JOHN SYMONDS.

THE GREAT BEAST: THE LIFE AND MAGICK OF ALEISTER CROWLEY.

London: Macdonald & Co. FIRST EDITION. 1971.

viii + 413 pages w/ Index. FRONTISPIECE ILLUSTRATION.  Large octavo (9 by 6 inch) hardcover with d/j, black cloth with titling in gilt to spine.

D/j quite tattered with some loss to edges but now preserved in a removable mylar sleeve, some writing & old pricing front (SEE PIC), light spotting (foxing I think) to top edge & foredge (SEE PIC), spine a touch cocked, o/w hinges firm & GOOD CONDITION.

SYMONDS is well known for his expertise on Aleister Crowley, having edited (along with Kenneth Grant) Crowley's “Confessions", “Magick", and “The Magical Record of the Beast 666".

CONTENTS:

PREFACE.

1.) PAST LIVES. • 2.) FATHER AND SON. • 3.) THE HERMETIC ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN. • 4.) THE LAIRD OF BOLESKINE. • 5.) AGAINST CHOGO RI. • 6.) PRINCE AND PRINCESS CHIOA KHAN. • 7.) AIWASS, THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL. • 8.) KANGCHENJUNGA, THE FIVE SACRED PEAKS. • 9.) THE WALK ACROSS CHINA. • 10.) THE STAR IN THE WEST. • 11.) THE VISION AND THE VOICE. • 12.) AB-UL-DIZ. • 13.) THE HIGH MAGICK ART. • 14.) THE WIZARD IN THE WOOD. • 15.) THE SCARLET WOMAN. • 16.) CONCUBINES ONE AND TWO. • 17.) THE SACRED ABBEY OF THELEMA. • 18.) THE IPSISSIMUS. • 19.) CAKES OF LIGHT FOR MARY BUTTS. • 20.) THE FOUNTAIN OF HYACINTH. • 21.) KING LAMUS OF TELEPYLUS. • 22.) FRATER AUD. • 23.) NORMAN MUDD, A PROBATIONER OF THE A.:A.:. • 24.) IN EXILE. • 25.) THE PERSECUTION OF THE THELEMITES. • 26.) THE REBIRTH OF ALOSTRAEL. • 27.) A NEST OF SERPENTS. • 28.) THE BEAST AND THE MONSTER. • 29.) THE AMBIVALENCE OF BERTHA BUSCH. • 30.) MR JUSTICE SWIFT IS SURPRISED. • 31.) MAGICAL RETIREMENT.

INDEX.

[rosy rose cross rosicrucian occult occultism esoteric hidden knowledge esoterica grimoires lesser greater key of solomon invocation evocation divination scrying metaphysics metaphysical spiritualism spiritism wicca wiccan black magic magick rose cross ancient mysteries mystery goetia religions mediaeval medieval renaissance alchemy hermeticism freemasonry masonic secret societies conspiracy egypt egyptian greece greek rome roman paganism pagan psychology hallucinogens psychoactive shamanism satanism sethian left hand path demonology church of satan anton lavey illuminati lovecraft cthulhu necronomicon]

A SCARCE FIRST BRITISH EDITION. THE D/J ON THIS EDITION WAS MADE OF THIN GOLD FOIL AND IS OFTEN MISSING. HERE IT IS TATTERED BUT PRESERVED IN MYLAR (SEE DETAILS ABOVE).