Why did I write this BOOK?

Before I wrote this book, many people with whom I have discussed the various subjects therein had asked me what books I would recommend that they should read. I also became embroiled in entertaining arguments with others concerning why I would not agree with one book, or books' contents over still another.

As time passed, several people asked me if I had written a book wherein I argued the contents, pro and con, of the books under discussion and listed the books that have been written.

This led me to write Connections, A Quest for History, Mystery and Magic, which is an annotated bibliography and review.

I believe it will help anyone who wishes to know what books are based in actual scholarship and research, and which ones are not. Since many of these books are only chanced upon while browsing through bookstores, it is difficult to know all the books that are available. I hope that using my book will aid anyone who is interested in further study.

I have compiled "Connections" so that the reader may begin in any section and browse throughout, much like browsing library stacks, stopping to read the sections or subjects they are most interested in before continuing on.

In the section of the Library, I critique each book (listed in alphabetical order). This involves a lot of history, including the crusades, the English Rebellion and Reformation, ancient history, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Corpus Hermetica, Gnosticism, the early Roman Church, etc.

The Biographies covers the lives of the philosophers (Francis Bacon, Giordano Bruno, Pico della Mirandola, Marcilio Ficino, etc.) who are mentioned throughout. The Gnostic teachers and advocates include Valentinus, Tertullian, etc. Alchemists includes such notables as Henry Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magus, Dr. John Dee, Nicholas Flamel, Eliphas Levi, Thomas Vaughan, etc. Early Roman Church reformers Iraeneus, Origin, Eusebius, etc. Many non-academic readers are familiar with these names, but know very little about the men themselves. For instance, if you've read Dame Frances Yates' books, you might not really know who Ramon Lull was.

Secret societies are also discussed as they figure throughout European history, including the Prieuré de Sion, the Holy League, Companie du Saint-Sacrement, the Family of Love, Opus Dei, in addition to Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, etc.

The Bibliography is divided into pertinent subjects. Each book is cross-referenced where it overlaps other subjects. Therefor a book concerning Freemasonry or the Knights Templar might also appear under the section titled Philosophy and Esoterica. Websites that are pertinent to each section are also listed.

The Time Line covers the Dawn of History to the turn of the 20th century.