The Adventurous Life of Alexandra David-Neel (1868-1969)
Published on Nov 5, 2014
The Adventurous Life of Alexandra David-Neel (1868-1969)
Readers of Alexandra David-Neel’s early books knew nothing of her life before she became a celebrated traveller, explorer, and pioneer of the esoteric practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
Born in Paris, Alexandra was a debutante, bohemian of the Belle Epoque, opera singer in Indo-China and wife of a railway engineer. She researched occultism, travelling in India, Japan and Korea, crossed the Gobi Desert and journeyed to Lhasa in disguise – all unheard of for a woman of her time. Her name is synonymous with Tibet and the secrets of Tibetan magic and mysticism. Asked if she believed in miracles, Alexandra replied, “Of course, I perform them all the time.” Alexandra David-Neel died in France, aged 100, in 1969.
Alexander Maitland explores Alexandra David-Neel’s life and travels and her fascinating sojourns among magicians on the Roof of the World.
About the speaker: Alexander Maitland’s interests include music, painting and architecture. He first met Marco Pallis in 1966, while researching a life of the explorer John Hanning Speke. Later he wrote biographies of Freya Stark and Sir Wilfred Thesiger with whom he collaborated on other books including Freya Stark’s Rivers of Time and Wilfred Thesiger’s Among the Mountains. Alexander Maitland is married and lives in London.
Readers of Alexandra David-Neel’s early books knew nothing of her life before she became a celebrated traveller, explorer, and pioneer of the esoteric practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
Born in Paris, Alexandra was a debutante, bohemian of the Belle Epoque, opera singer in Indo-China and wife of a railway engineer. She researched occultism, travelling in India, Japan and Korea, crossed the Gobi Desert and journeyed to Lhasa in disguise – all unheard of for a woman of her time. Her name is synonymous with Tibet and the secrets of Tibetan magic and mysticism. Asked if she believed in miracles, Alexandra replied, “Of course, I perform them all the time.” Alexandra David-Neel died in France, aged 100, in 1969.
Alexander Maitland explores Alexandra David-Neel’s life and travels and her fascinating sojourns among magicians on the Roof of the World.
About the speaker: Alexander Maitland’s interests include music, painting and architecture. He first met Marco Pallis in 1966, while researching a life of the explorer John Hanning Speke. Later he wrote biographies of Freya Stark and Sir Wilfred Thesiger with whom he collaborated on other books including Freya Stark’s Rivers of Time and Wilfred Thesiger’s Among the Mountains. Alexander Maitland is married and lives in London.
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