The Grand Illusion: Fighting the Nazis with the Occult

Many of us are aware of the Nazi’s obsession with the occult (look no further than Indiana Jones, ‘Call of Duty Black Ops’, Hellboy etc). Less is known, however, about what the Brits did to exploit what they saw as a weakness in the German chain of command.

In ‘The Grand Illusion’ Syd Moore turns her eye on this rather bizarre chapter of history. Her talk for the London Fortean Society will cover the research she undertook to write the novel, including the eclectic recruitment to the war effort, strange goings-on in Surrey and a ritual that allegedly took place in the New Forest in 1940 to repel Operation Sealion, Hitler’s plan to invade the British Isles.

Syd Moore is a British bestselling novelist, former television presenter, and activist. Her debut novel, The Drowning Pool, was published in 2011. Her novels are mystery thrillers inspired by her research into the myths from the English county of Essex, where she grew up and still lives. Her latest book, The Grand Illusion, will be available for this evening.