- Hardcover: 196 pages
- Publisher: Ash Tree Pr; Limited edition (Nov 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1553100107
- ISBN-13: 978-1553100102
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 14.2 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,723,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Dr John Richard Taverner is an occult Sherlock Holmes, an esoteric Master who uses his powers to aid 'untreatable' patients for whom orthodox medical science can do nothing. Utilizing his knowledge of White Magic, he fights an unrelenting battle against vampires, death-hounds, body-snatchers and members of the nefarious Black Lodge. Well-written and briskly paced, these twelve stories stand on their own merits - but there is more to these tales than meets the eye. Dion Fortune was herself a mage, a high initiate of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and founder of the Society of the Inner Light. The tales she tells are based on real events, and she uses 'The Secrets of Dr Taverner' as a vehicle to introduce the reader to magical practices and many arcane principles of occult law. A must-read for serious students, and a delightful introduction to many aspects of the Western Mystery Tradition.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dr. Tavener is a psychic Sherlock Holmes. In this book, Dion Fortune puts together different stories of strange tales, pulled together and solved with the wit and wisdom of Dr. Tavener, who knows how to read the signs and come up with the cure. Hard to put down.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
You won't be able to put this down, it's a wonderful tale of mystery, intrigue, and of course magick. It's a novel for those with an interest in occult matters rather than a non-fiction occult manual, but imparting some real magickal knowledge and insight along the journey. For me one of the most delightful aspects was the wonderful use of the English language- the vast vocabulary and graceful use of grammar- people just don't use all those adjectives any more. A wonderful read.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
THE DOCTOR IS IN!
24 Aug 2000
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
THE SECRETS OF DR. TAVERNER is perhaps the best known work of fiction authored by renown Esotericist and Psychiatrist Violet Mary Firth (a.k.a. Dion Fortune). Dr. Taverner runs a very UN-conventional nursing home. He uses the ancient, arcane knowledge that he has learned as an Initiate of an esoteric secret order in his diagnosis and treatment of mental disturbances. Modern psychiatry could learn a lot from Dr. Taverner. While the book is actually a series of short stories, Fortune has expertly woven them into a meaningful tapestry of lessons-by-example, much like the texts I recall from my grammar school catechisms. Dr. Rhodes, a novice to the occult and the narrator of these tales, develops many insights and skills of his own as he witnesses and experiences the esoteric "therapies" that Taverner brings to bear in his unique treatment regimens for disturbances that allegedly have mental underpinnings. Along the way, the reader learns that it's often the things we DON'T see that can make or break an individual's sanity.
Despite Fortune's spiritual enlightenment, she was also a victim of the times in which she lived. I've read all of Fortune's other published works of fiction and, in my opinion, DR. TAVERNER is perhaps the only one of her novels that is largely free of the racist and nationalistic baggage that was so common in class-conscious, post-WW-I England. I suspect this just an artifact of the story's setting but it was a refreshing relief none-the-less.
As with Fortune's other novels, DR. TAVERNER represents a primer for the seeker looking to reclaim lost spiritual knowledge - a "How To" guide that reveals ancient and arcane secrets and practices sacred to Western secret societies and mystical orders. If you are a fan of Fortune's other work, you will love THE SECRETS OF DR. TAVERNER.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
My favorite of Dion Fortune's fiction
17 July 2005
Format:Paperback
An interesting collection of short stories by Dion Fortune. Dr. Taverner, assisted by the young Dr. Rhodes, runs a nursing home in which patients suffer from a variety of "psychological" disturbances which are all psychic in nature. Very much a Sherlock Holmes bent, as Dr. Taverner, being an adept of an occult order, is able to hone in and cure these various problems using unconventional means.
I found the stories to be interesting reading in and of themselves, but according to Dion Fortune, they were all based on actual events that she witnessed in her early occult training. Supposedly, "Dr. Taverner" is based on one of her mentors, while "Dr. Rhodes" is based on herself. So, read with this in mind, it is doubly fascinating.
I also enjoyed the stories from the context of being written not terribly long after World War I, and many references are made to that event, with one story in particular, "Blood-Lust" telling of events occurring as a result of the war. In her book,"Psychic Self Defense," Fortune goes into more detail about this particular event, which indeed was toned down somewhat for the book.
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for an intro to Dion Fortune's fiction.
I found the stories to be interesting reading in and of themselves, but according to Dion Fortune, they were all based on actual events that she witnessed in her early occult training. Supposedly, "Dr. Taverner" is based on one of her mentors, while "Dr. Rhodes" is based on herself. So, read with this in mind, it is doubly fascinating.
I also enjoyed the stories from the context of being written not terribly long after World War I, and many references are made to that event, with one story in particular, "Blood-Lust" telling of events occurring as a result of the war. In her book,"Psychic Self Defense," Fortune goes into more detail about this particular event, which indeed was toned down somewhat for the book.
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for an intro to Dion Fortune's fiction.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Dr. Tavener is a psychic Sherlock Holmes.
11 Jan 1998
Format:Paperback
Dr. Tavener is a psychic Sherlock Holmes. In this book, Dion Fortune puts together different stories of strange tales, pulled together and solved with the wit and wisdom of Dr. Tavener, who knows how to read the signs and come up with the cure. Hard to put down.
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