The Legend of Aleister Crowley

by P.R. Stephensen (Contributor), Israel Regardie (Editor), Lon Milo DuQuette (Foreword)

The Legend Of Aleister Crowley has the focus and passion of timeliness. An invaluable and honest appraisal of a man who was called "monster", "degenerate", "traitor", "criminal", "pornographer", and "devil worshipper". Written by men who really knew the man behind the myth.

Genres: Thelema, Biography, Nonfiction, Magick, Religion, Psychology, Magic

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1930

Reviews

[luvcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent defense of Crowley in regard to all the undeserved, nonsensical and sensationalist attacks that appeared in the press defaming him, inventing stories about how he was a murderer, a cannibal, a man who forces women to sell their bodies on the street to be able to buy drugs, and more. Articles with titles such as "A man we'd like to hang", "The king of depravity arrives" and "A cannibal at large". Lie after lie in the media created a lot of nasty rumours like how he eats babies while worshipping the devil and stuff like that, you know how rumors work. Rumors that are still alive to this day, and they are very far from the truth. Nowadays he's being criticised with false accusations even among occultists.

The main attacks started just when they knew that he didn't had any money left to sue them and when one of his good friends who lived with him in the Abbey died from drinking poisonous water in a mountain. Of course they attributed the death to Crowley. He criticized christianism a lot and never feared talking taboo, so he was in the crosshairs since a long time.

"I expect men to be rational, courageous, and to applaud initiative, though an elementary reading of history tells one, with appalling reiteration, how every pioneer has been persecuted, whether it's Galileo, Harvey, Gauguin, or Shelley ; there is a universal outcry against any attempt to destroy the superstitions which hamper or foster the progress which helps the development of the race. Why should I escape the excommunication of Darwin or the ostracism of Swinburne ? As a matter of fact, I am consoled in my moments of weakness and depression by the knowledge that I am so bitterly abused and hated. It proves to me that my work, whether mistaken or not, is at least worth while."
~ AC

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating littany of the many attacks and scurrilous accusations printed in the press of the times about Aleister Crowley's character, conduct, and literary works.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going through the Non-Fiction on my shelf, It was interesting enough to hold on to, but it's been so long I don't remember the details.

[Damien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally found a copy of this book around 1983-1984. I liked it then, and I mostly like it having re-read this newer edition these last few days. It is sort of funny that if you read The Magical Record of the Beast 666, this book's insistence regarding Crowley's sexual decency would come off as hilarious. However, it is very true that he never pimped off the women of the Abbey of Thelema, or even had orgies unless one considers a three-way an orgy. While Regardie's contribution is interesting (and in a few places helpful over all), I've long been annoyed that he tried to steal co-author credit, when in reality he basically just added his introduction and then an epilogue to a secondary edition.

[Lyndsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted this to be a different book than what it was, so it feels unfair to rate it. An entertaining defense of Crowley, but it's also a completely rabid defense of him, and it's pretty much focused on his reputation as a great british poet.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

good info on a brilliant but mad individual