DAN Brown's new blockbuster novel The Lost Symbol will come under the spotlight in an event to be staged at Sheffield University on October 15.
A panel discussion will examine the portrayal of freemasons in the follow-up to the multi-million selling The Da Vinci Code and examine how much of it is accurate.
The university is the home of the country's first dedicated Centre for Research int
o Freemasonry and Fraternalism.
Academics from the centre will host the discussion, titled 'Symbols lost? Discussing Dan Brown's new novel'.
Early reviews of the new book, which has already sold more than 300,000 copies since its release earlier this month, suggested freemasons may be angered by the fictional portrayal of their organisation.
At the university event, the experts will consider the masonic content in the novel and answer questions on whether the book gives a truthful insight into the group.
The debate will form part of a lecture series, The Perception of Freemasonry, which will take place between October and December, and will involve a range of international guest speakers.
Director of the centre Dr Andreas Onnerfors said: "As Dan Brown's new novel proves, there are many perceptions of the role of freemasonry in the public domain, ranging from fiction to the Internet.
"It is a fascinating to study how these images have, on the one hand, developed over time while also remaining unchanged for many years."
Tickets for the panel cost £2. It will take place in the Humanities Research Centre, Gell Street, Sheffield, at 5.15pm.
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