Crusade Against the Grail: The Struggle between the Cathars, the Templars, and the Church of Rome

Description

CRUSADE AGAINST THE GRAIL is the book that popularised the legend of the Cathars and the Holy Grail. The first edition appeared in Germany in 1933 and drew upon Rahn's account of his thrilling explorations of the Pyrenean caves where the heretical Cathar sect took refuge during the 13th century. Over the years the book has been translated into many languages and exerted a large influence on, for example, Trevor Ravenscroft, author of the bestseller 'Spear Of Destiny'. It also has been cited in the bestseller 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail', but it has never appeared in English until now. Much as German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann used Homer's Iliad to locate ancient Troy, Rahn believed that Wolfram von Eschenbach's mediaeval epic 'Parzival' held the keys to the mysteries of the Cathars and the secret location of the Holy Grail. Rahn saw Parzival not as a work of fiction but as an historical account of the Cathars and the Knights Templar and their guardianship of the Grail, a 'stone from the stars'. The Crusade that the Vatican led against the Cathars became a war pitting Roma (Rome) against Amor (love), in which the Church triumphed with flame and sword over the pure faith of the Cathars. Otto Rahn is seen by many as the model for Indiana Jones. He was almost certainly murdered by the Nazis in the Tyrolean Mountains in 1939. This book is an invaluable addition to the English language Grail and Templar literature. * Presents the history of the Papal persecution of the Cathars that lies hidden in the mediaeval epic Parzival and in the poetry of the troubadours * Provides new insights into the life and death of this gifted and controversial author

Otto Rahn was born in Michelstadt, Germany, in 1904. After earning his degree in philology in 1924, he traveled extensively to the caves and castles of southern France, researching his belief that the Cathars were the last custodians of the Grail. Induced by Himmler to become a member of the SS as a civilian archaeologist and historian, Rahn quickly grew disillusioned with the direction his country was taking and resigned in 1939. He died, an alleged suicide, on March 13, 1939, in the snows of the Tyrolean Mountains.

"A better study of the Cathar spirituality could not be found. And beyond delving into it uniquely and sympathetically, Rahn uses it like a prism to bring out the religious conflicts of the time." * Henry Berry, The Midwest Book Review, Nov 2006 * "This is a superb introduction to the Cathars and Grail mysticism and we are privileged to have it at last available in English." * Living Traditions Magazine, Feb 2007 * "[This] is the book that popularized the legend of the Holy Grail: its first edition appeared in Germany in 1933 and presented the author's own account of his explorations. Its appearance in a new updated edition is a 'must' for understanding the history and legend of the Gail, searches for its truth, and the involvement of the medieval epic Parzival in the Cathar/Grail saga." * Diane C. Donovan, California Bookwatch, Feb 2007 * "Crusade Against the Grail is indeed a daring and audacious book that opens many doors to the wisdom of the Cathars, and certainly makes a trip to the hidden fortresses of the Cathars even more inviting." * Lesley Crossingham, New Dawn, May-June 2007 *