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"The name Aleister Crowley instantly conjures visions of diabolic ceremonies and orgiastic indulgences and while the sardonic Crowley would perhaps be the last to challenge such a view, he was also much more than the Beast, as this authoritative biography shows. Perdurabo (the magical name Crowley chose when inducted into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn) traces Crowley's remarkable journey from his birth as the only son of a wealthy lay preacher to his death in a boarding house as the world's foremost authority on magick. Along the way, he rebels against his conservative religious upbringing; befriends famous artists, writers, and philosophers (and becomes a poet himself ); is attacked for his practice of the black arts ; and teaches that science and magick can work together. While seeking to spread his infamous philosophy of Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law, Crowley becomes one of the most notorious figures of his day. Based on Richard Kaczynski's twenty years of research, and including previously unpublished biographical details, Perdurabo paints a memorable portrait of the man who inspired the counterculture and influenced generations of artists, punk… (more)
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While perhaps overly sympathetic, this biography has the great grace to be readable – which so many things are not. It is also well supported by evidence – the notes are complete and the
Presenting more the man than the beast, it might well do to be balanced against with a less sympathetic tome. It is, however, a good introduction to this incredibly influential figure, taking in not only his magic(k) but his relationships, mountain climbing, publishing and art work.
It gives short biographies of almost everyone that comes into Crowley’s life; while their religious histories may be relevant, a lot of it seems unnecessary.
I would have like to see descriptions of the books he read and wrote, especially those on ‘magick’. It never really explained his religious beliefs, either. Aside from magick, he seems to have believed in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Kabbalah, along with many other religions. This book never explains how exactly that works. It does explain a few aspects of it, but not enough, in my opinion.
It is well researched, and it thoroughly lists its sources, so one could read more into it if one was so inclined. It remains pretty unbiased throughout, and seems to rely solely on facts with minimal speculating. That is exactly what I look for in a nonfiction book.