Books by Sean Martin

Throughout history, disease has plagued human civilisations, claiming more lives than natural disasters and warfare combined. In the fourteenth century, the Black Death was responsible for taking the lives of one third of Europe's population. In the modern day, physicians, scientists and historians continue to be challenged by new and...

Sean Martin considers the whole of Tarkovsky's work, from the student film The Steamroller and the Violin to the later stage works, writings, paintings and photographs. Martin also seeks to demystify Tarkovsky as a 'difficult' director and make a case for him as an artist who speaks directly about the most important spiritual issues of our time.

Tens of thousands of Jewish children were orphaned during World War I and in the subsequent years of conflict. In response, Jewish leaders in Poland established CENTOS, the Central Union of Associations for Jewish Orphan Care. The work of CENTOS exemplifies the community's goal to build a Jewish future.

The Cathars taught that the world is evil and must be transcended through a simple life of prayer, work, fasting and non-violence. They believed themselves to be the heirs of the true heritage of Christianity, and completely rejected the Catholic Church and all its trappings, regarding it as the church of Satan. Cathar services and...

Through an innovative network of local associations, Jewish leaders in interwar Poland cooperated to aid orphaned children. Their work exemplifies the goal to build a Jewish future. Translations of sources from Yiddish and Polish describe the lives of Jewish children and the tireless efforts to better the children's circumstances.

The Knights Templar were the most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages. Formed to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land, they participated in the Crusades and rapidly gained wealth, lands and influence and were answerable to none save the Pope himself....

Gnosticism - derived from the Greek word gnosis, to know - is the name given to various religious schools that proliferated in the first centuries after Christ and, at one time, it almost became the dominant form of Christianity. Yet some Gnostic beliefs derive from the older Mystery traditions of Greece and...