Customer Reviews

The Masonic Magician: The Life and Death of Count Cagliostro and His Egyptian Rite

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WOW!!! Freemasons, Martinists, Rosicrucians, Gnostic students, Alchemy students, Hermetic students, and Cabalistic students, you must buy this book, now! Why? For two reasons. One, because this is currently the best book in the world written on the life and times of one the Occult's and Initiactic fraternal world's most enigmatic characters. And two, because chances are high you will meet the enigmatic Count Cagliostro somewhere in your studies or be involved in a rite or two which has been directly or indirectly influenced by him. Authors Philippa Faulks and Brother Robert Cooper have constructed a great book complete with an Index, Glossary, Appendices, Endnotes, and Bibliography, which will satisfy all scholars. The color plates are lovely to look at and serve to place the reader in the context of the time period in which Brother Count Cagliostro lived and died. The Illustrations help clarify certain portions of the text. This book is not only a historical study which reads like an adventure novel, but an important reference tool as well. The authors do a great job in chronicling the series of events and characters of the Western Mystery Tradition who had an impact on Brother Cagliostro, and whose impact is still to be found today. This book is top-notch and has my highest recommendation. Bravo Indeed!!!

This book is one of the best books on Cagliostro I have ever read. It clearly demonstrates that Cagliostro was ahead of his time in announcing the origins of Freemasonry. Every Freemason who is interested in the origns of the Craft should read this book- even if they have no interest in Cagliostro's Egyptian Rite itself. Cagliostro was a true champion of freedom and liberty, which ultimately resulted in his early demise. This book is a great edition to the world of Masonic research.

This is a very well done book and well with a read and reread!
Another good book on this subject is: Cagliostro and his Egyptian Rite of Freemasonry

The subject of Masonry and all things related is fascinating to me. I have heard of Count Cagliostro and ordered this book to read more about him. I looked forward to it, and when I opened up the book it didn't take long for me to get a bit bored with the writing style.

For a person like me who knows little about the subject, the book didn't grab me and take me into their world. I have read other books on these subjects and am fascinated with it. The main problem with me is the book didn't take me into the life of the Count. I have read many biographies which transported me to other times and places.

If someone you know is heavily into these topics, they might enjoy the book more than I did. It does have a lot of information in it, but it didn't take me into its realm.

This is a very good book. It contains various aspects of the life of Balsamo as a real master of freemasonry who was in possession of the knowledge of the sacred science of Alchemy (the ancient Real Art of spiritual development) and Magic. He was defamed by the Catholic Church and other (ignorant and malicious) people.
Balsamo and Cagliostro were, effectively, the same person.
I just missed a more real image of Balsamo, but this can be obtenined at the National Gallery of Art (Washington), here: [...]
How can we assure that that Balsamo and Cagliostro were the same person, and that his facial appearance was as depicted in that image? Because of what have saw who are able (not me) to communicate with him.....(my friend, Balsamo is really a timeless human being, a master).
Greetings from Chile.

Departing from the usual biography of Cagliostro, the case for the divorce between Giuseppe Balsamo and Count Cagliostro is presented and argued soundly, though not thoroughly enough to shake the assertion that both were one-in-the-same.

Cagliostro's life and life's work are presented with great charity if not clarity in places. The work is clearly an effort to redeem one of history's more colorful and enigmatic figures.

The book will appeal to students of masonry, flim-flam, French history, alchemy, occultism, and medicine. The only caveat that should be provided is that the book's approach to the subject matter is unorthodox; the typical portrayal of Cagliostro as charlatan is dismissed in favor of revision.

I'm a Native American scholar primarily of my tribe the Wyandot but found this to be an engaging study of the Mohawk Indians!