Historical author

H. P. Blavatsky

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831–1891) was a co-founder of the Theosophical Society, established in New York in 1875. Her books connect comparative religion, philosophy and the esoteric ideas of her period. The Secret Doctrine was published in two volumes in 1888; The Key to Theosophy followed in 1889. The volume published as The Secret Doctrine III in 1897 was arranged and edited after her death by Annie Besant. These works are important historical documents of Theosophy. Their religious, racial and scientific claims are not presented here as established modern facts.