THE POETRY REVIEW

London, England

January 1914

(pages 47-48)

TWO SINGERS OF DISTINCTION

AND OTHER REVIEWS.

Ambergris. A Selection from the Poems of Aleister Crowley. (London: E. Mathews.)

This book appeared in the summer of 1910. Since that time Mr. Crowley has come into greater prominence, not so much as Frater “Perdurabo,” but more as the writer of some sound prose and fine commentary criticism. He is outliving his inane attempts to reform the world by false magic, and his truer magic, his poetry, is gaining in influence. The present collection is a good and for the most part pleasing one, but we are quite sure the committee of which each member sat separately for the making of this selection did not include any maiden aunts. If so, the piece, “The Reaper,” would not have been reprinted, nor “The May Queen.” Parents of impressionable young ladies, please note. “The Goad” is a fine and inspiring piece, pleasantly reminiscent of Keats, and the first song is a splendid piece of word music.