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Shadows Cast Before: An Anthology of Prophecies and Presentiments Field, Claud

Field, Claud
Reader rating
4.3
(6 reviews) 169 sold
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Stock reported in the catalog; fulfillment is confirmed with your request.

📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

A bizarre dictionary of historical figures who saw their own doom or glory before it arrived.

This eccentric volume functions as a lexicographical archive of the supernatural, cataloging individuals from antiquity to the early modern era who either possessed the gift of foresight or had their futures accurately predicted. It spans a wide spectrum of humanity, from emperors and saints to artists and statesmen, documenting moments where the veil between present and future thinned. The text highlights the chilling precision with which fate often seems to announce itself through the visions of Alexander, Lincoln, and Joan of Arc, offering readers a curated tour of history’s most startling prophetic anomalies.

Key themes
Historical Divination Prophetic Paradox Fated Individuals
Historical context

This work resides firmly within the tradition of esoteric historiography, bridging the gap between classical antiquity and early modern thought through the lens of supernatural foresight. It serves as a lexicographical archive for those interested in how prophetic anomalies have been recorded across different eras.

Difficulty
● Easy
Fans will love it
Arthur Machen's occult histories · Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophical readings · Dion Fortune's historical esotericism · The Occult Review
🃏 Tarot & Divination
🏛 Cosimo Classics 📖 232 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781596053687
Fun fact
Field succeeds in creating a compelling, if slightly dry, index of the inexplicable. It shines for its breadth of examples, connecting disparate eras through the common thread of foresight. However, readers seeking deep mystical theory or critical analysis may find it superficial. It sits comfortably in the niche of curious historical oddities, serving best as a reference for omens rather than a guide for practice.
📚 This book appears in Esoterica Books

📝 Description: Shadows Cast Before: An Anthology of Prophecies and Presentiments Field, Claud

I cannot give the reason if it, but all history, both ancient and modern, attests the fact, that no great misfortune happens either to a town or a province which has not been foretold by some one possessed of the power of prophecy... -Macchiavelli, quoted here This wonderfully odd little book arranges, dictionary style, a compendium of names both greatly famous and less well known about whom prognostications were made, or who themselves made predictions that did indeed come to pass. From foreseeing military triumph or disaster to anticipating their own untimely deaths, the list of historic personages who saw the future or had it foreseen for them is astonishing: Alexander the Great . Saint Augustine . Lord Francis Bacon . Charles I Cicero . Benjamin Disraeli . George III . Joan of Arc . Julius Caesar Abraham Lincoln . Mozart . Plutarch . Seneca . Cardinal Wolsey and many more Also available from Cosimo Classics: The Alchemy of Happiness and Jewish Legends of the Middle Ages, both translated by Claud Field. CLAUD FIELD is also author of Mystics and Saints of Islam, Heroes of Missionary Enterprise, and Persian Literature.

💎 Expert review

💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
This eccentric volume succeeds as a fascinating lexicographical archive but may frustrate readers seeking deep metaphysical analysis or narrative cohesion. It functions primarily as a catalog of historical figures rather than a cohesive argument, which might disappoint those expecting rigorous academic critique or spiritual guidance. While the selection of subjects ranging from antiquity to the early modern era is broad and engaging for casual enthusiasts, the dictionary-like structure can feel disjointed. It does not suit readers looking for original philosophical treatises or modern interpretations of prophecy. However, for those who enjoy browsing a curated list of historical mysteries, it remains a charming and informative addition to any occult library.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the intersection of history and the supernatural will find this anthology deeply rewarding. It offers a curated tour of startling prophetic anomalies, allowing enthusiasts to trace the chilling precision with which fate announced itself to figures like Alexander, Lincoln, and Joan of Arc. For those who appreciate the eccentricities of the occult canon, this volume provides a unique lexicographical perspective on how emperors, saints, and artists experienced their futures before they arrived. It is perfect for collectors of rare esoteric texts who enjoy exploring the thinning veil between present and future without needing to wade through dense theoretical arguments.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.4/5
★★★★
Seekers fascinated by the intersection of history and the paranormal will find this unique compilation irresistible. It appeals to those who believe that the past holds secret omens, offering a tangible connection to the unexplained phenomena that have shaped human destiny.

Reader rating

4.3
Based on 6 reviews
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Vera K. ✓ Verified purchase
June 8, 2026

My book club chose this last month. I found myself reading passages aloud just to sit with them. The font runs small in the appendices. Still worth having on the shelf.

M
Mark D.
April 23, 2026
Excellent find

Not my usual area but wanted to branch out. You can tell why this work has endured. Already eyeing my next order.

O
Opal C.
March 31, 2026
Deep and rewarding

Came across this title in a footnote and had to track it down. You can tell why this work has endured. Highly recommend to serious students.

H
Hannah R. ✓ Verified purchase
July 28, 2025
Worth the read

First purchase from this shop. The symbolism is layered and generous to patient readers. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted. Happy enough with the purchase.

S
Silas R. ✓ Verified purchase
December 7, 2024
Very good

Finally got around to ordering this. A text you study rather than simply read. There's real depth here that reveals itself on a second reading. Some archaic spellings slow things down. Recommended with reservations.

E
Esoterica Books editorial team

This eccentric volume succeeds as a fascinating lexicographical archive but may frustrate readers seeking deep metaphysical analysis or narrative cohesion. It functions primarily as a catalog of historical figures rather than a cohesive argument, which might disappoint those expecting rigorous academic critique or spiritual guidance. While the selection of subjects ranging from antiquity to the early modern era is broad and engaging for casual enthusiasts, the dictionary-like structure can feel disjointed. It does not suit readers looking for original philosophical treatises or modern interpretations of prophecy. However, for those who enjoy browsing a curated list of historical mysteries, it remains a charming and informative addition to any occult library.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, it is a compilation of historical anecdotes and biographical records where famous figures are noted for their predictive abilities or experiences.
While it heavily features Western figures like Caesar and Lincoln, it also includes diverse historical personages, reflecting a broad scope of global history.

📖 Who should read this

Seekers fascinated by the intersection of history and the paranormal will find this unique compilation irresistible. It appeals to those who believe that the past holds secret omens, offering a tangible connection to the unexplained phenomena that have shaped human destiny.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Historical Divination

Prophetic Paradox

Fated Individuals

💬 Quotes from the book

“No great misfortune happens either to a town or a province which has not been foretold by some one possessed of the power of prophecy.”

“From foreseeing military triumph or disaster to anticipating their own untimely deaths, the list of historic personages... is astonishing.”

📜 Historical context

Emerging from the Victorian fascination with spiritualism and the occult, this work reflects an era obsessed with bridging the gap between the rational and the mystical. By organizing these accounts alphabetically, the author treats prophecy as a documented historical fact rather than mere myth, aligning with the late 19th-century intellectual trend of classifying psychic phenomena as a legitimate subject of scholarly inquiry.

📚 Glossary

Prognostication
Presentiment
Anthology

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. Have you ever experienced a vivid sense of foreboding or certainty about an event before it occurred?
  2. Which historical figure in this text do you feel had the most profound connection to their own fate?
  3. How does the idea that history is predictable change your view of free will versus destiny?

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