Grail / Knights Templar suggestion/discussion thread [Feb '06: Steve Berry's latest]
05-03-03, 12:53 PM
#1
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Grail / Knights Templar suggestion/discussion thread [Feb '06: Steve Berry's latest]
Hi,
well I'm halfway through The Da Vinci Code, by, Dan Brown.
Fascinating stuff.
Of course now I'm interested in the history of the Knights Templar.
Can anyone suggest a good book to read on the Knights Templar?
Thanks
well I'm halfway through The Da Vinci Code, by, Dan Brown.
Fascinating stuff.
Of course now I'm interested in the history of the Knights Templar.
Can anyone suggest a good book to read on the Knights Templar?
Spoiler:
Thanks
05-03-03, 02:25 PM
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Are you looking for conspiracy theory stuff or origin stuff about the history of the crusades and the like? You know they were a military order like the Hospitalers (recognize the name?) and other groups.
My art history prof. (Dr. Jaroslav Folda), an authority on the Crusades thinks most of the stuff about them being behind the creation of huge banks, illuminati and all that is pretty much pure bunk.
That said, I can't think of a book specifically about them that I've read, though Stephen Lawhead's "Celtic Crusades" trilogy mentions them among other groups. Haven't read the third book yet though and I hear they play a more prominent role in that one.
My art history prof. (Dr. Jaroslav Folda), an authority on the Crusades thinks most of the stuff about them being behind the creation of huge banks, illuminati and all that is pretty much pure bunk.
That said, I can't think of a book specifically about them that I've read, though Stephen Lawhead's "Celtic Crusades" trilogy mentions them among other groups. Haven't read the third book yet though and I hear they play a more prominent role in that one.
05-03-03, 02:53 PM
#3
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The Trial of the Templars by Malcolm Barber
Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent
The Temple and the Lodge by Michael Baigent
The Hiram Key by Christopher Knight
The Second Messiah by Christopher Knight
...would be a good start. Look these books up on Amazon, and see if they're what you're looking for. Also be sure to check the Amazon recommendations and "customers who bought this also bought..." links.
If you're looking for actual factual accounts of the Templars, then Trial of the Templars would be a good place to start. There are tons of conspiracy theories attached to the Knights Templar, so you might want to take any outlandish claims about them with a grain of salt.
Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent
The Temple and the Lodge by Michael Baigent
The Hiram Key by Christopher Knight
The Second Messiah by Christopher Knight
...would be a good start. Look these books up on Amazon, and see if they're what you're looking for. Also be sure to check the Amazon recommendations and "customers who bought this also bought..." links.
If you're looking for actual factual accounts of the Templars, then Trial of the Templars would be a good place to start. There are tons of conspiracy theories attached to the Knights Templar, so you might want to take any outlandish claims about them with a grain of salt.
05-03-03, 03:50 PM
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Tuan Jim, Josh-da-man, thanks for the replies.
As to what I'm looking for, well, it's both.
I'd like to read a history of the Templars, and also read about the "conspiracy," even if it is bunk.
Some bunk, well written, is very entertaining.
Trying to sort out the bad from the good is going to be the problem.
Heading out to Borders today, so I'll look up some of those titles.
Hospitalers?
Who were they?
As to what I'm looking for, well, it's both.
I'd like to read a history of the Templars, and also read about the "conspiracy," even if it is bunk.
Some bunk, well written, is very entertaining.
Trying to sort out the bad from the good is going to be the problem.
Heading out to Borders today, so I'll look up some of those titles.
Hospitalers?
Who were they?
05-03-03, 07:06 PM
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Originally posted by smokedragon
Hospitalers?
Who were they?
Hospitalers?
Who were they?
05-04-03, 03:51 AM
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Originally posted by Josh-da-man
Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent
Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent
Just to nitpick, I believe Baigent was assisted by Messrs. Leigh & Lincoln.[I only know because it was mentioned quite recently in another thread].
05-04-03, 12:20 PM
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Some general resources:I found a Usenet bibliographical FAQ that details numerous reference works as well as fictional material and a list that looks at Masonic and Grail type references etc as well as the Templar side of things.
This title came up several times during my cursory search:-
  The New Knighthood
  (A Historyof the Order of the Temple)
  Malcolm Barber
  Cambridge, 1994 (paper).
  ISBN 0-521-55872-7
But as for "good" books on the Knights Templar I couldn't honestly say! When it comes to fictive prose, Katherine Kurtz has written more than a few Templar-based tales and Lawrence Durrell wrote a series (the Avignon quintet) that may be of interest. I understand that "Foucault's Pendulum", by Umberto Eco, is another work that includes aspects of Templar lore. See also Oscar Cappelli's Rhapsody for a Unicorn.
This title came up several times during my cursory search:-
  The New Knighthood
  (A Historyof the Order of the Temple)
  Malcolm Barber
  Cambridge, 1994 (paper).
  ISBN 0-521-55872-7
But as for "good" books on the Knights Templar I couldn't honestly say! When it comes to fictive prose, Katherine Kurtz has written more than a few Templar-based tales and Lawrence Durrell wrote a series (the Avignon quintet) that may be of interest. I understand that "Foucault's Pendulum", by Umberto Eco, is another work that includes aspects of Templar lore. See also Oscar Cappelli's Rhapsody for a Unicorn.
05-05-03, 02:45 AM
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Well, I went to Borders and picked up Holy Blood, Holy Grail.
I would have looked around for more on the list, but, I stopped at the Horror section and picked up 3 books.
Thanks for the info, and links. Can't wait to get started.
I would have looked around for more on the list, but, I stopped at the Horror section and picked up 3 books.
Thanks for the info, and links. Can't wait to get started.
05-08-03, 10:19 AM
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I've been reading Sign and the Seal: Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant by Graham Hancock. It has several sections on the Knights Templar, and is a quite interesting (albeit long) read.
05-21-03, 05:14 PM
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To anyone else who's reading/read The Da Vinci Code, have you guys tried the "Challenge" over at dan brown's site? It's quite the pilgrimage and I'm upto the 6th gate right now and was wondering if any of you could help.
Thanks.
Thanks.
05-22-03, 01:02 PM
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"Holy Blood/Holy Grail" is probably the most on-point for a "Da Vinci Code" followup.
You might like Umberto Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum", which covers much the same territory and comes to a more philosophically interesting conclusion... not exactly a great read though. Maybe it's just me, but Eco's prose doesn't exactly leap off the page. I've never once felt like reciting a passage of his to my wife, for example. But if you can plow through his more turgid passages, it's every bit as fascinating as Brown's novel.
BTW, I'm certain the Da Vinci Club readers noticed a certain character by the name of Merovingian in "The Matrix Reloaded"!
You might like Umberto Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum", which covers much the same territory and comes to a more philosophically interesting conclusion... not exactly a great read though. Maybe it's just me, but Eco's prose doesn't exactly leap off the page. I've never once felt like reciting a passage of his to my wife, for example. But if you can plow through his more turgid passages, it's every bit as fascinating as Brown's novel.
BTW, I'm certain the Da Vinci Club readers noticed a certain character by the name of Merovingian in "The Matrix Reloaded"!
06-10-03, 06:44 AM
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Originally posted by Richard Malloy
BTW, I'm certain the Da Vinci Club readers noticed a certain character by the name of Merovingian in "The Matrix Reloaded"!
BTW, I'm certain the Da Vinci Club readers noticed a certain character by the name of Merovingian in "The Matrix Reloaded"!
08-01-03, 02:06 PM
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Originally posted by smokedragon
Well, I went to Borders and picked up Holy Blood, Holy Grail.
I would have looked around for more on the list, but, I stopped at the Horror section and picked up 3 books.
Thanks for the info, and links. Can't wait to get started.
Well, I went to Borders and picked up Holy Blood, Holy Grail.
I would have looked around for more on the list, but, I stopped at the Horror section and picked up 3 books.
Thanks for the info, and links. Can't wait to get started.
08-02-03, 06:58 AM
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Also, check "Foucault's Pendulum" by Umberto Eco, same guy who wrote "Name of the Rose". Haven't finished it yet, but the plot revolves around the Templar Knights stories.
J
J
10-13-04, 09:09 AM
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Holy Blood, Holy Grail
Has anyone read it? I found it to be a very interesting theory, perhaps one of the most important of our time. How much truth do you think there is to it?
Does anyone have any other recommendations along the same lines?
Does anyone have any other recommendations along the same lines?
10-13-04, 10:04 AM
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I read it years a go and I thought it was interesting but I don't know how much weight to put into it. The most I can say is that reading it made the Divinci code less than thrilling.....
10-13-04, 11:01 AM
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Some general resources:I found a Usenet bibliographical FAQ that details numerous reference works as well as fictional material and a list that looks at Masonic and Grail type references etc as well as the Templar side of things.
This title came up several times during my cursory search:-
  The New Knighthood
  (A Historyof the Order of the Temple)
  Malcolm Barber
  Cambridge, 1994 (paper).
  ISBN 0-521-55872-7
But as for "good" books on the Knights Templar I couldn't honestly say! When it comes to fictive prose, Katherine Kurtz has written more than a few Templar-based tales and Lawrence Durrell wrote a series (the Avignon quintet) that may be of interest. I understand that "Foucault's Pendulum", by Umberto Eco, is another work that includes aspects of Templar lore. See also Oscar Cappelli's Rhapsody for a Unicorn.
Edited to delete duplicate following the merger and to add a link back to the dedicated da Vinci thread:
Last edited by benedict; 02-21-06 at 01:46 PM.
02-21-06, 01:19 PM
#22
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Steve Berry's "The Templar Legacy"
Anybody else picking this up today? I thoroughly enjoyed his last book, The Third Secret so I'll be buying this after work:
Haven't had a chance to read his other two novels, "The Amber Room" and "The Romanov Prophecy".
FROM THE PUBLISHER
The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was-and its true nature could change the modern world.
Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts-and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he'd left behind.
It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton's former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who's far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she's not alone. Competing for the historic prize-and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses-is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command.
Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power,lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world-and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees.
The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was-and its true nature could change the modern world.
Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts-and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he'd left behind.
It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton's former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who's far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she's not alone. Competing for the historic prize-and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses-is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command.
Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power,lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world-and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees.
Last edited by Kal-El; 02-21-06 at 01:25 PM.
02-21-06, 04:39 PM
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I enjoyed The Templar Legacy for the most part. The writing is okay and the story is entertaining, but the seemingly intentional blasphemy of the climax put me off. But if you have an interest in this subject, I think you'll enjoy it.
I haven't read his earlier books. Berry is now going to be writing several in a row featuring this latest group of characters.
I haven't read his earlier books. Berry is now going to be writing several in a row featuring this latest group of characters.
03-03-06, 02:40 AM
#24
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Just finished it. 
I enjoyed the Third Secret much more than this. This one just dragged...and dragged...and then dragged on some more. And then that finale seemed incredibly forced and convenient.
I enjoyed the Third Secret much more than this. This one just dragged...and dragged...and then dragged on some more. And then that finale seemed incredibly forced and convenient.
03-08-06, 03:11 PM
#25
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I read this over the winter - it's a short read that is fairly informative on the Templars, though it does not solely focus on them. It's a good start for anyone interested in the subject.