France 160 km (100 mi) from Paris. Like most Frenchmen of the time, he was born into a Roman Catholic family, originally from the Angevin, Poitou and Touraine provinces in France; his father was an architect. He was very close to his mother and even more to his aunt Mme Duru, a teacher who taught him to read and write, both devout Catholic women.
📖 Where to start with René Guénon
💬 What our editors say about René Guénon's books
“Guénon delivers a formidable, uncompromising critique that demands intellectual rigor from its audience. This is not a comforting guide for those seeking easy validation or emotional resonance through spiritualism; rather, it is…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Spiritist Fallacy Guénon, René
“Guénon’s critique is sharp and uncompromising, making it unsuitable for casual seekers or those attached to New Age channeling narratives. The text demands a strong grasp of traditional metaphysics, potentially alienating readers…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Spiritist Fallacy Guénon, René
“Guénon’s collection is an uncompromising critique of contemporary society, demanding patience and prior knowledge from its audience. While intellectually robust and essential for understanding Perennialist philosophy, it will…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Traditional Forms and Cosmic Cycles Guénon, René
📋 Editions by René Guénon in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Spiritist Fallacy Guénon, René | 2003 | Sophia Perennis et Univers | 364 | 9780900588716 |
| The Spiritist Fallacy Guénon, René | — | Sophia Perennis et Univers | 364 | 9780900588723 |
| Traditional Forms and Cosmic Cycles Guénon, René | 2004 | Sophia Perennis et Univers | 130 | 9780900588174 |
| Traditional Forms and Cosmic Cycles Guénon, René | 2003 | Sophia Perennis et Univers | 130 | 9780900588167 |
| The Crisis of the Modern World | 2025 | V Bros. Publishing | 90 | 9782487364400 |
