THE NEW YORK TIMES

New York City, New York, U.S.A.

8 August 1952

BOOKS—AUTHORS.

“The Great Beast: The Life of Aleister Crowley” [1875-1947], by John Symonds, will be issued on Oct. 5 by Roy. It is a biography of the poet, mystic, mountaineer, exhibitionist, drug addict, diabolist, who was expelled from Italy in 1923 and France in 1929 because of his notorious black magic masses and sexual orgies. He was also the man who gathered around himself a following of devoted scholars and seekers after the spiritual life who believed him to be a Messiah. Mr. Symonds has based the book on Crowley’s private papers.