The Secret History of the Hell-Fire Clubs

From Rabelais and John Dee to Anton LaVey and Timothy Leary

By: Geoffrey Ashe

Narrated by: Nick McDougal

Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

An exploration of the origins, influences, and legacy of the scandalous Hell-Fire Clubs of the 18th century and beyond

• Reveals the club’s origins in the work of Rabelais and the magical practices of John Dee and how their motto, "Do what you will," deeply influenced Aleister Crowley
• Explores the cross-fertilization of liberty and libertinage within these clubs that influenced both US and French Revolutions
• Examines the debaucherous activities and famous members of many Hell-Fire Clubs, including Sir Francis Dashwood’s Monks of Medmenham

Mention the Hell-Fire Clubs, and you conjure up an image of aristocratic rakes cutting a swath through the village maidens. Which is true, but not the whole truth. The activities of these clubs of upper-class Englishmen revolved around not only debauchery but also blasphemy, ritual, quasi-magical pursuits, and political intrigue.

Providing a history of these infamous clubs, Geoffrey Ashe reveals their origins in the work of François Rabelais and the activities of John Dee. He shows how the Hell-Fire Clubs' anything-goes philosophy of "Do what you will" - also Aleister Crowley’s famous motto - and community template were drawn directly from Rabelais. The author looks at the very first Hell-Fire Club, founded by Philip, Duke of Wharton, in 1720 and then at the Society of the Dilettanti, a fraternity formed in 1732. Ashe examines the life, travels, and influences of Sir Francis Dashwood, founding member of the Society of the Dilettanti and the scandalous Permissive Society at Medmenham, also known as the Monks of Medmenham. He also explores other Hell-Fire clubs the movement inspired throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, including the violence-prone Mohocks and the Appalling Club. He shows how many illustrious figures of the day were members of these societies, such as Lord Byron. He also examines the rumors that Benjamin Franklin was a member, an allegation that can be neither confirmed nor denied.

Exploring the political and magical ideas that fueled this movement, the author shows how the cross-fertilization of liberty and libertinage within the Hell-Fire Clubs went on to influence both the US and French revolutions, as well as the hippie movement of the 1960s, the Church of Satan founded by Anton LaVey, and the motorcycle club known as the Hells Angels. The legacy of the Hell-Fire Clubs continues to impact society, beckoning both elite and outsider to cast aside social norms and "do what you will."

©1974 Geoffrey Ashe (P)2019 Inner Traditions Audio

Critic Reviews

"Geoffrey Ashe, one of Britain’s most outstanding historians, paints a vivid picture of Francis Dashwood’s Hell-Fire Club and other similar secret societies in this page-turning review of one of England’s most audacious periods of history." (Andrew Collins, best-selling author of Göbekli Tepe)

"A sweeping history of libertinism seen through the lens of the English ‘clubs’ of the eighteenth century. Precise and cogent, it also freely wanders the halls of infamy, painting portraits of some of the subject’s most notorious figures. The motto ‘do what thou will’ defines a stance through this history, one that pulls at the Gordian knots of pain and pleasure, freedom and destiny." (Jesse Bransford, associate professor of visual arts and chair of the Department of Art and Art Professions, New York University)

BORING

I was really disappointed in this book. It was extremely boring, but I am not sure if that is because the author is a poor writer or the narrator is terrible. The subject matter should have been interesting but the author really doesn't grab you as a reader or make you want to continue on. To make matters worse, the narrator has is very monotone and doesn't really break sentences or even sections well. There were multiple times throughout the book when I couldn't tell that he was starting a new chapter. If you need something to put you to sleep this might be worth a listen. Otherwise, look for something else.

Too narrow a focus, fails to link the hell fire

the hellfire club fails to link the hellfire club to other secret societies like the Freemasons Skull and Bones the rosicrucians fails to talk about the older origins of secret societies and how they are very similar to the healthcare Club the kind of focus on side was interesting but the finishing with how the modern-day sex industry is actually very sodium is really glossed over so in the end I have to give the story kind of a low Mark for failing to make necessary connections.

A Tough Listen

A lot of padding out with the stories of individual members. The narration is a little flat which makes it difficult to stick with. The American pronunciation of British and French names/words in a story that is 99% British and French can become frustrating.