THE SHEFFIELD DAILY INDEPENDENT

Sheffield, Yorkshire, Scotland

30 September 1929

(page 8)

SHORT STORIES.

The Stratagem. By Aleister Crowley (Mandrake Press. 3/6.)

Three short stories are included in this little volume and of them “The Testament of Magdalen Blair” is the most ambitious. Magdalen Blair has a peculiar ability to read thoughts, and the results of her power are devastating. One rises gradually to a crescendo of horror, and cannot help feeling relieved when passing on to the third story, “His Secret Sin,” an indictment of the attitude of a certain class of mind toward the beautiful.

“The Stratagem,” which opens the book, is distinguished by an exaggerated humour which is attractive.