The Secret Society: Cecil John Rhodes's Plans for a New World Order

by Robin Brown

Cecil John Rhodes made a fortune from diamonds and gold, became prime minister of the Cape, and had a country named after him, but his ambitions were far greater than that. When he was still in his twenties, after a meeting with General Gordon of Khartoum, Rhodes set up a Secret Society with the aim of establishing a new world order. The society, disciplined on Jesuit-style rules, became Rhodes's lifelong obsession, and after his death it lived on and grew under the leadership of his executor, Lord Alfred Milner. The society played a key role in the governance of Britain during the Great War and the peace terms to end it, and it was linked to appeasement initiatives involving Hitler, the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Simpson before World War II. Echoes of the Secret Society survive in different guises to this day, including the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and the Rhodes Scholarships. In The Secret Society, Robin Brown unpacks this astonishing and largely unknown history. He brings Rhodes, his companions and his successors to life by drawing from diaries and letters, and sheds new light on Rhodes's homosexuality. Ranging from the diamond mines of Kimberley to the halls of power in Westminster, and peopled with characters such as General Gordon, Leander Starr Jameson, W.T. Stead, Olive Schreiner, the Princess Radziwill, Joseph Chamberlain and David Lloyd George, this book is a page-turner that will make you see the world, both past and present, in a different light.

Genres: History, Conspiracy Theories, Nonfiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Joan Bonnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

I enjoyed the narrative style which was concise and not poetic or condescending and the political activities covered were astounding. The early events surrounding both world wars are recounted accurately as regards the Rhodes Secret Society and other participants. I do believe that both Chatham House and the Council on Foreign Relations are no longer as benevolent and war-averse as they once may have been and a less benign opinion of their achievement would be more honest. It’s a good book and no one will be disappointed.

[Charmaine Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I sat in South Africa pondering what felt like madness in the hurling of faeces at Rhodes Memorial’s, burning libraries, screeching Rhodes must fall and yelling anti colonisation, I felt I should learn more about Rhodes. I did in this book - and yes bad stuff did happen - but lots of good things happened too. Who can complain about Rhodes bursaries to fund degrees at Oxford etc. - Well, the recipients of course…. Just so annoying that thinking is apparently so radical and narrow. Wouldn’t it be marvellous if people could be more tolerant and eclectic ?… just talk flush toilets-S Africans condemn long drops and bucket systems whilst failing to accept that Westerners introduced the wonders of highly sought after flush toilets…etc