If you read DVC with a perplexed sense of missing half the story, chances are good the clues were historical, religious, or mythological. What Widow's Son promises is a legend for the map of history Dan Brown has indicated will be used in the sequel to his blockbuster. But even without the lure of The Solomon Key, this is an important book. In a time when religious symbols in public places are coming under increasing fire, it is important to understand how many public buildings in our nation's capital are adorned (or even structured) with religious symbols.
Shugarts goes beyond a simple listing of names and symbols, to tie in the themes of previous Dan Brown novels with the probable theme of The Solomon Key. As he does so, we learn how many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons (9 of the 56 were known Masons), Presidents who have been Masons (starting with George Washington), the Mason's plea that saved Paul Revere's life on the night of the "Midnight Ride," and the masonic connection between Benjamin Franklin and Voltaire.
He also examines other "conspiracies," including the Illuminati (the real and the mythical orders), the Rosicrucians, fraternities like the Dekes and the Skull and Bones, the Boy Scouts... The Boy Scouts!?! Yes, one of the more surprising notions was the deep connection between scouting organizations and Freemasonry.
I admit here that I haven't read The Da Vinci Code. I read Holy Blood, Holy Grail long ago. But I enjoyed every page of Secrets of the Widow's Son. Armed with what I've learned, I'm ready for Brown's sequel.
Bring on The Solomon Key.
Article comments
1 - alpha
Dr. Pat. I did read the The Da Vinci Code and it was fun but forgettable. These other conspiracy theories and symbological books seem as if they will also be fun or even enlightening.
Let us hope that entertaining religious stories do not again cause the firestorm of Vatican vacillation and religious worries as did The Da Vinci Code .
But we will also hope that no death threats follow Salmon Rusdie. Religion in league with fiction only causes a mess.
The non-fiction descriptions of symbology and secret organizations sound like much more information and fun.
Besides,I was a Cub Scout and never trusted the Boy Scouts. They were too much like Hitler Youth.
2 - DrPat
As I was reading Secrets of the Widow's Son, I kept flashing on the Baroque Cycle novels of Neil Stephenson -- I hadn't realized (because Stephenson didn't mention it) that the original Gresham's College club that became the Royal Society was (probably) a Masonic Lodge...
3 - Hidden Treasures Productions
You might take issue with Dan Brown's novels, but they do bring to our attention some interesting influences in Western society. The Freemasons, for example, have played a role in the founding of this country. This role was more civic than conspiratorial, less exciting but perhaps equally interesting.
If you liked Dan Burstein's Secrets of Angels and Demons or even if you didn't get a chance to read it, keep your heads up for Secrets of Angels, Demons and Masons, scheduled for release in a few weeks time.
Check out this link or this one (to order)
4 - DrPat
Thanks for the tip, folks -- I've added the pre-release Amazon tag to my review.
This is a DVD, by the way, not a book (for those who are interested.)
5 - ajd
DrPat - This is a fascinating book that comes in both book and DVD. Shugarts has done an amazing job of decoding Dan Brown's modus operandi.
6 - Randy Mays
I just started reading "Secrets of the Widow's Son." In the part where Shugarts is talking about mistakes, he makes a large mistake by referring to a "clip" in a pistol. The correct term is "magazine." I found that distracting.
7 - Jake
I too see a possible Mormon/Mason connection. I've posted the full text of the speech Is There No Help For The Widows Son?