author
Karl Kiesewetter
1854–1895
A German writer of esoteric and occult studies, he became known for energetic, wide-ranging books on mysticism, magic, and the history of hidden traditions. His work helped shape late 19th-century theosophical and occult reading in the German-speaking world.
1 Audiobook
Der Occultismus des Altertums
by Karl Kiesewetter
About the author
Born on April 14, 1854, and dying young on April 15, 1895, he wrote under both Karl and Carl Kiesewetter, and also used the Latinized form Carolus Kiesewetterus. He is described in reliable reference sources as a German occultist, theosophist, and author of esoteric works, and he lived in Meiningen.
Kiesewetter was connected with the theosophical Lodge Germania and contributed articles to the journal Sphinx. He is remembered for ambitious studies of occult history and figures such as Mesmer, John Dee, and Faust, as well as for larger surveys like Geschichte des neueren Occultismus and Der Occultismus des Altertums.
Though his life was brief, his books gave later readers a vivid window into the 19th century's fascination with hidden knowledge, spiritual experiment, and the long history of magical ideas. For listeners interested in classic occult literature, he stands out as a curious and energetic guide to that world.