7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Some fascinating and exceptional individuals, August 2, 2000
This review is from: The World's Most Mysterious People (Paperback)
Described as being "among the best researchers in the business" by Colin Wilson, author and world authority on unexplained phenomena, the writers of this intriguing book on people with exceptional and, sometimes, seemingly supernatural abilities certainly live up to his claim.
Each arcane, unusual or enigmatic being who is featured in their book, together with his or her life and deeds, is examined with a refreshing openness and spirit of unbiased zeal. Herein lie the legendary exploits of King Arthur and his mystical mentor Merlin and the fate of the old Hebridean seer who lives on in the fulfilment of his prophecies, together with the incredible lifestyles, ideas and abilities of more contemporary and documented mystics and uncanny individuals such as Rasputin - the sex crazed but charismatic healer and favourite of the fated Russian royals - a man who was almost impossible to kill. Aleister Crowley, self-styled magician and witch, is examined in the light of his singular manipulation of arcane 'law'; while the extensive works and travels of Madame Helena Blavatsky, forerunner of modern spiritualism and theosophy, leave us wondering whether she was indeed a gifted magician and medium, a charlatan, or, at the very least, imaginative if deluded.
Is the ubiquitous Count of Sainte-Germaine still living after two and a half centuries? Who was the Man In The Iron Mask? Did he 'know too much' for King Louis X1V to either kill or free? Who or what was the depraved leaping creature known as Spring-heeled Jack who terrorised the streets of Victorian London? Where and how did the French priest Berenger Sauniere suddenly acquire his untold wealth at Rennes-le-Chateau? Was this through being in league with demons or via old manuscripts or maps which 'marked the spot'? Could the cross-fertilisation between the genes of humans and those of an alien race account for the spontaneous type of brilliance that seems to occur in some exceptional human beings? Sustenance for the enquiring mind indeed!
All these questions and many more are wholeheartedly embraced and investigated by the Fanthorpes. Travelling extensively and researching rigorously, they have (quite literally) left no stone unturned in their quest for information and answers to the world's most tantalising and perplexing mysteries. Always prepared to offer a possible logical explanation when one is feasible, their minds are, nevertheless, never closed to the possibilities that deeper, older or more arcane treasures of truth might lie at the end of each investigative path. The questions that become generated from within the depths of their enquiries and investigations into enigmas old and new become yet another source of energy, providing the reader, and, I am certain, the writers too, with a rapacious need for yet more answers.
The World's Most Mysterious people is an inspiring read for anyone who is not content with trivial or superficial answers to the challenging questions posed by the wonderful, sometimes weird and mysterious world we inhabit.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mysterious People Revealed, June 21, 2000
This review is from: The World's Most Mysterious People (Paperback)
From Rasputin to Nikola Tesla, to The Man in the Iron Mask, The Fanthorpe's have a wonderful and clever book here. Written with great wit and charm this title takes the reader into the lives of many interesting characters. Some famous and others infamous. The chapters are short but exceptionally done. It's a great book to take on an outing, trip, whatever. I found it wonderful to read over my lunch hour. All in all I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mysterious personages or just mysteries in general. You won't be disappointed here. Do yourself a favor: Buy it!
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3.0 out of 5 stars
An introduction to some pretty amazing people;I guess!, May 10, 2009
This review is from: The World's Most Mysterious People (Paperback)
I usually enjoy reading about unusual people,but for some reason this book just didn't catch fire with me.I don't know if it was the style of writing or what;but I would start reading about a character and would soon skip to the next one.I guess that the fact that most of the characters were from the British Isles or Europe ,meant that most were unknown to me. Also many were from long ago and a lot from the paranormal world,and held little linerest to me. Personally;I have never bought into much of the stuff about the paranormal,so reading about those types ,always left me with the feeling they were some kind of spoof or fake. I've also noticed that much of this stuff about paranormals,ghosts,supernatural,haunted buildings,mysterious people seems to be from Europe and particularly in the past and remote areas.I have come to the conclusion that is is as much a form of local entertainment as anything else.
So if that is our thing,maybe you will enjoy this book and stuff more than I do or did.
However;don't get me wrong,I still believe in Leprechauns,but it amazes me we don't have any here in North America.And how come all the "Little People" ,Trolls,Mermaids ,Gnomes, Fairies ,excluding some in California,all come from Europe;and one never sees one in a Museum?
When I go looking for the Mysterious, what I like is Ripley's Believe It or Not!..and what you find there is real and backed up.
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