Listen to a sample
The Craft
- Author
- John Dickie
- Narrator
- Simon Slater
- Publisher
- Hachette Audio
- Publish Date
- 18 August 2020
- Run Time
- 16 hours 35 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Founded in London in 1717 as a way of binding men in fellowship, Freemasonry proved so addictive that within two decades it had spread across the globe. Under George Washington, the Craft became a creed for the new American nation. Under Napoleon, it became a tool of authoritarianism and a cover for revolutionary conspiracy. Later, both the Mormon Church and the Sicilian Mafia would owe their origins to Freemasonry.
Yet the Masons were as feared as they were influential, seen by the Catholic Church as a den of devil worship. For Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco, the Lodges spread the diseases of pacifism, socialism, and Jewish influence, so had to be crushed.
Freemasonry’s story yokes together Winston Churchill and Walt Disney, Wolfgang Mozart and Shaquille O’Neal, Benjamin Franklin and Buzz Aldrin. John Dickie’s The Craft is an enthralling exploration of the world’s most famous and misunderstood secret brotherhood, a movement that not only helped to forge modern society but remains prominent today.
Critics Review
-
"A fascinating tale...Mr. Dickie has turned legend into history."—The Economist
-
"Convincingly researched and thoroughly entertaining."—The Wall Street Journal
-
"The Craft is a superb book that often reads like an adventure novel. It's informative, fascinating and often very funny."—The Times (UK)
-
"The Craft is a shadow history of modernity. Though more sober than most lodge meetings, it is, like its subject, ingenious and frequently bizarre... The Craft is well-crafted and sensible, making good use of English archives which have only recently been opened."— Spectator
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
"[John Dickie] takes on this sensational subject with a wry turn of phrase and the cool judgment of a fine historian... I enjoyed this book enormously. Dickie's gaze is both wide and penetrating. He makes a persuasive case for masonry's historic importance."—Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times
-
“At last! A book about Freemasonry that is scholarly and balanced.”—Robert L D Cooper (Curator Emeritus of the Grand Lodge of Scotland) and Mark A. Tabbert, (33rd degree), The Masonic Authors’ Guild International
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- John Dickie
- Narrator
- Simon Slater
- Duration
- 16 hours 35 minutes
- Release Date
- 18 August 2020
- ISBN
- 9781549102059
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Hachette Audio
- Genre
- Secret societies, Social and cultural history, General and world history
Synopsis
Discover the “convincingly researched and thoroughly entertaining” (The Wall Street Journal) history of the world’s oldest and most influential fraternity Founded in London in 1717 as a way of binding men in fellowship, Freemasonry proved so addictive that within two decades it had spread across the globe. Under George Washington, the Craft became a creed for the new American nation. Under Napoleon, it became a tool of authoritarianism and a cover for revolutionary conspiracy. Later, both the Mormon Church and the Sicilian Mafia would owe their origins to Freemasonry.    Yet the Masons were as feared as they were influential, seen by the Catholic Church as a den of devil worship. For Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco, the Lodges spread the diseases of pacifism, socialism, and Jewish influence, so had to be crushed.     Freemasonry’s story yokes together Winston Churchill and Walt Disney, Wolfgang Mozart and Shaquille O’Neal, Benjamin Franklin and Buzz Aldrin. John Dickie’s The Craft is an enthralling exploration of the world’s most famous and misunderstood secret brotherhood, a movement that not only helped to forge modern society but remains prominent today.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.