It is impossible to recommend JUST ONE BOOK or even
two or three books(taken as a totality) that gives
a fair, accurate, detailed and comprehensive overview
of the history of the modern Theosophical
Movement. Such a book has not yet been written.

But if one is interested in this subject and interested
in educating one self in the pros and cons, one would
need to read and study many (if not all!) of the
following books and articles. I'm
sure I'm leaving out some other good titles!

Daniel
http:hpb.cc
-----------------------

Theosophy: A modern revival of ancient wisdom by Alvin Boyd Kuhn.
1930

Ancient Wisdom Revived: A History of the Theosophical Movement. by
Bruce F. Campbell. 1980.

A Short History of the Theosophical Society by Josephine Ransom.
1938.

H. P. Blavatsky and the theosophical movement, A brief historical
sketch. by Charles J. Ryan. 1937.

The Theosophical Movement: 1875 - 1950. 1951 ed.

The Theosophical Movement: 1875 - 1925. 1925 ed.

California Utopia: Point Loma: 1897-1942 by Emmett Greenwalt.

Theosophy and the Theosophical Society by James Santucci. 1985

"Theosophy and the Theosophical Societies" by James Santucci. This is
an article in Odd Gods: New Religions and the Cult Controversy
Edited by James R. Lewis. 2001.

HPB: the extraordinary life and influence of Helena Blavatsky,
founder of the modern Theosophical movement /by Sylvia Cranston.
1993.

Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky. Compiled by Daniel H.
Caldwell. 2000.

Madame Blavatsky: The Woman behind the Myth by Marion Meade. 1980.

Madame H. P. Blavatsky, her occult phenomena and the society for
psychical research by K.F. Vania. 1951.

The Dawning of the Theosophical Movement by Michael Gomes. 1987.

Yankee Beacon of Buddhist Light: Life of Henry S. Olcott by Howard
Murphet. 1988.

The White Buddhist: The Asian Odyssey of Henry Steel Olcott by
Stephen R. Prothero. 1996.

William Quan Judge, 1851-1896; the life of a theosophical pioneer and
some of his outstanding articles. Compiled by Boris de Zirkoff and
Sven Eek.

William Quan Judge 1851-1896. Compiled by W. Dallas Tenbroeck.

The Elder Brother : A Biography of Charles Webster Leadbeater by
Gregory Tillett. 1982.

The First five lives of Annie Besant by Arthur H. Nethercot. 1960.

The Last four lives of Annie Besant by Arthur H. Nethercot. 1963.

The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Book of the Theosophical Society: A
Short History of the Society's Growth from 1926-1950 by Josephine
Ransom. 1950

100 Years of Theosophy: A History of the Theosophical Society in
America by Joy Mills. 1987.

Society for Psychical Research. First Report of the Committee of the
S.P.R. 1884.

Some account of my intercourse with Madame Blavatsky from 1872 to
1884; with a number of additional letters and a full explanation of
the most marvellous theosophical phenomena by Emma Coulomb. 1885.

Hodgson, Richard. "Account of Personal Investigations in India, and
Discussion of the Authorship of the 'Koot Hoomi' letters. 1885.

Obituary: The Hodgson Report on Madame Blavatsky by Adlai Waterman
[Walter Carrithers]. 1963.

H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR : An examination of the Hodgson report of
1885 by Vernon Harrison. 1997.

Defence of Madame Blavatsky by Beatrice Hastings. 2 volumes. 1937.

Isis very much unveiled : being the story of the great Mahatma hoax :
told from sources mainly theosophical by F. Edmund Garrett. 1894.

The Case against W.Q. Judge by Annie Besant. 1895.

Old Diary Leaves by Henry S. Olcott. 6 volumes.

Isis and the Mahatmas: A reply by William Q. Judge. 1895.

Reply by William Q. Judge to Charges of Misuse of Mahatmas' Names and
Handwritings. 1895.

Stokes, Henry S. Series of Articles on Relationship between William
Judge and Katherine Tingley. O.E. Library Critic. 1932-1935.

Some Reminiscences of William Q. Judge by E. August Neresheimer.
1932.

Robert Crosbie: The Friendly Philosopher 1849-1919. Compiled by
W. Dallas Tenbroeck

B.P. Wadia: A Life of Service to Mankind compiled by W. Dallas
Tenbroeck

Theosophy in the Nineteenth Century: An Annotated Bibliography by
Michael Gomes. 1994.