41 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Secret Kings is a good translation of an odd book, June 9, 2003
The Secet Kings is a good translation of a very weird book by a very weird man.
First, any one into the occult, Nazism, history, runes, or Asatru should buy this book, for no other reason than this is the only book I know of that has Wiligut's Nazi occult writtings.
As far as German occultists go, Wiligut is only important because he was a friend of the head of the S.S.
Most German Wotanists, both racialists and non-racialists, thought of him as nuts.
There is a thin line between a nut and a prophet.
Some people say there is no line.
In fact, he was kicked out of the S.S. for being insane.
The Great Aryan Pagan Walter Darre thought Wiligut a crackpot; to understand the New Paganism, read Darre.
Guido Von List, who was Folkish, but not an Aryan racist by our standards, is far more important to Neo-Pagan thought, while Wiligut, who was more of a common nut than a true Aryan racist, is more important as a shadowy figure in Nazi history.
This is an interesting book, but it should not be taken too serious in the world of today's Euro-centric Paganism.
Darre is the best Pagan out of the National Socialist age.
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28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Real Evidence for the Occult Reich, August 7, 2001
By A Customer
THE SECRET KING is the first-ever English translation of the works of Karl Maria Wiligut, widely referred to as "Himmler's Rasputin." Wiligut is a strange, enigmatic figure. A decorated veteran of the First World War, he was also a former mental patient who believed himself to be the custodian of a Germanic religious tradition more ancient than the cult of Wotan. Was Wiligut mad? Reading these documents, many of which come from the secret files of the SS itself, one finds it hard to say. The texts are often extremely obscure, mysterious to the point of almost complete opacity. And yet, the more one reads the more one senses that there is a coherent teaching here--and that Wiligut was indeed an initiate into some ancient Nordic body of wisdom. Most of the texts were originally published by Wiligut in the journal HAGAL, under the pseudonym Jarl Widar. These demand a careful reading--indeed, multiple readings. The volume also includes other fascinating items, such as a record of a mystical SS "name giving rite," and an interview with one of Wiligut's disciples. There has been intense interest in the phenomenon of "Nazi occultism" for the past thirty years or so, but this is the FIRST TIME that any actual Nazi documents of an occult nature have been collected together and translated into English. The extent to which Himmler and the SS were open to Wiligut's fantastic ideas will surprise many. This is an exciting book to read on many levels. It is must-reading for those interested in the history of the SS and the Hitler period--as well as for devotees of Germanic mythology, mysticism, and the runes. The Wiligut texts have been expertly translated by Stephen Flowers, whose introduction is also extremely valuable. Michael Moynihan has done a superb job of assembling these materials, and the volume is beautifully designed and printed. The softcover edition is very attractive, but I recommend that you look for the hardcover, limited edition. It is more expensive, but well worth the cost.
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18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hmm.. lost me about 1/2 way through..., December 26, 2002
Well, the introduction gives a decent introduction to Wiligut's basic ideas, but I would have liked more background in Wiligut's involvement with the Nazi party and Himmler. There are vauge references to Wiligut being rejected by the Ahnenrbe as "too fanciful", but more treatment would have been a real bonus. An introduction to rune-ology, and its historical placement & impact on Germanic/Nazi thought would have helped place Wiligut in a broader historical perspective.
Wiligut's writings, which make up the bulk of the book are for the die-hard fan only. You will need a serious grounding in contemporary germanic metaphysical thought to get much out of it.
Layout & printing of the book present well (and it gets an extra star for it)
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