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The Prophecies: A Story of Obsession, Love and Betrayal
When Luftwaffe pilot Hermann Kaestner falls in love with a French clairvoyant, who will he be forced to betray - his country, his lover, or his own soul?
The world has now forgotten the Druidess of Brocéliande, but at the height of her fame she was predicting the fate of nations and the outcome of the war to thousands seated in the Salle Pleyel in Paris. In the streets outside, the French police were rounding up Jews while German officers were entertained in brothels and slept in the city’s best hotels.
Based on the lives of Geneviève Zaepffel and Abbé Henri Gillard, creator of a church dedicated to the Holy Grail.
‘Hauntingly beautiful.’ Five Stars San Francisco Book Review
The world has now forgotten the Druidess of Brocéliande, but at the height of her fame she was predicting the fate of nations and the outcome of the war to thousands seated in the Salle Pleyel in Paris. In the streets outside, the French police were rounding up Jews while German officers were entertained in brothels and slept in the city’s best hotels.
Based on the lives of Geneviève Zaepffel and Abbé Henri Gillard, creator of a church dedicated to the Holy Grail.
‘Hauntingly beautiful.’ Five Stars San Francisco Book Review
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2016
7 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Philip Carr-Gomm
65 books182 followersPhilip Carr-Gomm was born in London, raised in Notting Hill Gate, and educated at Westminster School and University College London.
He met his first spiritual teacher, Ross Nichols, the founder of The Order of Bards Ovates & Druids, when he was 11. He began studying with him when a teenager, and joined the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids at 18. He studied meditation with Olivia Robertson in Ireland, who later founded the Fellowship of Isis, and in his twenties he founded The Esoteric Society in London, which organised journeys for members to Bulgaria and Egypt, and hosted talks by well-known authors such as Gareth Knight, W. E. Butler, and Arthur Guirdham.
In 1975 his Druid teacher died, and he followed a Bulgarian teacher, Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov for seven years, giving talks on his teachings and helping with the translation and publishing of his books into English. He also travelled to Bulgaria and studied the work of Aivanhov’s teacher, Peter Deunov, visiting Sofia annually for fourteen years, teaching Deunov’s Paneurhythmy dance in England and at Findhorn in Scotland. In his thirties he turned to a study of psychology, taking a BSc degree at University College London and Jungian analysis, with plans to become an analyst. On discovering Psychosynthesis, he trained instead as a therapist at the Institute of Psychosynthesis in London and began a private practice.
In 1988 he was asked to lead the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids. He organised the Order’s teachings into a distance-learning course, and edited his teacher’s book with John Matthews [1]. Since that time, the Order has grown to become the largest Druid teaching order in the world.
He met his first spiritual teacher, Ross Nichols, the founder of The Order of Bards Ovates & Druids, when he was 11. He began studying with him when a teenager, and joined the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids at 18. He studied meditation with Olivia Robertson in Ireland, who later founded the Fellowship of Isis, and in his twenties he founded The Esoteric Society in London, which organised journeys for members to Bulgaria and Egypt, and hosted talks by well-known authors such as Gareth Knight, W. E. Butler, and Arthur Guirdham.
In 1975 his Druid teacher died, and he followed a Bulgarian teacher, Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov for seven years, giving talks on his teachings and helping with the translation and publishing of his books into English. He also travelled to Bulgaria and studied the work of Aivanhov’s teacher, Peter Deunov, visiting Sofia annually for fourteen years, teaching Deunov’s Paneurhythmy dance in England and at Findhorn in Scotland. In his thirties he turned to a study of psychology, taking a BSc degree at University College London and Jungian analysis, with plans to become an analyst. On discovering Psychosynthesis, he trained instead as a therapist at the Institute of Psychosynthesis in London and began a private practice.
In 1988 he was asked to lead the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids. He organised the Order’s teachings into a distance-learning course, and edited his teacher’s book with John Matthews [1]. Since that time, the Order has grown to become the largest Druid teaching order in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 29, 2016
"Quite a page turner for a book who many would consider 'not for the faint-hearted'."
Normally a book about WWII would not be my first choice, not even one that focusses on the spiritual side of the war. However, having read almost everything written by Carr-Gomm, I couldn't wait to get started on his first fictional novel.
I love how the book starts and finishes with the authors own reflections, guiding the way into the main story. We're introduced to Hermann Kaestner, a German pilot who falls in love with a married woman, Geneviève Zaepffel - the Druidess of Brocéliande and Abbé Henri Gillard, creator of a church dedicated to the Holy Grail. Hermann is send to France to spy for the SS on Geneviève's prophecies, does she see Germany as the victor?
What fascinated me most is my sympathy for Hermann. He's a fighter pilot for what most would consider, the wrong side, and is in the employment of the most horrible people, notably Himmler himself. However, Carr Gomm manages to make his main character likable and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him along the way.
Geneviève is a strange woman. I couldn't really connect to her. The book gives you a lot of information on what kind of person she was and the way her mind worked, but I always felt like an outsider looking in on her. I'm not sure this was a deliberate choice by the author or a reflection of my own preferences. Maybe it's because Hermann doesn't really get close to her, either. The one graphic sex scene didn't bother me at all. If you think The Prophecies is a book full of hot, steamy sex, I recommend you turn to the likes of Fifty Shades of Grey.
Henri Gillard, for me, was almost the opposite. I gravitated towards him and his character jumped from the pages. His friendship with Hermann felt so real, so genuine, it is hard to imagine it never existed.
Carr Gomm has created a fascinating glimpse into the life of a woman who's prophecies may or may not have had an impact on World War II. They certainly had an impact on the people closest to her. The scenery is described beautifully and with an eye for detail, not unlike the style of Umberto Eco. The Prophecies is a mixture of fact and fiction. Its power lies in the blending of those two.
I am, however, curious to see what Carr Gomm would do without the safety blanket of historical facts. Perhaps his future holds another novel. A shame we cannot ask Geneviève Zaepffel. I'm certain I'll read his next one as well, though.
Normally a book about WWII would not be my first choice, not even one that focusses on the spiritual side of the war. However, having read almost everything written by Carr-Gomm, I couldn't wait to get started on his first fictional novel.
I love how the book starts and finishes with the authors own reflections, guiding the way into the main story. We're introduced to Hermann Kaestner, a German pilot who falls in love with a married woman, Geneviève Zaepffel - the Druidess of Brocéliande and Abbé Henri Gillard, creator of a church dedicated to the Holy Grail. Hermann is send to France to spy for the SS on Geneviève's prophecies, does she see Germany as the victor?
What fascinated me most is my sympathy for Hermann. He's a fighter pilot for what most would consider, the wrong side, and is in the employment of the most horrible people, notably Himmler himself. However, Carr Gomm manages to make his main character likable and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him along the way.
Geneviève is a strange woman. I couldn't really connect to her. The book gives you a lot of information on what kind of person she was and the way her mind worked, but I always felt like an outsider looking in on her. I'm not sure this was a deliberate choice by the author or a reflection of my own preferences. Maybe it's because Hermann doesn't really get close to her, either. The one graphic sex scene didn't bother me at all. If you think The Prophecies is a book full of hot, steamy sex, I recommend you turn to the likes of Fifty Shades of Grey.
Henri Gillard, for me, was almost the opposite. I gravitated towards him and his character jumped from the pages. His friendship with Hermann felt so real, so genuine, it is hard to imagine it never existed.
Carr Gomm has created a fascinating glimpse into the life of a woman who's prophecies may or may not have had an impact on World War II. They certainly had an impact on the people closest to her. The scenery is described beautifully and with an eye for detail, not unlike the style of Umberto Eco. The Prophecies is a mixture of fact and fiction. Its power lies in the blending of those two.
I am, however, curious to see what Carr Gomm would do without the safety blanket of historical facts. Perhaps his future holds another novel. A shame we cannot ask Geneviève Zaepffel. I'm certain I'll read his next one as well, though.
July 5, 2021
Well- researched, engaging, and poignant
I could not put this historical novel down. I will likely read it again, and that's fairly unusual for me. I really enjoyed the storyline, the druidess was a fascinating character! I found myself putting the book down for a moment to go look for more details about locations Carr-Gomm mentions and the characters. I loved it.
I could not put this historical novel down. I will likely read it again, and that's fairly unusual for me. I really enjoyed the storyline, the druidess was a fascinating character! I found myself putting the book down for a moment to go look for more details about locations Carr-Gomm mentions and the characters. I loved it.
October 18, 2016
I've always been a fan of this author's non-fiction. I had high hopes for this bit of historical fiction. Sadly, it didn't quite deliver on those expectations. It's a solid book that is enjoyable on a trip but lacks the flow and ease that most novels have.
The story follows three main characters. One is a German pilot who has a spiritual side and struggles with some of the harsher elements of World War II. We also meet a priest who uses his love of the Grail stories to enrich his local parish and remodeling efforts of the village church. Finally, the star of the novel is a Druidress who makes prophecies on the state of the world and local affairs with some degree of accuracy. These characters meet in a small village and form a unique relationship around their spiritual beliefs. The local legends of the Grail also play a strong role in uniting the characters.
Overall, the writing is good. I enjoyed the characters and following the twists and turns of their relationships. However, it was evident that the author usually writes non-fiction. At times the novel flowed more like a historical textbook than fiction. The transitions between scenes and characters could be stark and startling. Perhaps, there are more visual signals when scenes are changing in the paper book than the ebook version.
If you are looking for a relaxing, magical read for a trip or break from heavy duty reading, you'll probably enjoy this novel. Just don't expect earth shattering fiction.
The story follows three main characters. One is a German pilot who has a spiritual side and struggles with some of the harsher elements of World War II. We also meet a priest who uses his love of the Grail stories to enrich his local parish and remodeling efforts of the village church. Finally, the star of the novel is a Druidress who makes prophecies on the state of the world and local affairs with some degree of accuracy. These characters meet in a small village and form a unique relationship around their spiritual beliefs. The local legends of the Grail also play a strong role in uniting the characters.
Overall, the writing is good. I enjoyed the characters and following the twists and turns of their relationships. However, it was evident that the author usually writes non-fiction. At times the novel flowed more like a historical textbook than fiction. The transitions between scenes and characters could be stark and startling. Perhaps, there are more visual signals when scenes are changing in the paper book than the ebook version.
If you are looking for a relaxing, magical read for a trip or break from heavy duty reading, you'll probably enjoy this novel. Just don't expect earth shattering fiction.
September 2, 2017
The author heads the the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids (OBOD) and I really enjoy his non-fiction work, which contains a lot of mythic references and beautiful meditations on the natural world. This novel does contain touches of that, but mainly it is a WWII era tale, based on an actual person. I liked it, but didn't love it.
March 25, 2017
Ended too soon, left me wanting to know more.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews