Brief History of the Freemasons

In the popular imagination the Freemasons are often regarded as a sinister secret society practising arcane rituals: Jasper Ridleys reassessment traces the origins of Freemasonry in the medieval craftsmen's guilds and its spread throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. Dispelling the more lurid misconceptions, Ridley sheds new light on the organization's beliefs, activities and current role in society.