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Title: Spear of Destiny by Trevor Ravenscroft ISBN: 0-87728-547-0 Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Pub. Date: June, 1987 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.09 (22 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Not a bad read, but historically unreliable
Comment: The Spear Of Destiny - Trevor Ravenscroft
Review written by Hugh Dennett.
When I first picked this book up in the bookstore, I couldn't believe my luck in finding such an interesting work on The Spear Of Longinus, written by what at first appeared to be an author with at least some credibility. The subject matter of 'The Spear Of Destiny' is fascinating and the style is compelling. For the first couple of chapters, I thought that - despite the sensationalistic nature of the writing - there possibly may have been some truth to Trevor Ravenscroft's assertions.
In short, the author uses this book to present the beliefs and opinions of Dr. Walter Johannes Stein - who during WWII provided information to Winston Churchill about the supposedly occultic personalities of Hitler and other Nazi leaders - although it is difficult to discern what portion of the book is based on Dr. Stein's somewhat dubious recollections, and what is subjective speculation on the part of Ravenscroft.
One problem came for me, when I noticed that many of the more grandiose statements in the book are not referenced at all, and thus the reader has no way of verifying the authenticity of the author's claims. There are footnotes, albeit rather minimalistic, but these are mostly relating to quotes that can be easily verified or found readily in other common publications. It is also true to say that these (referenced) quotes do not for the most part help to further the cause of the book to anywhere near the degree that the unsubstantiated quotes might do, would in fact they be traceable to a reliable source. In addition to this, much of the evidence given in the book is drawn from the psychic visons of Rudolf Steiner and General Helmuth von Moltke.
Up until chapter five, the story seems almost plausible and is without a doubt a most compelling read for anyone who has an interest in the Spear Of Longinus, Nazi Germany, or the occult in general. However, by the end of chapter five, the book is becoming clearly predictable and filled with clichés; not to mention the fact that there are some obvious historical errors, such as Ravenscroft's claim that Hitler celebrated his thirty-third birthday in 1921 (page 113). The author also takes many unsubstantiated myths - such as Hitler having only one testicle (pages 172, 173) - to be proven fact. 'The Spear Of Destiny' also contains several quotes taken from Hermann Rauschning's 'Hitler Speaks', which according to acclaimed Hitler biographer Ian Kershaw, is "a work now regarded to have so little authenticity that it is best to disregard it altogether." (Taken from Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris)
Whilst Ravenscroft does not proclaim himself to be a christian, the reader gets the feeling that he certainly sympathises strongly with christian morals, and although the non-xian belief of reincarnation is central to the story, he always manages to tie this facet back into christianity or christian politics. One of the most frustrating aspects of this book is the author's tendency to portray all the supposed 'good guys' in the story as being the reincarnations of other 'good guys', and all the allegedly 'bad' characters as having been 'bad guys' in a former life. The fact that the plot of the story hinges around this detail certainly doesn't help to add to the credibility of the book.
For what it's worth, 'The Spear Of Destiny' is a good yarn and definetely quite provocatively written, but in my opinion, this is the extent of it's value. Historically speaking, the book is poorly researched and there are no where near enough references to substantiate the author's extravagant claims.
Rating: 5
Summary: A portrait of the dictator as a young man......
Comment: In this fascinating account of Hitler's obsession with grail lore, the occult and and Wagnerian opera, we learn about his crucial but 'lost years' in Vienna, Austria. During this time he was a homeless artist who read extensively and subsisted by selling water color postcards of famous landmarks on the street. The book by Ravenscroft was made possible because of a friendship between the author and a professor of economics who befriended Hitler and was subjected to his visionary tirades on politics during this time around 1912-13. What we discover is a deep understanding on the part of Hitler of the powers associated with black magic and the occult. The legend of the spear of destiny used by the Roman soldier Longinus to pierce the side of Christ is the centerpiece of the story. How it inspired Hitler, provided psychic glimpses for him into the future and how it ultimately allowed him to carry out his twisted mission of genocide and world conquest (though he failed in the latter). Despite what you may feel about him and his actions, no one can deny that he was an incredibly interesting and ambitious man. Through shear will and determination he rose from abject poverty to undisputed leader of a great world power. Ironically, we learn that when the spear fell into American hands in April 1945 and Berlin was under siege, Hitler and his bride Eva Braun committed suicide on Walpurgis Night--- a satanic holiday. This book truly explains the WHO and the HOW behind the WHY of WWII and the background it provides is thorough, well-documented and frankly very entertaining and compelling. Given all the movies about Hitler and WWII, it amazes me that noone has tried to make a movie based around this book. The movie 'Max' was a very weak and thinly disguised attempt but fell short on many levels. Check this little known gem out today.
Rating: 4
Summary: The Spear of Destiny
Comment: First of all, this book is a must read.
This is a must-read for everyone who studies, or is interested in, nazi-Germany. It reveals many things about Adolf Hitler's and his followers "hidden" interests. One should read this with Goodrich-Clarkes, Levendas and others historic accounts about nazi involvement with occult. This involvement was for real, regardless of what people think about "occult" things. There are undisputable historical facts that occultism played a part in nazi-beliefs, and this book tells about much about those beliefs.
You can't say that you comply with all of Ravenscrofts conclusions. Many things he says in this book are very "esoteric" and full of "occultism"/mysticism. But whether you believe or not in everything this book has to offer, it still offers very vivid and also very probable account of the nazis and their relation to occultism. One doesn't need to believe into those powers this book mentions, to understand that there were much more in those things that 3rd reich did than the eye would see on facade. Certainly there were men that believed in these mystic things back then.
This book explains many mysteries that have left "unsolved" by more "secular" accounts of history. If one considers nazi-doings to be the utmost evil, this book tries to explain from where the dogmas of it's leaders came from. And for sure, many things in this "dark" part of 20th century can't be explained by scientific and "rational" terms. This book may give you creeps. Also it can make you laugh if you just can't believe in anything "supernatural" or metaphysical. It doesn't matter though what we believe. There were people who believed in it, and it changed the history. Maybe we should learn a lesson from it.
This is a welcome addition to every historian out there, a true classic. Unfortunately one cannot use it as legit reference, 'cause many things in it are too crazy for modern science. One has to read it and make own conclusions. I would certainly recommend reading this. This may give insight to the beliefs behind ss, ahnenerbe, racial-ideology and many other things. It also talks about lost atlantian-race, which presumably worked as prototype for superhuman-ideal, there a are things about Rudolf Steiner etc.
Most important thing in this book might be the account of the "spear of destiny". Which, presumably, has been the "talisman" for multiple great leaders in world history. Used also to pierce Jesus's side on cross, by Roman soldier who got name Longinus from this deed. The spear, it is said, gives powers to rule for the owner of it. Hitler used to visit Habsburg-museum to "drool" on this spear, and then he used his forces to gain the spear also. The history of the spear, true or not, certainly makes an interesting read. Why would so many remarkable men want to have it in their possession? And why it seems to have affected on their lives and places in world-history? This is what Ravenscroft is trying to explain.
All in all, a very controversial read. But still interesting indeed, and certainly may open new views about this subject. You have been warned. ;)
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Title: The Mark of the Beast: The Continuing Story of the Spear of Destiny by Trevor Ravenscroft, Tim Wallace-Murphy, T. Wallace Murphy ISBN: 0877288704 Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Pub. Date: May, 1997 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Unholy Alliance: History of the Nazi Involvement With the Occult by Peter Levenda, Norman Mailer, Peter Lavenda ISBN: 0826414095 Publisher: Continuum Pub Group Pub. Date: June, 2002 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology: The Ariosophists of Austria and Germany, 1890-1935 by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke ISBN: 0814730604 Publisher: New York University Press Pub. Date: January, 1994 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Cup of Destiny by Trevor Ravenscroft ISBN: 0877285462 Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Pub. Date: August, 1995 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
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Title: The Morning of the Magicians by Louis Pauwels, Charles Berlitz, Jacques Bergier ISBN: 0812885325 Publisher: Scarborough House Pub. Date: September, 1991 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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