Customer Reviews

The Woman in the Wilderness

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

 

 

What a strange and extraordinary new book.

With it's seekers of knowledge and true wisdom, secret societies, Old Europe science, New World adventures, mystics meditating in Pennsylvania caves, genuine history and examinations of the nature of intolerance, rigidity and fear, this book is like nothing I've yet read.

Toss in a hefty dose of alchemical/astrological/astronomical mysteries (such as the curious and remarkable Holographicum, an instrument that no less than Benjamin Franklin comes to inherit, and is actually on public display in an obscure museum in Philadelphia today), and I think this is a recipe for a blockbuster, break-out book.

I appreciated author Scott's final notes, untangling factual events from fictional narrative. The depth of research into a multitude of obscure topics is evident.

I'm not certain how to categorize this historical novel, but I read it straight through in a weekend, cover to cover.

Perhaps it is best not pigeonholed, but left to speak for itself. That, in itself, seems to be one of the driving points of the book.

Its very rare to come across such a well researched AND well written novel. The author has lived in close proximity to the actual places where the action of the novel takes place. I commend him on doing such fine work making the subject matter and the belief systems of the protagonists both accessible and illuminating to ones own spiritual work. This novel can therefore be read on several levels. I believe any student of mysticism and especially of the Rosicrucian, Sufi and Martinist varieties will find great nourishment here. Kelpius the main character who at a very young age was chosen to lead an early migration of free thinkers and mystics on their migration to the the New World is largely unknown. I think he would have been very happy with this account of his life and interaction with the wide milieu of characters from the time of his youth in Transylvania and Germany and his sensitive meeting withe native americans and local ruffian elements in Pennsylvania. I was particularly impressed by the author's ability to weave elements from a diverse number of sources into a cohesive whole. I recommend this book very highly both for its well written storyline, which is very inspirational since in a sense every mystic is also laboring in a wilderness surrounded by ignorance and self promotion as well as for the deep research which is intelligently presented.

This story draws you in effortlessly, and immerses you in captivating historical fiction. five thumbs up!