Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #554473 in Books
• Published on: 1990-12-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 232 pages

Customer Reviews

Starts well but finishes poorly
I agree with the reader of 13 July 1998. The book, content and style are interesting at the start; the author is good on the history of the Knights Templars and clear about separating fact from fiction or myth, with evidence rather opinion. However, the reader does need a good grounding in the general history of the period, including the various religious faiths and heresies to make full use of the book. A chronological table of events and a glossary of terms and/or people would have been useful, especially for the second half of the book. The author is interesting on the growth of Freemasonry in the seventeenth century but by the end of the book he degenerates almost into lists of 'people who' without really describing who they were or their relevance. The author seems to lose sight of his argument and gallop to the finish. Hard going for the last three chapters but worth reading for the first half and I would recomend it for that alone.

Novel, but not for beginners
This is a great book offering new insights into the evolution of the Templar mythos; however, it requires a fairly thorough understanding of the history of the time period. Partner frequently names people and events without providing sufficient background. I also wish he had been a bit more thorough in the second part of the book. That said, it's worth reading as he does provide views and evidence that won't be found in another single source.

The real story of how the life and deaths of the Templars.
Taking a critical look at the slow and saddening destruction of the Templars, Partner removes the veil of superstition and occultism that has surrounded this knightly order for decades. It is a refreshing look at a disconcerting trend - the acceptance of history written by the winners. Too many New Age references casually mention Templars as having secret knowledge, and too many fundamentalists point to the Templars (and Masons, who have their roots in the Knights Templar) as signs of occult influence. The answer would not please either side: The Knights Templar were an ostracized group of warriors who were treated in a similar fashion to Vietnam veterans - losing a war is bad for business, and in the Templar's case, fatal. http://pilot.msu.edu/user/trescami/newage.html