René Nelli
“In the French Middle Ages, from the end of the 12th century until 1209, when the Crusade was unleashed, Catharism was able to organize itself in the form of a Church and, through the great lords won to its cause, to exert a social and political influence over the whole country. At the same time, thanks to the preaching of its ministers, Catharism succeeded in modifying the general spirit of the inhabitants of Languedoc and, consequently, their daily life… In this book you will find a sort of film of the life of the Cathars in Languedoc, as it developed, from the dawn of the 13th century until 1350.” (From the introduction.)
René Nelli (1906 – 1982) was a French poet, Hermeticist, essayist and historian, as well as a scholar of medieval Occitan culture and of Catharism in particular. He was born in Carcassonne, Aude and is considered one of the major Occitan writers of the 20th century. Nelli fought in the French Resistance, and in 1945 co-founded the Institut d’Estudis Occitans. He also co-wrote the special issue of the Cahiers du Sud magazine on “The Genius of Òc and the Mediterranean Man” (1943), in which the three main lines of his literary mission stand out: the translation of medieval Occitan poets; his own poetry; and literary criticism. His poetry collections are marked with sensuality and draw their inspiration from the mystical traditions of Cathars and troubadours. Nelli was a close friend of Chilean diplomat and esotericist Miguel Serrano, on whom he was a major influence regarding the mystical beliefs of Catharism.