Unlocking the Arcane: Esoteric thought in Western Culture

From the occult, magic and witchcraft to secret societies and UFOlogy, come along and delve into the mysterious ways we make sense of the world around us.  

The University of Sydney Library has recently acquired the Tillet & French Collection consisting of over 15,000 items exploring esotericism (alternative ways of thinking) in modern western culture. In this talk, Dr Brendan French will share his personal story of assembling the collection, an overview of esotericism, and collection highlights of particular significance.  

A selection of items from the Tillet & French Collection will also be on display at the talk.  

Please be note that spaces for this talk are limited. If you book and cannot attend, please cancel your ticket to give others an opportunity (alternatively, get in touch via email cultural.collections@usyd.libanswers.com). 

About the Tillet & French Collection 

Collected over decades by Dr Gregory Tillet and Dr Brendan French (both of whom completed their PhDs at the University of Sydney), the collection was donated in 2025 and is now housed in the Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections.  

Greg and Brendan enjoyed very diverse professional lives.  

Greg lectured for many years in religion and law, with specialties as broad as antidiscrimination, occultism, conflict resolution and Orthodox liturgy. He wrote foundational texts on HIV discrimination, mediation, and the definitive biography of the occult Theosophist, Charles Leadbeater.  He is widely regarded, alongside John Burton, as the father of Australian alternative dispute resolution.   

Brendan specialises in esotericism, magic societies, conspiratology, body modification and occultism, and has written the seminal study of Helena Blavatsky, the pivotal occultist of the modern era. He has combined his academic work with a senior executive career, including periods as an Ombudsman, consultant on international regulatory design, and several years running Commonwealth Bank’s customer and community portfolio. He has been awarded for his singular contribution to consumer protection and is currently CEO of Energy Consumers Australia, the preeminent advocate for a just and fair energy transition. In 2016 Brendan was honoured by the Australian Financial Review in its list of the most influential LGBTI Australians.  

Greg and Brendan fused their collections when they met in 1991 and didn't stop collecting until Greg died in 2018. 

Sydney Rare Book Week 2025 
This event is presented as part of the Sydney Rare Book Week 2025 program. The program concludes with the Sydney Rare Book Fair at the State Library of NSW, from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 October 2025. 
 

#SydneyRareBookWeek 

#SydneyRareBookFair 

_ 

Stay connected with the Library  

• Become a Friend of the Library for free  

• Follow the Library of Instagram @sydney_library  

• Make an enduring contribution to scholarship by giving to the Library  

_ 

Image: A variety of tarot cards from the Tillet & French collection.