Customer Reviews
Thorough and fair-minded review of Rosicrucian evolution - By: , 24 Nov 2001 
For those with a preliminary interestin the Rosicrucian (R+C) philosophy & teachings, this is a good overall introduction. The book ties together the Gnostic- & Hermetic-influenced origins of the R+C & various accounts of their evolution through the ages up to the 1990s.
This book was written by an author who is up to his neckin esotericism & the history of the Age of Reason. The author does a good job of explaining just how dangerous it wasin times past to hold some of the beliefs that R+Cs did, & why things were kept so secret. I had the feeling he did his research well, going back where possible to original documentsin various continental librariesin order to do so. One glance at the bibliography of this book will prove the breadth of his research and, likely, the intensity of his interestin the subject.
It is not a handbook of R+C teachings, but does contain very helpful information on key parts of the R+C tradition: the Fama Fraternitatis, Confessio Fraternitatis & Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz. The roles of key personalities relevant to the R+C are considered: Johann Andraea, Francis Bacon, Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer, John Dee, Rene Descartes, Goethe, Max Heindel, Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, Michael Maier, Paschal B. Randolph, Rudolph Steiner, A.E. Waite, Adam Weishaupt (of the Bavarian Illuminati), etc.
There are 16 b/w plate illustrations.
One of the later chapters gives potted histories of some of the 20th century R+C groups: AMORC, Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis, Golden Dawn, Lectorium Rosicrucianum, Rosicrucian Fellowship.
Although this book is not an exposé of detailed R+C teachings & symbology, it is a valuable resource for someone interestedin knowing more about the Rosicrucians &in tying together the various strands, movements & philosophies.
Very well researched - By: , 29 Mar 1999 
If you are already a rosicrucian, this book will not help you since you have inside information. But if you want to read a true historian's view on facts involving the Rosicrucian movement, this is an excellent book. The author made a very thorough job of investigating sources.
His basis is veryfiable facts (not all facts unfortunately can be verified). He started writing on Rosicrucianism with the thought of it being a fledging unimportant movement, but had to change his mind completely as the many details came to the surface. This books covers everything from the Fama (manifestos) to present day rosicrucian movements like AMORC, & the Fellowship...
A very technical & scholarly book!
Disappointing... - By: , 27 Nov 1998 
When I picked up the book, what I hoped to find was a book telling me what Rosicrusianism was all about. What I got was an outsiders speculation on the subject. I wouldn't recommend it if you are truly interestedin the subject.
S.L. USA
