Mircea Eliade

Mircea Eliade (March 13, 1907 – April 22, 1986) was a Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago. He is considered one of the most influential scholars of religion of the 20th century and an interpreter of religious experience, establishing paradigms in religious studies. His theory that hierophanies form the basis of religion, splitting human experience into sacred and profane space and time, proved influential. His theory of 'eternal return,' which holds that myths and rituals participate in sacred events, is also significant. Eliade's literary works span the fantastic and autobiographical genres, with notable novels including 'Maitreyi' and 'The Forbidden Forest', and novellas like 'Miss Christina' and 'Youth Without Youth'. He was fluent in five languages and had a reading knowledge of three others. Early in his career, he was a journalist and essayist, influenced by Nae Ionescu, and later served as cultural attaché for Romania in the UK and Portugal. His public support for the Iron Guard and other far-right connections drew criticism after World War II. In 1990, he was posthumously elected a member of the Romanian Academy.