East and West

Synopsis

East and west, first published in 1924, was the fourth of a series of books that cleared the ground for guénon's later writings. His first book, introduction to the study of the hindu doctrines (1921), was an exposition of metaphysics as transmitted in the hindu tradition, and served to establish his specific use of important terms such as 'esoterism', 'tradition', and 'orthodoxy'. He next set about writing two extensive volumes critiquing what he called 'pseudo-esoteric' groups.