Leadbeater redux

“The Great War” is a shorter version of C W Leadbeater's “Occult View of the War”. Leadbeater was a central leader of the Theosophical Society Adyar, a new religious movement with followers in many countries around the world. "The Great War" was published in 1916 and republished in 1920. At the time, Leadbeater resided in Australia, while the international HQ of the society was situated in India.

The war in question is the First World War, so the fanciful cover showing a Nazi rider is obviously erroneous. Leadbeater expresses support for the Allied side in World War I, and attempts to justify his position by clairvoyant research, including an interview with the deceased German leader Bismarck's soul! Those interested in this rather curious subject are better advised to procure the longer version of “Mahatma” Leadbeater's article.

Only two stars for this somewhat misleading edition.