<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2152" style="float: left; border: 0; margin: 8px;" title="farr" src="http://strangeattractor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/farr.jpg" alt="farr" width="225" height="185" />Although primarily a quasi-Freemasonic mystical organisation, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was also a hub for progressive, creative, free-thinking and free-living individuals sensing the first signs of social, cultural and political change at the end of the 19th century.

Indicative of its forward-looking outlook, the Golden Dawn encouraged women to play a central role in its organisation, something that was still unusual in Victorian society – the women's movement was still in its radical infancy –  let alone Masonic orders, which prohibited women members entirely.

Amongst them were the popular actresses Florence Farr (<em>left</em>) and Sara Allgood, the artist Pamela Colman Smith, author and feminist Maud Gonne and theatrical producer and museum curator Annie Horniman.

On Thursday 18 November, Geraldine Beskin, proprietor of London's <a href="http://www.theatlantisbookshop.com/" target="_blank">Atlantis Bookshop</a> talks about these remarkable women and the magic in their lives.

At <a href="http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/shopevents2.html" target="_blank">The Little Shoppe of Horrors</a>, 11 Mare St, London E8. Book tickets <a href="http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user?query=search&amp;category=misc&amp;search=last+tuesday+society&amp;region=xxx&amp;beginmonth=02&amp;beginday=23&amp;beginyear=2010&amp;interface=thelasttuesdaysociety" target="_blank">here</a>.

The talk begins at 7pm sharp, arrive early for a complimentary drink and a free tour of the basement <em>wunderkammer.</em>