The Strange and Terrible Life of James Shelby Downard Part I w/ Richard B. Spence & Recluse (Patreon)

Joining me for this outing is one The Farm's most beloved guests, the great Richard B. Spence. He is one of the foremost authorities on secret societies and their ties to intelligence services active today. Richard is the author of Trust No One: The Secret World of Sidney Reilly, Wall Street and the Russian Revolution 1905-1925, and of course the classic Secret Agent 666: Aleister Crowley, British Intelligence, and the Occult. He was also the host of "The Real History of Secret Societies" on the History Channel's The Great Courses series. 

For this outing, we're using Richard's contributions to the Adam Gorightly-edited Stalking the Great Whore: The Lost Writings of James Shelby Downard as a launching point for a true enigma. The last time I had Richard on, we discussed whether Boris Brasol was the most interesting man alive during the first half the 20th century. While the notorious White Russian still has my vote, James Shelby Downard would surely give him a run for his money. 

Richard has painstakingly reconstructed Downard's life as much as is possible through public records and interviews. What can be confirmed is nothing short of remarkable. For this installment, we explore Downard's profane youth, his time in Mexico between the wars and his bizarre family connections to Arthur Rochford Manby. Let the Masonic sorcery begin. 

Music by: Keith Allen Dennis

https://keithallendennis.bandcamp.com/

Additional Music by: A Sunny Day in Glasgow

https://asunnydayinglasgow.bandcamp.com/album/nitetime-rainbows