About the author
William Stirling is the author of The Canon: An Exposition of the Pagan Mystery Perpetuated in the Cabala as the Rule of All the Arts, first published in 1897 and reissued here in modern reprint editions from Legare Street Press and Literary Licensing. The book argues that a single geometric and numerical system, which Stirling traces through Kabbalistic and Pythagorean sources, underlies the proportions of pagan and early Christian sacred art and architecture. It belongs to the late-Victorian tradition of esoteric scholarship that read classical and biblical culture through hidden mathematical and symbolic codes. The editions on offer are facsimile-style reprints of the original text rather than annotated scholarly editions, aimed at readers of esoteric and occult history interested in sacred geometry and the Western mystery tradition rather than at newcomers to the subject.
📖 Where to start with William Stirling
💬 What our editors say about William Stirling's books
“William Stirling presents a bold thesis linking pagan mysteries to the Cabala as the rule for all arts. While intellectually stimulating for those accustomed to dense esoteric discourse, it may frustrate readers seeking clear,…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Canon: An Exposition of the Pagan Mystery Perpetuated in the Cabala as the Rule of all the Arts
“Stirling’s *The Canon* is a dense, scholarly examination of esoteric continuity that demands patience from its audience. It succeeds in mapping the theoretical links between pagan mysteries and Cabalistic rules for all arts,…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Canon: An Exposition of the Pagan Mystery Perpetuated in the Cabala as the Rule of All the Arts
“Stirling presents an ambitious synthesis of pagan mystery and Cabalistic thought, arguing for a universal rule underlying all arts. The text is dense with philosophical inquiry, requiring patience from readers seeking quick…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Canon: An Exposition of the Pagan Mystery Perpetuated in the Cabala as the Rule of all the Arts
📋 Editions by William Stirling in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Canon: An Exposition of the Pagan Mystery Perpetuated in the | 2022 | Legare Street Press | 426 | 9781015580688 |
| The Canon: An Exposition of the Pagan Mystery Perpetuated in the | 2014 | Literary Licensing, LLC | 430 | 9781498078160 |
| The Canon: An Exposition of the Pagan Mystery Perpetuated in the | 2022 | Legare Street Press | 426 | 9781015573314 |
| The canon: an exposition of the pagan mystery perpetuated in the | 2019 | Alpha Edition | 422 | 9789353897574 |
