A very frequent question I receive through this website is whether there are any English translations of Péladan’s work, and it is increasingly appearing as a search term in my stat count as well. The answer is, to the best of my knowledge, that apart from the play “St Francis of Assisi” (available free online here), which was published directly in English in 1913, and apart from the small excerpts posted on this website, there are currently no translations of Péladan’s work available in English.
(update 2014) Since publishing this post almost a year ago, I stand corrected on my claim that there are no translations of Péladan’s work in English *at all*, although it is true that there are no full-length translations of his books. The play “St Francis of Assisi” (available free online here),was published directly in English in 1913. Apart from this, I owe my thanks to visitors who have drawn my attention to the following:
- “The true place of the Holy Sepulchre” was published in 1908 by Francis Griffiths in Essays for the times series.
- “The Ritual of Love” was translated by Rachel Ashton and appears with an introduction by Jennifer Birkett in Zone Books’ The Decadent Reader.
If any other visitors are aware of translations I may have inadvertently missed, then please let me know by commenting below or on the Facebook page that is the social media outlet for this website, and I’ll be delighted to add them to this list.
Once I have finished my PhD (less than a year from now) I hope to be able to publish both an anthology of Péladan’s writings in English as well as some of his main works. (Any interested publishers reading?!!) (update 2017) I am now discussing such a project with a UK publisher.
Peladan’s work was translated into German and Italian, but I cannot help with other languages I’m afraid. I’ll post further excerpts when time allows. Until I have the time to work on further translations however, please feel free to get in touch if you have a specific question about his work and I’ll do my best to assist.
Translated excerpts on this website:
Istar (1888): Part II, Ch. 1 “The Oelohites: The Legend of Incest”
Comment on Devient Ar(t)iste: “To the Devil” and “Arcanum of Lucifer”
Istar (1888): Part I, Ch. IV “A Sentimental Journey”
L’Art Idéaliste et Mystique – Péladan’s Aesthetic-Esoteric Manifesto (1892-4).