"Aegypt" by John Crowley is a novel of remarkable depth and intricacy, blending the contemporary with the historical, and weaving a tapestry of narratives that span various time periods and themes. I heard Terrence Mckenna (the famed ethnobotanist and orator) discussing it during one of his lectures many years ago and so I picked it up.
At the heart of the story is Pierce Moffett, an unorthodox historian who, disillusioned with his life in New York City, moves to the Faraway Hills in the countryside. Here, Pierce becomes captivated by the idea that there might be an alternate history of the world, a history where magic and science are intertwined.
In the Faraway Hills, Pierce stumbles on a manuscript by Fellowes Kraft, a deceased writer who had entertained similar notions about history. The manuscript and Kraft’s life intrigue Pierce, leading him to embark on writing a book tentatively titled "Aegypt." This book is an exploration of his hypothesis about a different history of the world, a history where the mystical and the empirical coexist.
Crowley masterfully interlaces Pierce's narrative with threads from historical figures such as John Dee, an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, and advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, renowned for his engagement in Hermetic and occult philosophy. The story also touches upon the life of Giordano Bruno, a philosopher of the Renaissance era, whose theories and tragic fate at the hands of the Roman Inquisition echo the novel’s themes of alternate histories and the tension between magical and rational thought.
The novel delves deeply into the realms of Hermeticism, alchemy, astrology, and Gnostic beliefs, portraying these not merely as historical curiosities but as essential components of human understanding and experience. Crowley blurs the lines between reality and imagination, history and myth, as he explores the evolution of human thought and the history of ideas.
The novel also features metafictional elements, where the narrative self-referentially examines the nature of storytelling, history-writing, and the creation of meaning. In doing so, it invites the reader to ponder the possibility of alternate realities and the coexistence of different systems of knowledge.
"Aegypt," originally intended as a standalone novel, evolved into the first book of a four-part series, later known as "The Aegypt Cycle." John Crowley's expansion of this narrative universe highlights the depth and complexity of the themes he wished to explore, as the story's rich tapestry of ideas and characters needed more space to fully develop.
The novel was originally published under the title "Aegypt" in 1987. However, in later editions and reprints, the title was changed to "The Solitudes," which is also the title of the first part of the novel. This change was part of a rebranding strategy when the entire series was republished, helping to distinguish the individual books within "The Aegypt Cycle."
John Crowley undertook extensive research into historical, philosophical, and esoteric subjects to write "Aegypt." The novel’s detailed references to figures like John Dee and Giordano Bruno, as well as concepts from Hermeticism and Renaissance philosophy, reflect Crowley's deep engagement with these topics. The accuracy and depth of these elements have been praised for enriching the novel's narrative and adding layers of authenticity to its exploration of alternate histories and magical realism.
The novel's treatment of occult themes extends to the idea of "resacralization," though not explicitly named as such. It implies a rediscovery of a sacred worldview in a world that has become increasingly secular and disenchanted. This notion aligns with the idea that modern, rational perspectives are just one way of understanding reality, opening the door to other, more mystical interpretations.
"Aegypt" also explores the theme of transformation, both historical and personal. It suggests that our interpretation of history is influenced by our current understanding and that history itself might be more flexible and enigmatic than commonly believed.
Overall, "Aegypt" is a complex, multi-layered novel that challenges conventional views of history and reality. It offers a rich tapestry of ideas, spanning centuries and disciplines, and invites readers to contemplate the coexistence of magic and science, and the nature of reality itself.