If you buy no other book about Rosslyn Chapel, make it this one - Rated 
Robert L. D. Cooper's book "The Rosslyn Hoax" is perhaps the most important book yet published about Rosslyn Chapel, the Templars, Scotland and the Freemasons. What makes it so important is that he actually has physically investigated the many claims made about the enigmatic little church over the centuries, especially in the last few decades. He has laid his eye on so many artifacts described by others, and tracked them to their likely, provable meanings or sources. And he has traced the origins of so many legendary claims to their originators, instead of parroting the work of other "speculators."
I say it's an important book. I didn't say it will make everyone happy. And the reason why is because he slaughters an entire herd of sacred cattle with his investigations of the many claims of Templar involvement in Freemasonry's formation and the building of Rosslyn. Or to put it another way, if you believe Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry, The Temple and the Lodge, and Rosslyn: Guardian of the Secrets of the Holy Grail to be the truth, Robert Cooper is your blasphemer.
Cooper is the curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland's library and museum, which posseses much original material that other authors have written about, but never actually gone to look at and study in person. Moreover, Cooper takes claims of Templar sites, burial markers and supposed influence and subjects them to the historical record or compares them to provable, authentic Templar sites. Most important of all, he places the origins of the original claims made (often by 17th and 18th century Scottish Masons) into their proper historical and social context, exploring just why Scottish Freemasons might have desired an older, more glorious heritage for their fraternity than those uppity English Masons down in London who were claiming it as their own. Cooper makes an outstanding case for forgeries, Victorian alterations and a lot of wishful thinking.
Certainly there is a place for mythology in this world, and it would be a pretty barren life indeed if we didn't have our share of story tellers who, with a gleam in their eye and a wink to the knowing, began by speaking the words, "Once upon a time..." Freemasonry is no different. Just as long as we understand what is myth and what is history, and the difference between them.
As I said, if you believe the Knights Templars saved the day at Bannockburn, built Rosslyn Chapel, and then morphed into the Freemasons, you should undoubtedly already be collecting logs and kindling for Robert Cooper's pyre. But if you are a seeker of the truth behind this curious and beautiful place, start with The Rosslyn Hoax.
The Rosslyn Hoax? - Rated
This is a well written historical document giving excellent background on the Rosslyn Chapel . It shows the facts from the point of a historian compared to that of an Alternative Author.
Rosslyn Hoax - Rated 
I got this before Christmas and have read it over the first part of the festive season. The author is a Freemason writing about the work of non-Masons who write about Freemasonry! Confused? Well I was until I read this book. The author is in charge of a Masonic museum and library and reading between the lines I think that he got fed up with all the non-Masonic commentary on his field of expertise. That said there is no spite here but a rather dry academic analysis of subjects such as: the Kirkwall Scroll, Rosslyn Chapel (of course), Freemasonry especially Scottish Freemasonry (I had not realised that Freemasonry could be so different between countries), Masonic history, Masonic symbolism, the Knights Templar etc. The range of subjects is considerable. On the plus side Cooper nails his colours to the mast from the start explaining that he is examining popular theories (actually hypotheses as he quite rightly points out) about the origins of Freemasonry and alleged connections with the medieval Order of Knights Templar as expounded by what he calls the 'Popular School'. The sheer scope of this book is impressive as is the inclusion of 11 appendixes - gulp! I say that again 11 appendixes! These are transcripts of the most important manuscripts relating to Scottish Freemasonry dating from 1598 and include the St. Clair Charters of 1601 and 1638. All of these documents are made available in one publication for the first time. That alone is important due to the fact that for the first time members of the public will be able to read and compare the documents used by the Popular School. The author adds flashes of humour - some unwitting perhpas? In any event I liked those as they were unexpected.
The down side are matters such as the size. Not physically (it is the normal size for such a book) but the number of pages. The density of the text and the small print size might be daunting to more than a few. The index is barely adequate.
All in all a very, very interesting read. A bit dense in places but well worth the effort. Do not be under any apprehensions that this is a book to be casually read - it is not, but anyone interested in the subjects covered in the book is advised to buy this book.
I shall now start to read, and try to understand, the appendixes...
Rosslyn Hoax - Rated
Robert Cooper's book is a breath of fresh air. Over the last 20 years or so the amount of material that has been written about Rosslyn Chapel has quite frankly duped thousands if not millions of people. Sadly this includes many freemasons. As Mr Cooper illustrates, the chapel is a facinating place anyway and doesn't need or warrent modern myths to help it along. In fact, the Templar Myths that many associate with the Chapel today are unhelpful, unfounded and actually quite damaging. It is my hope that we will see more books in the future like The Rosslyn Hoax that are seriously researched and based on facts rather than fancy.
I recommend this book to those that are interested in the real history of the chapel. Ian Robertson (co-author of Rosslyn and the Grail).
rosslyn hoax - Rated
i got this for my other half who is a fanatic about rosslyn chapel and is in the masons. i am reading it first and there is stuff in here he wont tell me (hee-hee). weve been to the chapel a few times. this book explains a lot - more than you are told when you are there but there is much more than just about the chapel like the templars and masonic stuff like the kirkwall scroll and the masons ritual and templar graves. this is a big book and some stuff will take time to sink in. it will last me for a while hell have to wait.
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