Book excerpt: Many books have written about Albert Pike. Authors have discussed his early life and education, his travel to the western states, his history as an Oddfellow, Freemason, Knight of the Golden Circle, Ku Klux Klan and as a Native American advocate. They've dissected his writings, especially the Morals and Dogma, and tried to determine if his World War III letter is real or fraudulent. One thing they've never discussed are the things that happened around him as he grew older and what molded and formed his personality. They also have never talked about his family, his wife and his '10' children and the trials he went through as a father and a husband. Those are some of the things which I'd like to address. I believe that we are all the product of 'nature' and 'nurture.' In other words, we need to learn who his ancestors were; what attributes he might have inherited, what ideas and beliefs were passed down to him, and how the environment he grew up in influenced his ideas and writings. Albert Pike was the descendant of '3' of the original 9 Knights Templars, as well as the Kings and Queens of England, Ireland, Wales, France and Germany. The question is: Did he know? Did it influence what he believed? Enjoy the journey as we discover the man behind the legend. I think you'll be very surprised at what we learn.