The Spear of Destiny (book)

The book was authored by the British writer and journalist Trevor Ravenscroft (1921–1989), formerly a British commando, imprisoned in a German prisoner of war camp as part of the World War II North Africa campaign. He then became a journalist. Some time later, he claimed to have met the Austrian anthroposophist Walter Stein. The book is heavily based on this alleged testimony from Stein. he later said he had met his spirit through a medium. He relied on information given by Stein, who Ravenscroft said would have written the book if not for his "untimely death". He also said that the book was not written until Stein died due to Stein's wartime experience. Writer Ken Anderson accepted that Ravenscroft may have met Stein, but said that it was unclear if the "fantasy" that was the book had originated more with Stein or with Ravenscroft. Several of the stories attributed to him by Ravenscroft are not actually from Stein. == Publication history ==

It was first published by Neville Armstrong's Neville Spearman Publishers in 1972. It was published in the United States by Putnam the next year. The book was a success; it was translated into several languages and was in print for the better part of several decades. == Contents ==

Ravenscroft begins the book by saying that Stein should receive credit for having written most of it. The book claims to trace the history of the Holy Lance, the lance claimed to have pierced the side of Jesus. Ravenscroft also writes of other forms of occultism, particularly Atlantis. Large sections are devoted to the claimed occult beliefs of Adolf Hitler and occultism in Nazism; Ravenscroft argues that he was brought to power through his pursuit of the lance and through its power. He writes that Hitler had a mystical encounter with the lance aged 19 and that this had forever altered the course of his life. Ravenscroft writes: Ravenscroft claims Hitler was a Satanist. Large portions of the book are related to Stein's experiences. == Reception ==

Historian of occultism Joscelyn Godwin called The Spear of Destiny a "bloodcurdling work of historical reinvention". Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, a British historian and author of a book that critically analyzes ties between occultism and Nazism, The Occult Roots of Nazism, described The Spear of Destiny as the single most influential work on "Nazi Mysteries" in English, noting its influence on other works involving Nazi occultism. He noted the books Hitler and the Occult by Ken Anderson and Invisible Eagle by Alan Baker as critically examining Ravenscroft and his claims. Scholar Jacob Senholt said the former "debunked" The Spear of Destiny. Anderson wrote that Ravenscroft had "depart[ed] so far from historical fact as to construct a synthetic—an ersatz—history of Hitler and claim it as the truth". Reviews of the book found its theories far-fetched, Publishers Weekly called it an "astonishing mix of fact and incredible assertion", with the more dubious elements coming from Ravenscroft. The LA Times described it as "a mishmash of history, black magic and legend". Choice magazine said it was written in a "rambling, disorganized, rather flowery style" and that "the author's smugness is highly irritating." Publishers Weekly nevertheless described it as "oddly fascinating", though it may "drive some readers up the wall". Writer Colin Wilson had praise for the book. ==References==