Jean Baptiste Pitois
Encyclopedia
Jean Baptiste Pitois, also known as Jean Baptiste or Paul Christian (1811-1877) was a French author, known for The History and Practice of Magic, first published in France in 1870.
, France. His family wanted him to become a priest and allowed him to be raised in a monastic community. However, he eventually decided against the priesthood, and as a young man moved to Paris
, where he became the associate of Charles Nodier
, one of the leading literary lights of the romantic movement, which was then emerging on the Continent. Nodier's interest in the occult
transferred to Pitois.
Pitois became a journalist
and wrote largely under the pen name Paul Christian. He co-wrote Historic Paris: Walks in the Streets of Paris (1837-1840), which was his first book, with Nodier. It was followed by his Studies of the Paris Revolution (1839). That same year he was appointed librarian of the Ministry of Public Education. Working with Nodier through the mass of uncataloged material opened up a new level of interest in the occult, although it was not manifested for years. Meanwhile, he took his turn in the French army
(Algiers
, 1843-44) and wrote several historical texts. His most important were the History of the Terrors (1853) and the multivolume Heroes of Christianity (1853-57). A hint of what was to come appeared in 1844 with his Stories of the Marvelous from All Times and Lands.
Pitois had read about occultism and developed a strong anticlerical stance. During his life, many Eastern texts had been translated into French, as had the works of Emanuel Swedenborg
. In 1859 Pitois turned his attention to writing Historie de la Magie, du monde Surnaturel et de la fatalité a travers les Temps et les Peuples (1870). Carefully written so as not to offend his largely Catholic audience, it immediately became popular public reading. It surveyed the whole of the occult, explaining each element, and provided a history of occult practice in the West from ancient times.
Pitois wrote one additional book, The History of the War with Prussia and of the Two Sieges of Paris, 1870-71 (1872-73). His health declined through the 1870s, and he died at Lyon
on July 12, 1877. He left behind a still-unpublished work on astrology
that reportedly contains numerous allusions to contemporary events as proof of the value of the horoscope
.
Life
He was born May 15, 1811, at RemiremontRemiremont
Remiremont is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Inhabitants are called Romarimontains.-Geography:Remiremont is located on the Moselle, close to its confluence with the Moselotte, southeast of Épinal...
, France. His family wanted him to become a priest and allowed him to be raised in a monastic community. However, he eventually decided against the priesthood, and as a young man moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he became the associate of Charles Nodier
Charles Nodier
Jean Charles Emmanuel Nodier , was a French author who introduced a younger generation of Romanticists to the conte fantastique, gothic literature, vampire tales, and the importance of dreams as part of literary creation, and whose career as a librarian is often underestimated by literary...
, one of the leading literary lights of the romantic movement, which was then emerging on the Continent. Nodier's interest in the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
transferred to Pitois.
Pitois became a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and wrote largely under the pen name Paul Christian. He co-wrote Historic Paris: Walks in the Streets of Paris (1837-1840), which was his first book, with Nodier. It was followed by his Studies of the Paris Revolution (1839). That same year he was appointed librarian of the Ministry of Public Education. Working with Nodier through the mass of uncataloged material opened up a new level of interest in the occult, although it was not manifested for years. Meanwhile, he took his turn in the French army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
(Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, 1843-44) and wrote several historical texts. His most important were the History of the Terrors (1853) and the multivolume Heroes of Christianity (1853-57). A hint of what was to come appeared in 1844 with his Stories of the Marvelous from All Times and Lands.
Pitois had read about occultism and developed a strong anticlerical stance. During his life, many Eastern texts had been translated into French, as had the works of Emanuel Swedenborg
Emanuel Swedenborg
was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian. He has been termed a Christian mystic by some sources, including the Encyclopædia Britannica online version, and the Encyclopedia of Religion , which starts its article with the description that he was a "Swedish scientist and mystic." Others...
. In 1859 Pitois turned his attention to writing Historie de la Magie, du monde Surnaturel et de la fatalité a travers les Temps et les Peuples (1870). Carefully written so as not to offend his largely Catholic audience, it immediately became popular public reading. It surveyed the whole of the occult, explaining each element, and provided a history of occult practice in the West from ancient times.
Pitois wrote one additional book, The History of the War with Prussia and of the Two Sieges of Paris, 1870-71 (1872-73). His health declined through the 1870s, and he died at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
on July 12, 1877. He left behind a still-unpublished work on astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
that reportedly contains numerous allusions to contemporary events as proof of the value of the horoscope
Horoscope
In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth. The word horoscope is derived from Greek words meaning "a look at the hours" In...
.
Sources
- Christian, Paul [Jean Baptiste Pitois]. Historie de la Magie, du monde Surnaturel et de la fatalité a travers les Temps et les Peuples. 1870. Translated by Ross Nichols as The History and Practice of Magic. New York: Citadel Press, 1969