''The Secret Society: Cecil John Rhodes's Plan for a New World Order'' is a 2015 book by Robin Brown.

Synopsis

''The Secret Society'' examines

Cecil Rhodes Cecil John Rhodes ( ; 5 July 185326 March 1902) was an English-South African mining magnate and politician in southern Africa who served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. He and his British South Africa Company founded th ...

, his life and the secret society he founded with the ambition of bringing the world under British rule. The book suggests the society continued to have influence in British and world affairs, citing the

Rhodes Scholarship The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom. The scholarship is open to people from all backgrounds around the world. Established in 1902, it is ...

and alleged links between the society and

Chatham House The Royal Institute of International Affairs, also known as Chatham House, is a British think tank based in London, England. Its stated mission is "to help governments and societies build a sustainably secure, prosperous, and just world". It ...

and alleged influence on the peace terms to end

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and appeasement of Hitler. The book draws on diaries and letters and also investigates and supports suggestions Rhodes was gay.

Reception

In the ''

Mail & Guardian The ''Mail & Guardian'', formerly the ''Weekly Mail'', is a South African weekly newspaper and website, published by M&G Media in Johannesburg, South Africa. It focuses on political analysis, investigative reporting, Southern African news, loca ...

'' Shaun De Waal wrote that "In ''The Secret Society'', Brown explores the enigma of Rhodes, delving into his homosexuality more deeply than any work on him so far and showing how Rhodes's dreams of an expanded British empire were codified early in his career" In ''

Business Day A business day normally means any day except a legal holiday. It may also mean a business day of operation, any of the days an organization operates. It depends on the local workweek which is dictated by local customs, religions, and business ...

'' Richard Steyn wrote "by challenging the conventional wisdom about Rhodes, The Secret Society provides a stimulating and thought-provoking read" but criticised the lack of a bibliography and the small number of references The book was also reviewed in other sources such as ''

Noseweek ''Noseweek'' is a monthly South Africa, South African tabloid published by Chaucer Publications that appeared in print from June 1993 to mid-2021. It is best known for regular legal action against it, including a failed bid at interdiction by banki ...

'' and '' The Star''.

References

2015 non-fiction books Books about imperialism History books about Africa History books about colonialism Books about globalization Penguin Books books {{globalization-book-stub