Haag's lively book asks questions that continue to excite our curiosity. Who was the historical Mary Magdalene? What do we really know about her and why has she had such an influence in high and popular culture? ... Haag achieves an admirable clarity of thought and cohesion in his account ... a great read. * The Times *
[A] fascinating exploration ... Haag teases out the literary and historical evidence to suggest an interpretation of Mary's role and character that is radically at odds with the received wisdom. -- Simon Griffith * Mail on Sunday *
[A] well-researched and page-turning history ... a narrative as clue-rich as a thriller -- Bee Wilson * Sunday Times *
Haag - by dint of a heady combination of pure zest, great imagination and refreshing irreverence (even, to be honest, sheer willpower) - drags Mary Magdalene, kicking and screaming, into the very heart of the Biblical narrative. He still leaves elbow room for God and Jesus (of course), but Mary, in his cunning and capable hands, becomes an all-powerful, all-singing and all-dancing Goddess of Light, a second Isis: 'the watchtower, the lighthouse, the beacon'. * Spectator *
A well-researched and well-argued exploration of the myth of the Magdalene ... beautifully illustrated -- David V Barrett * Fortean Times *
Mirroring the title and scope of Albert Schweitzer's The Quest of the Historical Jesus, Haag pushes back legend and myth to uncover the real Mary Magdalene ... an exceptional overview of how she has been viewed by various cultures through the ages ... A thought-provoking re-examination of a misunderstood heroine of the Bible. * Kirkus *
Praise for The Tragedy of the Templars: 'Haag is a romantic pluralist, with an instinctive taste for the esoteric, the independent and the defeated; and a corresponding distrust of victors and orthodoxies. * TLS *
Praise for The Templars: History and Myth 'Here at long last is a history of the Knights Templar - and their secrets - that you can believe in. * Scotsman *
