The Spear is a 1978 novel by British author James Herbert dealing with Nazi occultism and the Holy Lance.
 First edition (publ. New English Library) | |
| Author | James Herbert |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
Publication date | January 1, 1978 |
Plot summary edit
The book deals with a neo-Nazi cult in Britain and an international conspiracy which includes a right-wing US general and a sinister arms dealer, and their obsession with resurrecting Heinrich Himmler through the occult.
Reception edit
Ramsey Campbell praised the novel, saying "The Spear scores as a thriller, especially in its set pieces".[1]
Court case edit
In an earlier version of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail/The Da Vinci Code lawsuit,[2] Trevor Ravenscroft sued James Herbert[3] claiming the novel infringed on his 1973 non-fiction book The Spear of Destiny.[4] Herbert declined to pay Ravenscroft damages and eventually removed the offending content.[5]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Campbell, Ramsey, "James Herbert", in Joshi, S.T. (ed.) Ramsey Campbell, Probably. Hornsea, Drugstore Indian Press, ISBN 9781848639119 (pp. 272-73)
- ^ 'No surprise' in Da Vinci judgement
- ^ Ravenscroft v Herbert (1980) RPC 193
- ^ Ravenscroft, Trevor (1982). The Spear of Destiny. Weiser Books. ISBN 0-87728-547-0.
- ^ Nick Freeman (2006) 'A decadent appetite for the lurid'?: James Herbert, The Spear and 'Nazi Gothic'. Gothic Studies Volume 8 (2). 80-97.