The Brotherhood: The Secret World of the Freemasons (1984) by British journalist Stephen Knight is a highly controversial exposé that investigates the influence of Freemasonry in Britain. Knight argues that the organization, often regarded as a harmless charitable fraternity, is in fact a "secret society" that promotes systemic corruption, nepotism, and operates as a "sinister force" influencing law enforcement, the judiciary, and local government. The Brotherhood was a bestseller, although its accusations led to intense debate about whether Freemasonry was truly a corrupt organization or simply a misunderstood, charitable fraternal group.