Christopher McIntosh

A very odd book - I found it in equal parts entertaining and frustrating. It introduced me to many ideas about Nordic mysticism and 'heathenry' that I had not before heard of or thought about, and did so in an entertaining way. So as a social history of the revival of interest in ancient Nordic culture, the vikings, and shamanism was good.

However the author has a habit of talking about sources that are, shall we say, not really credible. He weaves established historical and geographical fact show more with nationalist, fantastical and sometimes outright crazy ideas and rarely differentiates between the two. So the book becomes a mash-up between an ethnographical study, a personal recording of ideas and ... a round-up of outlandish theories.

Thing is, for all it's faults I am going to give it three stars because there was some work of interest in here, and the topic is interesting. I just hope I come across a better book on the subject some time soon. show less

T. G. I. O. thank God it's over. what could've been an interesting topic was reduced to a recitation of facts. it feels like someone's doctoral dissertation that got published simply because of cultural zeitgeist. the author doesn't draw conclusions because that might include examining other possibilities. rather, he jumps to his conclusions so superciliously that makes you wonder at his agenda.

McIntosh's monograph on esoteric initiatory societies in Enlightenment Germany is an invaluable study that dissolves ideological caricatures on the basis of intriguing historical evidence. It is important reading for any latter-day illuminatus.

McIntosh chronicles the drive and passion of Ludwig II of Bavaria. Ludwig threw himself in the financially ruinous building campaigns that resulted in stunning pieces of architecture. His castle of Neuschwannstein remains the iconic epitome of Germany. He also had a passion of music, specifically that of Richard Wagner. Again he devoted his time and money to financing the composer. Ludwig also harbored a predeliction of low class men who could only be disastrous for his reign.