The Blavatsky Study Center


H.P. Blavatsky and Theosophy 
A Core Library of Books
      

Compiled by Daniel H. Caldwell
for
The Blavatsky Study Center

Titles marked with red bold dots • are highly recommended. 
These titles give good introductions, overviews and summaries.


Biographies of H.P. Blavatsky

Special Biographical / Historical Studies
of H.P. Blavatsky, Her Writings, Etc.

Histories & Studies of
the Theosophical Society / Movement

Controversies about
H.P. Blavatsky & the Mahatmas

The Mahatmas & Their Letters

Other Related Biographical / Historical Works

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Biographies of H.P. Blavatsky
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Butt, G. Baseden. Madame Blavatsky. London: Rider & Co, 1925.
Caldwell, Daniel H. [compiler & editor]  The Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky: Insights into the Life of a Modern Sphinx. Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 2000.
Cleather, Alice Leighton.   H.P. Blavatsky:  Her Life and Work for Humanity. Calcutta, India:  Thacker, Spink & Co., 1922.
Cranston, Sylvia.  HPB:  The Extraordinary Life & Influence of Helena Blavatsky, Founder of the Modern Theosophical Movement.  3rd revised ed.  Santa Barbara, California:  Path Publishing House, 1998.
Fuller, Jean Overton.  Blavatsky and Her Teachers: An Investigative Biography. London: East-West Publications in association with Theosophical Publishing House, 1988.
Kingsland, William.  The Real H.P. Blavatsky:  A Study in Theosophy, and a Memoir of a Great Soul.  London:   J.M. Watkins, 1928.
Meade, Marion.  Madame Blavatsky:   The Woman Behind the Myth.  New York: Putnam, 1980.
Murphet, Howard.    When Daylight Comes: A Biography of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1975.
Ryan, Charles J.  H.P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement:  A Brief Historical Sketch.  Point Loma, California:  Theosophical University Press, 1937
Vania, K. F.   Madame H.P. Blavatsky, Her Occult Phenomena and the Society for Physical Research.  Bombay, India:  Sat Publishing Co, 1951

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Special Biographical / Historical Studies of H.P. Blavatsky, Her Writings, Etc.
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Barborka, Geoffrey A.    H.P. Blavatsky, Tibet and Tulku. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1966.
Butt, G. Baseden. Madame Blavatsky. London: Rider & Co, 1925.
Caldwell, Daniel H. [compiler & editor]  The Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky: Insights into the Life of a Modern Sphinx. Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 2000.
Cranston, Sylvia.  HPB:  The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky, Founder of the Modern Theosophical Movement.  3rd revised ed.   Santa Barbara, California:  Path Publishing House, 1998.
Gomes, Michael.  The Dawning of the Theosophical Movement. Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987.
Hanson
, Virginia
, [editor] H.P. Blavatsky and The Secret Doctrine.  2nd Revised Edition.  Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988.
Kingsland, William.  The Real H.P. Blavatsky:  A Study in Theosophy, and a Memoir of a Great Soul.  London:   J.M. Watkins, 1928.
Price, Leslie.  Madame Blavatsky Unveiled?: A New Discussion of the Most Famous Investigation of The Society for Psychical Research.  London: Theosophical History Centre, 1986.
Reigle, David, and Reigle, Nancy.  Blavatsky's Secret Books: Twenty Years' Research = Gsan? Ba'i Rgyud Sid.  San Diego, California:  Wizards Bookshelf, 1999.
Vania, K. F.   Madame H.P. Blavatsky, Her Occult Phenomena and the Society for Physical Research.  Bombay, India:  Sat Publishing Co, 1951.

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Histories & Studies of the Theosophical Society / Movement
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Anonymous.  The Theosophical Movement, 1875-1950. Los Angeles: Cunningham Press, 1951.
Campbell, Bruce F.  Ancient Wisdom Revived: A History of the Theosophical Movement. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1980.
Godwin, Joscelyn.  The Theosophical Enlightenment. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, 1994.
Gomes, Michael.  The Dawning of the Theosophical Movement. Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987.
Harris, Philip, editor.
  Theosophical Encyclopedia. [one volume]  Quezon City, Philippines: Theosophical Publishing House, 2006.
Kuhn, Alvin Boyd.  Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom.   New York: Henry Holt and Co, 1930.
Ransom, Josephine.   A Short History of the Theosophical Society. Adyar, Madras, India:  Theosophical Publishing House, 1938.
Spinks, F. Pierce.  Theosophists: Reunite! Boston, Massachusetts: Christopher Publishing House, 1958.

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Controversies about H.P. Blavatsky & the Mahatmas
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Besant, Annie. H.P. Blavatsky and the Masters of the Wisdom. London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1907.
Butt, G. Baseden. Madame Blavatsky. London: Rider & Co, 1925.
Caldwell, Daniel H.   K. Paul Johnson's House of Cards?: A Critical Examination of Johnson's Thesis on the Theosophical Masters Morya and Koot Hoomi.  Tucson, Arizona:  Author, 1996.
Carrithers, Walter A. The Truth About Madame Blavatsky:   An Open Letter to the Author of Priestess of the Occult Regarding the Charges against H. P. Blavatsky.  Covina, California: Theosophical University Press, 1947.
Gomes, Michael.  The Coulomb Case.  Fullerton, California: Theosophical History, 2005.
Harris, Iverson L.  Mme. Blavatsky Defended:  Refutation of Falsehoods, Slanders, and Misrepresentations Published by the National Broadcasting Company, Truman Capote, Walter Winchell, the John Birch Society, Time Magazine and Others. San Diego, California: Point Loma Publications, 1971.
Harrison, Vernon. H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR: An Examination of the Hodgson Report of 1885. Pasadena, California: Theosophical University Press, 1997.
Johnson, K. Paul. The Masters Revealed: Madame Blavatsky and the Myth of the Great White Lodge. Albany, New York:  State University of New York Press, 1994.
Kingsland, William. Was She a Charlatan?: A Critical Analysis of the 1885 Report of the Society for Psychical Research, on the Phenomena Connected with Mme. H.P. Blavatsky.  London: Blavatsky Association, 1927.
Price, Leslie.  Madame Blavatsky Unveiled?: A New Discussion of the Most Famous Investigation of The Society for Psychical Research.  London: Theosophical History Centre, 1986.
Vania, K. F.   Madame H.P. Blavatsky, Her Occult Phenomena and the Society for Physical Research.  Bombay, India:  Sat Publishing Co, 1951.
Waterman, Adlai E.  Obituary -- the "Hodgson Report" on Madame Blavatsky: 1885-1960: Re-Examination Discredits the Major Charges against H.P. Blavatsky.  Adyar, Madras, India:   Theosophical Publishing House, 1963.

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The Mahatmas & Their Letters
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Barborka, Geoffrey A.  The Mahatmas and Their Letters. Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1973.
Besant, Annie. H.P. Blavatsky and the Masters of the Wisdom. London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1907.
Caldwell, Daniel H. [compiler & editor)]   The Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky: Insights into the Life of a Modern Sphinx. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 2000.
Farthing, Geoffrey A. When We Die: A Description of the After-Death States and Processes.  San Diego, California:  Point Loma Publications, 1994.
Hanson, Virginia. An Introduction to the Mahatma Letters.  3rd edition. Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 2007.
Hanson, Virginia. Masters and Men: The Human Story in the Mahatma Letters.  Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980.
Harrison, Vernon. H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR: An Examination of the Hodgson Report of 1885. Pasadena, California: Theosophical University Press, 1997.
Jinarajadasa, C.   The Story of the Mahatma Letters.  Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1977.
Jinarajadasa, C.  Did Madame Blavatsky Forge the Mahatma Letters? Adyar, Madras, India:  Theosophical Publishing House, 1934.
Linton, George E. and Hanson, Virginia.  Readers' Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett.  2nd Revised Edition.  Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988.
Mahatmas Koot Hoomi and Morya.   The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett in Chronological Sequence.  Transcribed by A. T. Barker.  Edited by Vicente Hao Chin, Jr.   Adyar, Chennai, India:  Theosophical Publishing House, 1998.  Letters first published 1923.
Mahatmas Koot Hoomi and Morya.  The Early Teachings of the Masters, 1881-1883.  Compiled and editd by C. Jinarajadasa.   Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1923.
Mahatmas Koot Hoomi and Morya.  Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom: 1870-1900: First Series [Volume 1].  Compiled and editd by C. Jinarajadasa.   Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Pubishing House, 1964.  First published 1919.
Mahatmas Koot Hoomi and Morya.  Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom : Second Series [Volume 2].  Compiled and editd by C. Jinarajadasa.  Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Pubishing House, 1973.  First published 1925.
Neff, Mary K.   The "Brothers" of Madame Blavatsky.  Adyar, Madras, India:  The Theosophical Publishing House, 1932.
Robson, Arthur.  The Eternal Truths of Life. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1952.
Sinnett, A. P.   The Occult World.  London:  Trubner & Co, 1881.
Sinnett, A. P Esoteric Buddhism.  London:  Trubner & Co, 1883.
Sinnett, A. P. The Early Days of Theosophy in Europe. London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1922.
Varma, S.S.  Teachings on Discipleship:   As Outlined in the Mahatma Letters.  Adyar, Madras, India:   Theosophical Publishing House,
Warcup, Adam.  Cyclic Evolution.  London:  Theosophical Publishing House, 1986

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Other Related Biographical / Historical Works
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Cleather, Alice Leighton.   H.P. Blavatsky:  A Great Betrayal. Calcutta, India:  Thacker, Spink & Co., 1922.
Eek, Sven & De Zirkoff, Boris.  William Quan Judge, 1851-1896:  The Life of a Theosophical Pioneer and Some of His Outstanding Articles.   Wheaton, Illinois:  Theosophical Publishing House, 1969.
Garrett, F. Edmund.  Isis Very Much Unveiled: Being the Story of the Great Mahatma Hoax, Told from Sources Mainly Theosophical.  London: Westminster Gazette, 1894
Gomes, Michael.  Theosophy in the Nineteenth Century: An Annotated Bibliography.  New York: Garland Publishing Company., 1994.
Harris, Philip, editor.  Theosophical Encyclopedia. [one volume]  Quezon City, Philippines: Theosophical Publishing House, 2006.
Jinarajadasa, C. "Olcott Centenary Number," The Theosophist, August 1932, pp. 467-692.  Contains 225 pages of rare documents about H.S. Olcott, H.P. Blavatsky and the Mahatmas, plus facsimiles and illustrations. Reprinted in Theosophist (May 1932-August 1932) volume published by Kessinger Publishing.
Jinarajadasa, C.  "H.P.B. Centenary Number," The Theosophist, August 1931, pp. 553-692. Contains 140 pages of rare documents about H.P. Blavatsky including letters of HPB, some of her manuscripts, plus facsimiles and illustrations. Reprinted in Theosophist  (July 1931-September 1931) volume published by Kessinger Publishing.
Mavalankar, Damodar K.  Damodar and the Pioneers of the Theosophical Movement.  Compiled and edited by Sven Eek.  Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1965.
Murphet, Howard.   Yankee Beacon of Buddhist Light: Life of Col. Henry S. Olcott.  Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988. First published 1972 under the title Hammer on the Mountain.
Nethercot, Arthur Hobart. The First Five Lives of Annie Besant.   Chicago, Illinois:  University of Chicago Press, 1960.
Nethercot, Arthur Hobart. The Last Four Lives of Annie Besant.   Chicago, Illinois:  University of Chicago Press, 1963.
Pelletier, Ernest E.  The Judge Case: A Conspiracy Which Ruined the Theosophical Cause.  Edmonton, Canada:  Edmonton Theosophical Society, 2004
Prothero, Stephen. The White Buddhist: The Asian Odyssey of Henry Steel Olcott.  Bloomington, Indiana, Indiana University Press, 1996.
Ramanujachary, N. C.   A Lonely Disciple:    Monograph on T. Subba Row 1856-90.    Adyar, Madras, India:  Theosophical Publishing House, 1993.
Steiner, Rudolf.  Madame Blavatsky & Theosophy - An Eyewitness View of Occult History:  Lectures.  Great Barrington, Massachusetts:  Anthroposophic Press, 2002.
Taylor, Anne. Annie Besant: A Biography.  Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Thomas, Margaret (compiler).    Theosophy or NeoTheosophy?  Privately Printed Typescript, 1924.
Tillett, Gregory.  The Elder Brother:  A
 Biography of Charles Webster Leadbeater.  London: Routledge & K. Paul, 1982.

      

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