The Great Beast: The Life of Aleister Crowley

John Symonds

Published by Rider & Co., 1951

About this Item

First edition, first printing of this important biographical work on Aleister Crowley. Symonds met Crowley a year before Crowley's death and was named as his literary executor in his will. At first fascinated by Crowley, Symonds became increasingly critical of his ideas and manners. While Symonds has been called "that most hostile biographer," it has also been noted that "regardless of his reception, it is no exaggeration to state that without the publication efforts of Symonds (and Grant) Crowley could easily have been a forgotten figure by the 1970s." London: Rider & Co., 1951. Bound in publisher's blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt; frontispiece and black and white plates throughout, pp. 316. A very good copy in an about good, unclipped dust jacket. Light wear and toning to boards, front board a bit bowed, offsetting to endpapers, internally clean with a few instances of foxing. Jacket shows wear with a few closed tears and chipping to extremities, a few tape reinforcements to verso, protected in archival mylar. Scarce. Seller Inventory # ABE-1693418949524

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Great Beast: The Life of Aleister Crowley

Publisher: Rider & Co.

Publication Date: 1951

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Good

Edition: 1st Edition