The Secret Scroll [Paperback]

Andrew Sinclair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 27, 2006

Although references to this famous order of military knights rarely appears in standard histories of the time, a great deal of information about them can be gleaned from other, more esoteric sources, such as sculpture and architecture.Suppressed by Philip of France out of greed, the Templars were gradually driven underground in more and more European countries. Yet they continued to exist, still guarding the knowledge and relics that they had gathered for the defence of the Holy Land. It is this that connects all this to Henry St Clair, Earl of Orkney and Grand Master of the Knights Templar and discoverer of America. All of these threads come together in one extraordinary scroll still in Kirkwall which reveals in full the secrets of the Knights Templar.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Comprehensive and scholarly ... Andrew Sinclair has written a fascinating book' - The Literary Review 'Andrew Sinclair guides us through this romantic story that has preoccupied poets, priests and pilgrims from Zeus to Jung and Indiana Jones. This is an absorbing history that transcends the frontiers and creeds of cultures and religions' - The Independent

About the Author

Andrew Sinclair, a direct descendant of Prince Henry St Clair, is a leading novelist, historian and film-maker and lives in London. He did graduate work at Harvard and Columbia before teaching at Cambridge and London. His books include biographies of Jack London, Warren Harding and Che Guevara. His most recent work is the epic novel, Blood and Kin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Birlinn Ltd; 2nd edition (June 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841583952
• ISBN-13: 978-1841583952
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,929,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Andrew Sinclair Celebrates Gnosticism, September 4, 2005

By 

Dale E. Hinchey (Littleton NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret Scroll (Paperback)

Andrew Sinclair's work in this book, his third about the Knights Templar and the survival of their theology, has provoked

a wide range of "harumphing" from theologians who contuinuously wish that man and God always have an intermediary. Not only does Sinclar explain the living truth of the Gnostic tradition but also allows one to read between the lines about the results of Masonic practises historically, without revealing the secrets themselves. Take this as truth from me , a Member of the Masonic Order.

For those who want a good historical read, Sinclair provides that ,but for those who think that modern man needs an intermediary between himself and God, be prepared to consider that the supposed historical winners against the Templars were not all that victorious. This is good news indeed.

It is comforting to know that the quest for the Holy Grail is still very much alive and well. Thank you Mr. Sinclair and for those who are not afraid to bare one's breast to the points of the elements and God, pick up this book as a must read!!!

16 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Knight's Templar Descendent 'White Washes' Ancient History, May 3, 2002

By 

john smith (London UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secret Scroll (Hardcover)

The thesis of Sinclair (a decendent of the line of Templar Sinclairs of Rossyln Castle fame) is that there was a 'missing scroll' that was stolen by Carter from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Carter's admission of this came in an outburst in which he claimed that the scroll showed that the Jews were kicked out of Egypt in shame. Up to this part - the investigation, the book is a fantastic read and a good value buy for it's own sake. The next part however - Sinclair's 'guess' as to what the scroll might have said is disappointingly weak to the point of being suspicious, as it doesn't even begin to relate to anything slightly shameful. Sinclair has the Jews being kicked out of Egypt for nearly the same reasons that they claim they left of their own accord anyway and are the heros of the story. This fits neither with Carter's claim nor with the round of 'assassinations' of people who might have known of it's 'dangerous' contents, which Sinclair details in his book. The Old Testament is full of some very weird things - The Judean King Hezekiah "...brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it" - Kings 18.4, What was really in the Ark of The Covenant : "Ye have born the tabernacle of your Moloch" - Amos 8.26, Was it more likely that the Jews were kicked out of 'civilised Egypt'in shame for being a tribe of serpent worshipping child sacrificers : "Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons though shalt give unto me", Ezekiel 20.25 : " I gave them also statutes that were not good and judgements whereby they should not live... that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb". Sinclair, if you must speculate about the contents of a missing ancient scroll then make it match the claims of the people who have seen it, what is known already... and interesting.