Secret Societies: A History

Compiled from the earliest recordings of time & spanning thru the 20th century, Secret Societies: A History investigates the practices & customs of various types of private organizations from around the world. Included with the first-hand experiences encountered by the author while researching this subject, are sources never before revealed delving into the minds of the inhabitants of these surreptitious groups & an in-depth analysis of the structures found within each society. From groups such as the Castrators of Russia to the Gnostics, Daraul uncovers bizarre & unknown secret societies & captivates readers with page-turning tales.

Idries Shah (Pashto: ادريس شاه‎, Urdu: ادریس شاه‎, Hindi: इदरीस शाह; 6/16/1924–11/23/1996), also known as Idris Shah, né Sayed Idries el-Hashimi (Arabic: سيد إدريس هاشمي) & by the pen name Arkon Daraul, was an author & teacher in the Sufi tradition who wrote over three dozen books on topics ranging from psychology & spirituality to travelogues & culture studies. Born in India, the descendant of a family of Afghan nobles, Shah grew up mainly in England. His early writings centered on magic & witchcraft.