Customer Reviews

The Warriors and the Bankers: A History of the Knights Templar from 1307 to the present

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I really enjoyed the Warriors and the Bankers by Alan Butler and Stephen Dafoe. As someone interested in the history of the Knights Templar but not a history nut, I found the books approach to be very easy to follow. So many books on history are dry. The Warriors and the Bankers presents some of the more popular and recent theories involving the order as an overview and goes on to explain why some of them simply do not hold in relation to what the Templars were.

for example, so much has been written about the supposed Templar Treasure. The authors are the first to explode the myth by stating that as Bankers the Templar wealth would have been in the field earning interest. The authors present the order for what they truly were, Medieval capatalists to the nth degree.

I find this a much more acceptable presentation of the order than a group of covert monks burrying artifacts under church floors as so manty books of the genre are apt to do. Likewise it wasn't page after page of geneologies and military accounts. A great middle path between speculative / alternative history and Harder Historical text.

My only complaint is that the book left me wanting more, but then a good book should and I've heard the authors have a sequel due out in the New year.

In responce to an earlier review, I have read other Templar books and found many to be sluggish dry tomes.

Warriors and Bankers, by Stephen Dafoe and Alan Butler gave me a sence of pride in my heritage. But more than that it gave me hope that such a noble and courageous order such as the Knights Templar not only survived but had the forsight to make many subtle contributions to our day to day life. Friday the 13th will never have the same meaning for me again, or for that matter my next visit to a bank. Alan Butler and Stephen Dafoe have written a book that lays their research out in an easy to read and comprehensive format. Every page was food for thought and provocative in its implications of the Templar history and subsequent survival. A must read for the etherial and esoteric history buff. From now on I'll seek out other books by the authors. I loved this unexpected little gem of a book and will definatly tell my friends about it. If this site had a six star rating - this book certainly deserves it.

This book is a must-have for those interested in The Templars. In a sea of Nonsense and ancient falsehoods, regarding the order of Knights Templar, this book is a shining gem of common-sense. The authors strive to use Logic, instead of silly fake documents and other ludicrous garbage to speculate about the known and suspected history of the Templars. Instead of quoting long sections of other recent books, the authors simply refer you to the other works, assuming you have probably already read them, anyway (and...they are most-likely correct). If you have read the other works about the Templars--esp., Robinson's "Born in Blood," you will find this book a concise, easy read with some new thoughts on the subject of the Templar's history. If not, this book gives you ample research suggestions.... So, either way, you can't lose. Another benefit of this book is that it is thin-enough (because the authors get directly to the point, instead-of heavy quoting and such) to place it in your jacket or pants pocket. This would be a great book to loan to your friends, if you practice my own method of using clear contact paper (slowly and carefully) over the cover of the book, to prevent it's destruction in transit. Look for their other books, as-well! I loved "Unholy Worship? The Myth of the Baphomet, Templar, Freemason Connection," by Stephen Dafoe. If you enjoy thinking for yourself, you will enjoy their books....if you do not like thinking for yourself read Kah!

Thank you Butler and Dafoe. Warriors should be required reading for any one interested in the Knights Templars, European history, the history of economics in western civilization or general masonic history. Well researched. Well written. Leave the reader asking for more. Encourages independent research. Keep up the good work. I, for one, am waiting for your next book.

After reading 'The Warriors and the Bankers' by Mr. Dafoe and Mr. Butler, and talking via internet with Mr. Dafoe himself, I must say that their research is professionally put together and scientifically placed. While generally not fully provable (how many Templar theories are???), this book definitely 'hits the nail on the head' as to a possible path of Templar development after the infamous Friday the 13th arrests. This book is a must read for any student of Templar History, Freemason, or general historical mystery lover!

The thing I liked about this book was the thing the last review did not like. While there are scores of books out of late making idiotic claims as to the Templars and their alleged treasures, this book presents the order for what they were; Warriors, Monks and Bankers. Perhaps the last reader felt that to arm and support all the Templar houses all around europe all they needed do was flash a peek at the Grail. If you are looking for Burried Treasure, Burried severed heads and the like, then don't buy this. But if you want a highly readable account of modern theories and historical facts, I can't recommend it enough.

Tony Armstrong.

This pamphlet suffers from a lack of serious and objective research. There are no footnotes, and besides the conclusion that the Templars became in essence the Swiss bankers, the authors offer nothing that hasn't been printed recently in much more exhaustively researched books. The whole procedure is to make an assumption, no matter how farfetched and unsubstantiated, and on the next page present it as a proven fact beyond dispute. I wonder whether the other reviewers have ever read a serious book on the Templars before.

You can buy this book from the author's website for $10 --I paid $42 & quite frankly feel very cheated--I do not feel the need to recoup my loss of over $30 by selling it and I dont understand why all these others are gouging prices of over $60--it is NOT out of print or rare--plus any copy machine could duplicate what i got--its not what i would call a paperback --its actually that plastic binder type spine--thing--similar to a training manual--not really a book per se--claims to be published in canada--i like the authors and their website--hope you dont pay too much too,,,,

Well researched book. The authors are not taken in by the many foolish ideas of the degree sellers, both modern and antique. They have a refreshing and thoughtful approach to the question of the latter history (if any) of the Knights Templar. They recognize that documentation of any such history is unlikely to be found, for two reasons: the great distance in time, and the secrecy necessary fristly because of the commercial interests of the Order, then for the very survival of its members. Given that, they make a very strong case for their very interesting inductions. Their final chapter on the "Swiss Connection", an idea I had not previously seen in print, particularly appealed to me because of my own discoveries about the history of Castle Chillon, near Montreaux on Lake Geneva, before it was taken over in 1147 by the House of Savoy. The authors also make clear the connection between the Order and the Normans, descendents of the Vikings. These syntheses are perhaps the most important ideas of all those presented here. Hopefully, they will be expanded upon in future works! Thank you, brethren.

A refreshing look at the Templars and their mysterious disappearance. The authors offer new and intriguing hypotheses as to how and where the 'renegade' Templars went to. This book should be in the library of any Templar/Masonic enthusiast