The Hell-Fire Clubs scandalized eighteenth-century English society. Rumors of their orgies, recruitment of prostitutes, extensive libraries of erotica, extreme rituals, and initiation ceremonies circulated widely at the time, only to become more sensational as generations passed. This thoroughly researched book sets aside the exaggerated gossip about the secret Hell-Fire Clubs and brings to light the first accurate portrait of their membership (including John Wilkes, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Prince of Wales), beliefs, activities, and the reasons for their proliferation, first in the British Isles and later in America, possibly under the auspices of Benjamin Franklin.
Hell-Fire Clubs operated under a variety of titles, but all attracted similar members—mainly upper-class men with abundant leisure and the desire to shock society. The book explores the social and economic context in which the clubs emerged and flourished; their various phases, which first involved violence as an assertion of masculinity, then religious blasphemy, and later sexual indulgence; and the countermovement that eventually suppressed them. Uncovering the facts behind the Hell-Fire legends, this book also opens a window on the rich contradictions of the Enlightenment period.

The Hellfire Clubs: Sex, Satanism and Secret Societies

History

Lord, Evelyn

Europe

Yale University Press

The Hell-Fire Clubs scandalized eighteenth-century English society. Rumors of their orgies, recruitment of prostitutes, extensive libraries of erotica, extreme rituals, and initiation ceremonies circulated widely at the time, only to become more sensational as generations passed. This thoroughly researched book sets aside the exaggerated gossip about the secret Hell-Fire Clubs and brings to light the first accurate portrait of their membership (including John Wilkes, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Prince of Wales), beliefs, activities, and the reasons for their proliferation, first in the British Isles and later in America, possibly under the auspices of Benjamin Franklin. Hell-Fire Clubs operated under a variety of titles, but all attracted similar members—mainly upper-class men with abundant leisure and the desire to shock society. The book explores the social and economic context in which the clubs emerged and flourished; their various phases, which first involved violence as an assertion of masculinity, then religious blasphemy, and later sexual indulgence; and the countermovement that eventually suppressed them. Uncovering the facts behind the Hell-Fire legends, this book also opens a window on the rich contradictions of the Enlightenment period.

Americas

In this intimate history of the extraordinary Black Plague pandemic that swept through the British Isles in 1665, Evelyn Lord focuses on the plague’s effects on smaller towns, where every death was a singular blow affecting the entire community. Lord’s fascinating reconstruction of life during plague times presents the personal experiences of a wide range of individuals, from historical notables Samuel Pepys and Isaac Newton to common folk who tilled the land and ran the shops. She brings this dark era to vivid life through stories of loss and survival from those who grieved, those who fled, and those who hid to await their fate.

The Great Plague: A People's History

In this intimate history of the extraordinary Black Plague pandemic that swept through the British Isles in 1665, Evelyn Lord focuses on the plague’s effects on smaller towns, where every death was a singular blow affecting the entire community. Lord’s fascinating reconstruction of life during plague times presents the personal experiences of a wide range of individuals, from historical notables Samuel Pepys and Isaac Newton to common folk who tilled the land and ran the shops. She brings this dark era to vivid life through stories of loss and survival from those who grieved, those who fled, and those who hid to await their fate.   

Oxford University Press

In this intimate history of the extraordinary Black Plague pandemic that swept through the British Isles in 1665, Evelyn Lord focuses on the plague's effects on smaller towns, where every death was a singular blow affecting the entire community. Lord's fascinating reconstruction of life during plague times presents the personal experiences of a wide range of individuals, from historical notables Samuel Pepys and Isaac Newton to common folk who tilled the land and ran the shops. She brings this dark era to vivid life through stories of loss and survival from those who grieved, those who fled, and those who hid to await their fate.

The Great Plague: When Death Came to Cambridge in 1665

The Knights Templer rose to be the most powerful military order of the Middle Ages. 
<ul>
<li> The first ever history of the powerful Knights Templar in Britain - a secret society whose rites and rituals are shrouded in mystery, who ran the Crusades and dictated to Kings and Popes. </li>
<li> Provides a crucial insight into the history of the crusades and examines who became Knights and what sort of rituals sustained them. </li>
<li> Explores the earliest origins of the financial system in England. </li>
</ul> The Knights Templar, founded early in the twelfth century, swiftly and stealithly rose to be the most powerful military order of the Middle Ages. While their campaigns in the Middle East and travels across Europe are well known, their huge influence across the British Isles is virtually uncharted. The Knights Templar in Britain reveals just who became knights, what kind of rituals sustained them, where the power bases were and how their tentacles spread throughout the political and economic worlds of Britain before their inquisitorial defeat two hundred years later. Evelyn Lord is at the Cambridge University.

The Knights Templar in Britain

Longman

This book is unique in bringing together all strands of English Jacobism in an accessible chronological framework, highlighting key individuals, providing a biographical dictionary of less well known English Jacobites, an account of the major primary source material, and a gazetteer of places to visit. It will appeal to any member of the general public who is interested in the Stuart cause and the Jacobite rebellions as well as those who would like to know more about 18th century society in the great house and the tavern.

The Stuarts' Secret Army: The Hidden History of the English Jacobites

Routledge

Investigating the Twentieth Century

Tempus Pub Ltd

The Temple was created in August 2002 with an aim to encourage research into the Knight Templars - their related and interrelated subjects, such as; the Grail Legends, Arthurian Mythos, the Rosicrucian's, Masonic Lore, Early Christianity, Cathars, Gnostic Theology, Alchemy, Folklore, Rennes Le Chateau, Geomancy, the Occult, Mythology and Symbolism, etc The Temple started as a periodical with articles written by a few friends in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. Over the years it has published extensively research on relevant subjects by a varied selection of researchers. On this website and in The Temple Publications you can read the latest discoveries written by the coffee table student as well as by renowned authors. As The Temple deal with so many subjects from the shadowy past, legends and myths as well as the latest historical data are all well represented. Two compilations have been published of this periodical; named The Templar Papers which both are now available in several languages.

The Temple No 11

Mann, Nicholas

Religion & Spirituality

Temple Publications

The Knights Templar In Britain examines exactly who became knights, what rituals sustained them, where the power bases were, and how their tentacles spread through the political and economic worlds of Britain before their defeat at the hands of the Inquisition some two hundred years later.Founded in the early twelfth century, the mysterious Knights Templar rose to be the most powerful military order of the Middle Ages. While their campaign in the Middle East and travels are well-known, their huge influence across the British isles remains virtually uncharted.  For readers interested in Medieval History.   

Knights Templar in Britain

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lord, Evelyn. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Lord, Evelyn

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lord, Evelyn. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Hellfire Clubs: Sex, Satanism and Secret Societies

The Hellfire Clubs: Sex, Satanism and Secret Societies

The Great Plague: A People's History

The Great Plague: A People's History

The Great Plague: When Death Came to Cambridge in 1665

The Knights Templar in Britain

The Stuarts' Secret Army: The Hidden History of the English Jacobites

Investigating the Twentieth Century

The Temple No 11

Knights Templar in Britain