The Secrets of Dr. Taverner [Paperback]

Dion Fortune (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1989

Of the many authors who have turned their hands to the creation of 'supernatural sleuths', few have been so colourful, and as contradictory, as Dion Fortune. She was, in her time, a highly significant and influential figure within spiritualistic circles: a one-time member of the Order of the Golden Dawn, she left it to create another society, the Fraternity of the Inner Light, which (under another name) still exists today; and which refuses to discuss her. During the 1920s and 1930s she wrote books, pamphlets, and articles about her spiritual philosophies and various sociological and sexual issues, including vegetarianism, the servant problem, and contraception.

She also turned her hand to fiction, writing novels which contained such elements as black and white magic, the great god Pan, astral bodies, reincarnation, and the lost city of Atlantis. When she died in 1946, Fortune left her final novel, MOON MAGIC, uncompleted; the last two chapters are said to have been dictated by her from beyond to one of the Inner Light mediums.

Her first work of fiction, however, was THE SECRETS OF DR TAVERNER, first published in 1926. The stories concern some of the psychic adventures of the Holmes-like Taverner, as narrated by his assistant, Dr Rhodes. In addition to containing the eleven stories from the first edition, this volume also includes a twelfth Dr Taverner tale, 'A Son of the Night', which was not published until some years after Fortune's death, and which has been the cause of some speculation regarding its authorship. In his lengthy introduction, Jack Adrian examines the enigma who was Dion Fortune, and provides a possible solution to the question of which real person served as the basis for Dr Taverner.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dion Fortune was the name Violet Firth used in pursuit of her magical work. As the head of the Society of Inner Light, she dominated magic circles in England during the first half of the 20th century. She also wrote prolifically. This set of short stories rank among the best of esoteric short fiction ever produced.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Ariel Pr (October 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898041376
• ISBN-13: 978-0898041378
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #948,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE DOCTOR IS IN!, August 24, 2000

By 

David D. Warner (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Secrets of Dr. Taverner (Paperback)

THE SECRETS OF DR. TAVERNER is perhaps the best known work of fiction authored by renown Esotericist and Psychiatrist Violet Mary Firth (a.k.a. Dion Fortune). Dr. Taverner runs a very UN-conventional nursing home. He uses the ancient, arcane knowledge that he has learned as an Initiate of an esoteric secret order in his diagnosis and treatment of mental disturbances. Modern psychiatry could learn a lot from Dr. Taverner. While the book is actually a series of short stories, Fortune has expertly woven them into a meaningful tapestry of lessons-by-example, much like the texts I recall from my grammar school catechisms. Dr. Rhodes, a novice to the occult and the narrator of these tales, develops many insights and skills of his own as he witnesses and experiences the esoteric "therapies" that Taverner brings to bear in his unique treatment regimens for disturbances that allegedly have mental underpinnings. Along the way, the reader learns that it's often the things we DON'T see that can make or break an individual's sanity.

Despite Fortune's spiritual enlightenment, she was also a victim of the times in which she lived. I've read all of Fortune's other published works of fiction and, in my opinion, DR. TAVERNER is perhaps the only one of her novels that is largely free of the racist and nationalistic baggage that was so common in class-conscious, post-WW-I England. I suspect this just an artifact of the story's setting but it was a refreshing relief none-the-less.

As with Fortune's other novels, DR. TAVERNER represents a primer for the seeker looking to reclaim lost spiritual knowledge - a "How To" guide that reveals ancient and arcane secrets and practices sacred to Western secret societies and mystical orders. If you are a fan of Fortune's other work, you will love THE SECRETS OF DR. TAVERNER.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite of Dion Fortune's fiction, July 17, 2005

By 

Fanshawe (SC, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Secrets of Dr. Taverner (Paperback)

An interesting collection of short stories by Dion Fortune. Dr. Taverner, assisted by the young Dr. Rhodes, runs a nursing home in which patients suffer from a variety of "psychological" disturbances which are all psychic in nature. Very much a Sherlock Holmes bent, as Dr. Taverner, being an adept of an occult order, is able to hone in and cure these various problems using unconventional means.

I found the stories to be interesting reading in and of themselves, but according to Dion Fortune, they were all based on actual events that she witnessed in her early occult training. Supposedly, "Dr. Taverner" is based on one of her mentors, while "Dr. Rhodes" is based on herself. So, read with this in mind, it is doubly fascinating.

I also enjoyed the stories from the context of being written not terribly long after World War I, and many references are made to that event, with one story in particular, "Blood-Lust" telling of events occurring as a result of the war. In her book,"Psychic Self Defense," Fortune goes into more detail about this particular event, which indeed was toned down somewhat for the book.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for an intro to Dion Fortune's fiction.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Tavener is a psychic Sherlock Holmes., January 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Secrets of Dr. Taverner (Paperback)

Dr. Tavener is a psychic Sherlock Holmes. In this book, Dion Fortune puts together different stories of strange tales, pulled together and solved with the wit and wisdom of Dr. Tavener, who knows how to read the signs and come up with the cure. Hard to put down.