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==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
Barrett, an Englishman, claimed himself to be a student of chemistry, [[metaphysics]] and natural occult philosophy. He was known to be an extreme eccentric who gave lessons in the magical arts in his apartment and fastidiously translated [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic]] and other ancient texts into English, such as von Welling's work, ''Philosophy of The Universe'' circa 1735, from German. | Barrett, an Englishman, claimed himself to be a student of chemistry, [[metaphysics]] and natural [[occult]] philosophy. He was known to be an extreme eccentric who gave lessons in the magical arts in his apartment and fastidiously translated [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic]] and other ancient texts into English, such as von Welling's work, ''Philosophy of The Universe'' circa 1735, from German. | ||
According to his biographer Francis X. King, Barrett's parents were humble folk married in the parish of St. Martin's in the Fields on 29 September 1772. | According to his biographer Francis X. King, Barrett's parents were humble folk married in the parish of St. Martin's in the Fields on 29 September 1772. | ||
==''The Magus''== | ==''The Magus''== | ||
Barrett was enthusiastic about reviving interest in the [[occult]] arts, and published a magical textbook called ''[[The Magus]]''. It was an edited compilation, almost entirely consisting of selections from [[Cornelius | Barrett was enthusiastic about reviving interest in the [[occult]] arts, and published a magical textbook called ''[[The Magus]]''. It was an edited compilation, almost entirely consisting of selections from [[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]]'s ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]'' and Robert Turner's 1655 translation of the ''[[Heptameron|Heptameron of Peter of Abano]]''. | ||
Barrett made modifications and modernized spelling and syntax. Possibly influencing the novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the book gained little other notice until it influenced [[Eliphas Levi]]. | Barrett made modifications and modernized spelling and syntax. Possibly influencing the novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the book gained little other notice until it influenced [[Eliphas Levi]]. | ||