Death of Merlin

Walter Johannes Stein (1891-1957) was an Austrian philosopher and a pioneer of anthroposophy. He studied at Vienna University and was a student of Rudolf Steiner. After the First World War, Steiner invited Stein to teach history and German literature at the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart. There, Stein began his life-long research on the Grail legend. In 1928, he published a book on the subject, Weltgeschichte im Lichte des heiligen Gral (The Ninth Century and the Holy Grail). He moved to London in 1933 and was editor of the journal, The Present Age.

'This book contains a series of essays and lectures written by one whose spiritual development was personally overseen by the great anthroposophist Rudolf Steiner … I really enjoyed it, and learned a lot!'-- Inner Light Magazine, Summer 2008'Stein explores the early development of the mythic corpus of Grail legends … Highly recommended.'-- BM Cauldron, May 2008'Walter Johnnes Stein was a polymath who was one of the leading followers of Steiner. It was a lecture by Stein in the 1930s that kindled the spiritual insight of the then agnostic Sir George Trevelyan … One of the most interesting parts is the first chapter of the memoirs in which the author describes his own background, education and encounter with Steiner … This is the work of an erudite man steeped in western culture but whose spiritual sight has also been opened. It is a remarkable series of essays.'-- Scientific and Medical Network Review, Spring 2008