Product Description

This collection of essays and articles, many of which first appeared in Vanity Fair and other magazines and journals, shows the wide range of Crowley as an essayist. His subjects include mysticism, magick, humor, social satire, drugs, psychoanalysis, religious fundamentalism, "pop" occultism, art, divination, mythology, and drama. Also included are several passionate essays and epistlatory letters on Crowley’s new religious philosophy, Thelema. Editorial annotations, bibliography, index.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #714029 in Books
• Published on: 1998-03
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

About the Author
Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), also known as 'The Great Beast' was one of the most profound students of Magick, Qabalah and yoga psychology. His vast influence reaches through all modern occultism. He is widely recognized as the first Western investigator to give initiation a truly scientific method. In reconciling occultism to physical science, mathematics and philosophy, Crowley achieved a lasting synthesis that remains unsurpassed for depth of insight and comprehensiveness.

Customer Reviews

It is what it is - without apology.
This book is exactly as described: a series of essays written by Crowley covering a wide range of topics. As with all of his work, the writing is eloquent and absorbing. The book is intended to introduce Crowley to a wider and modern audience, something which the content and prose of his essays are capable of doing. Both the new kids and the old folk will enjoy it. So, why only three stars?

In the editors introduction it is stated: "..essays have been annotated thoroughly for this edition; no apology is offered for pedantry and stodge." I automatically assumed this meant I'd be getting a mental revamp of the technical hodgepodge of Thelema as well as Crowley's personal life; however, not only do these annotations often take up more page than the content of the essay itself, but most is just full of useless information. For example, in the title essay "The Revival of Magick", Crowley writes:

"In this book Levi offered to the Church a way out of the difficulties raised by the advance of Science. That she rejected it was her suicide; just as Napoleon's disdain of his political philosophy was written large in letters of blood at Worth, Gravelotte, Metz and Sedan."

The accompanying footnote then reads:

"(The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) reigned from 1804-1815; Crowley is listing several of his major battles.)"

Does the editor truly think that the "general audience" new to Crowley does not know who Napoleon Bonaparte is, as well as in need of a complete clarification of the "letters of blood" reference to Worth, Gravelotte, Metz and Sedan?

Just one of many useless footnotes that take up space and distract from Crowley's illuminating essays.

Had the editor at least apologized for the "pedantic" and "stodgy" annotations, I'd have given it four stars.