Editing Helena Blavatsky (section)

==== ''Isis Unveiled'' ====

{{quote box|width=25em|align=left|quote=The underlying theme among these diverse topics {{bracket|in ''Isis Unveiled''}} is the existence of an ancient wisdom-religion, an ageless occult guide to the cosmos, nature and human life. The many faiths of man are said to derive from a universal religion known to both [[Plato]] and the ancient Hindu sages. The wisdom-religion is also identified with Hermetic philosophy as "the only possible key to the Absolute in science and theology" (I, vii). Every religion is based on the same truth or "secret doctrine", which contains "the alpha and omega of universal science" (I, 511). This ancient wisdom-religion will become the religion of the future (I, 613).|source=—Historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, 2004.{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|2004|p=9}}}}

In 1875, Blavatsky began work on a book outlining her Theosophical worldview, much of which would be written during a stay in the [[Ithaca, New York|Ithaca]] home of [[Hiram Corson]], a Professor of English Literature at [[Cornell University]]. Although she had hoped to call it ''The Veil of Isis'', it would be published as ''[[Isis Unveiled]]''.{{sfnm|1a1=Campbell|1y=1980|1p=31|2a1=Meade|2y=1980|2pp=152, 176|3a1=Lachman|3y=2012|3pp=137, 140–143}} While writing it, Blavatsky claimed to be aware of a second consciousness within her body, referring to it as "the lodger who is in me", and stating that it was this second consciousness that inspired much of the writing.{{sfnm|1a1=Goodrick-Clarke|1y=2004|1p=8|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2pp=137–138}} In ''Isis Unveiled'', Blavatsky quoted extensively from other esoteric and religious texts, although her contemporary and colleague Olcott always maintained that she had quoted from books that she did not have access to.{{sfnm|1a1=Goodrick-Clarke|1y=2004|1p=8|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2p=147}} Writing more than a century after her death Lachman conjectured that if this had been the case, then she had had an [[eidetic memory]],{{sfn|Lachman|2012|p=148}} such that, while relying on earlier sources, the book represented an original synthesis that connected disparate ideas not brought together before.{{sfn|Lachman|2012|p=154}}

[[File:Cover of 'Blavatsky Unveiled. The Writings of H. P. Blavatsky in modern English. Volume 1.' By Moon Laramie.jpg|thumb|upright|Cover of 'Blavatsky Unveiled', the first translation of Isis Unveiled into modern English.]]

Revolving around Blavatsky's idea that all the world's religions stemmed from a single "Ancient Wisdom", which she connected to the Western esotericism of ancient [[Hermeticism]] and [[Neoplatonism]],{{sfnm|1a1=Goodrick-Clarke|1y=2004|1p=9|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2pp=155, 157}} it also articulated her thoughts on Spiritualism,{{sfn|Lachman|2012|p=156}} and provided a criticism of [[Darwinian evolution]], stating that it dealt only with the physical world and ignored the spiritual realms.{{sfn|Lachman|2012|pp=159–160}}
The book was edited by Professor of Philosophy [[Alexander Wilder]] and published in two volumes by J.W. Bouton in 1877.{{sfnm|1a1=Meade|1y=1980|1pp=173, 176|2a1=Goodrick-Clarke|2y=2004|2p=9|3a1=Lachman|3y=2012|3pp=150–151}} Although facing negative mainstream press reviews, including from those who highlighted that it extensively quoted around 100 other books without acknowledgement,{{sfnm|1a1=Campbell|1y=1980|1p=33|2a1=Washington|2y=1993|2p=52}} it proved to be such a commercial success, with its initial print run of 1,000 copies selling out in a week,{{sfnm|1a1=Campbell|1y=1980|1p=35|2a1=Meade|2y=1980|2p=179|3a1=Washington|3y=1993|3p=52|4a1=Lachman|4y=2012|4p=152}} that the publisher requested a sequel, although Blavatsky turned down the offer.{{sfn|Lachman|2012|p=154}}
While ''Isis Unveiled'' was a success, the Society remained largely inactive,{{sfnm|1a1=Washington|1y=1993|1p=57|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2p=170}} having fallen into this state in autumn 1876.{{sfn|Meade|1980|p=174}} This was despite the fact that new lodges of the organization had been established throughout the U.S. and in London, and prominent figures like [[Thomas Edison]] and [[Abner Doubleday]] had joined.{{sfn|Lachman|2012|p=171}} In July 1878, Blavatsky gained U.S. citizenship.{{sfnm|1a1=Meade|1y=1980|1p=183|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2p=171}}