Customer Reviews

The Secret King: Karl Maria Wiligut, Himmler's Lord of the Runes

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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)

Dr. Stephen Flowers has provided use with a unique opportunity to look inside the works of one of the legendary Germanic Rune Magicians - Karl Maria Wiligut.

Beginning with a detailed introduction, Dr. Flowers then provides clear and understandable translations of Wiligut's writings that are available from no other easily accessible source. Wiligut was a contemporary of such men Guido von List and Jorg Lanz von Liebenfels, and was certainly influenced by the work of these great men.

Later in his life Wiligut was commissioned by Heinrich Himmler - leader of the Nazi SS - to write reports on the Runes, Germanic traditions and pre-Christian history. It is portions of this work that we find translated in "The Secret King".

Certainly not a book for the beginner or someone with a mere curiosity about the Runes, "The Secret King" provides depth and insight for those who have already gained more than a superficial knowledge of the topic in question.

This you know - would you know more?

I learned a lot of things reading that book even though I saw tons of docummentary on the subject. The only things is that there is tons of notes....As a result the book in itself is really short!!

It is big bucks per page but for anyone passionated on the subject it is very good!!

So much speculation and misconception about the SS has been fed into the minds of people for the past 50 years portraying them as the murderous henchmen of Hitler's "Final Solution". Now the SS speak for themselves through the writings of Widar himself. We learn that the SS were more of an ancient knightly fraternal order other than simple mindless killers as seen on TV. Delve into the dark mysteries of the Black Order of Teutonic Knights, and here, for the first time, read the mystical runo-speech of the Halgarita-Sayings first used by ancient Germanic tribes, and understand Wiligut's knowledge of Esoteric runic power, which may have been used to give the SS so many victories. Although from an unconventional standpoint as compared to modern day Runic Schools, Wiligut talks of the ancient Aryan Warrior Maidenhood, the Evolution of Humanity, the SS Ring, and the trilateral essence of the Got being within every Aryan. This book proves once more that Germanic Orders living by standards of honor and chivalry were not simply fanciful myths created 200 years ago, but deep seated in Germanic culture since even before Christ's birth. The evidence is irrefutable! This book is a MUST for anyone who wishes to further their studies in Armanist or Irminist faith, but beware the knowledge to the novice in Runic Power! Once read, you will have a better understanding of the Rit-Ar-Man Order and their integral part in shaping the Destiny of Mankind for an eternity, thus, truly knowing the meaning of the SS motto: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue"

for research purposes, can't beat it, dull as dishwater as it is it's the runic stone for understanding what happened. Most readable sections are Intro and someone's memoirs in a chapter at very end. In between, there's your local color if you're a novelist researching politically correct incantations and such.

So much speculation and misconception about the SS has been fed into the minds of people for the past 50 years portraying them as the murderous henchmen of Hitler's "Final Solution". Now the SS speak for themselves through the writings of Widar himself. We learn that the SS were more of an ancient knightly fraternal order other than simple mindless killers as seen on TV. Delve into the dark mysteries of the Black Order of Teutonic Knights, and here, for the first time, read the mystical runo-speech of the Halgarita-Sayings first used by ancient Germanic tribes, and understand Wiligut's knowledge of Esoteric runic power, which may have been used to give the SS so many victories. Although from an unconventional standpoint as compared to modern day Runic Schools, Wiligut talks of the ancient Aryan Warrior Maidenhood, the Evolution of Humanity, the SS Ring, and the trilateral essence of the Got being within every Aryan. This book proves once more that Germanic Orders living by standards of honor and chivalry were not simply fanciful myths created 200 years ago, but deep seated in Germanic culture since even before Christ's birth. The evidence is irrefutable! This book is a MUST for anyone who wishes to further their studies in Armanist or Irminist faith, but beware the knowledge to the novice in Runic Power! Once read, you will have a better understanding of the Rit-Ar-Man Order and their integral part in shaping the Destiny of Mankind for an eternity, thus, truly knowing the meaning of the SS motto: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue"

I'm just waiting for this book to years!Finally,Michael Moynihan has finish this book on Karl Maria Wiligut.This is the first book about the irminist king of Wewelsburg written in english.The book Weisthor is also a very good book and well documented,but is written in german.Thank you Mr.Moynihan from the leader of the Karl Maria Wiligut Society.In Irmins treue.