Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00725)

Those who are not German-speaking may not be aware of a (relatively) new 
biography of Leadbeater published in German:

Peter Michel "Charles W. Leadbeater. Mit den Augen des Geistes. Die Biographie 
eines grossen Eingeweihten" Aquarian Verlag, Voglherd: 1998. pp197 ISBN 3-
89427-107-8
I obtained my copy via Amazon Germany. I have seen no reference to the work in 
the English-speaking Theosophical world.

The author and I had some exchange of correspondence during his research, and 
he promised a "vindication" of Leadbeater against all the "falsehoods" of my 
own biography.

Michel provides some wonderfully entertaining denunciations of me in his 
introduction! They are best enjoyed in the richness of expression of the 
German language.

Sadly, Michel's "vindication" doesn't quite work since he is obliged to admit 
in chapter 1 that Leadbeater's story of his birth and childhood 
was "inaccurate" - although he takes grave exception my suggestion that 
suggestion that Leadbeater lied. He struggles to explain how Leadbeater could 
have met Morya before he was born, or how the family adventure in Brazil might 
have happened when it didn't. He accepts the 1854 birthdate but claims (a) 
there must be a "higher" explanation for Leadbeater's claim that he was born 
in 1847, and (b) suggests that there may be some "important documents lost in 
the past or still to be found that could prove the correctness of Leadbeater's 
statements." Happily he concludes: "We may never know the final answer."
He also wonders (oddly, given that he states that he accepts the correct 
birthdate) why, if it is correct, no-one ever contradicted Leadbeater's claims 
before I wrote my biography. I'd say the answer that that is simple: those who 
preceded me were lazy in their scholarship and didn't follow the basic rule of 
historical research - always check original documents.

The book is an interesting contribution to the field of Leadbeateriana, and a 
valiant and (using the word in its classical sense) pathetic attempt to turn 
the "feet of clay" into bronze.

I eagerly await the foreshadowed English translation from the TS in America.

Dr Gregory Tillett