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Correspondence from Gerald Yorke to Cecil Williamson
5, Montagu Square, W.1. Welbeck 6709.
[24 November 1955]
Dear Williamson,
Your 24 Nov. 55. So glad you have had a successful summer and that you are moving to Bourton on the Water. How you both must be tired of packing up and moving. I do hope that Bourton—which is a pleasant place in which to live—will mean that you can stay put for a bit.
Now for your queries. Book 4 part 1 was the first good elementary textbook on the technique of yoga to be published in the West, and still compare favourably with anything that has been published since.
Book 4 part 2 (Magic) on the instruments of the art, is still the best—in fact the only—practical handbook on the subject. Boo4 4 part 3 (Magick in Theory and Practice is still the best book on the subject providing that you are prepared to discount the portions dealing with the Book of the Law. In none of the above cases is the tongue in the cheek. They are practical handbooks suitable for use—the tongue does of course appear occasionally in the cheek, as it does in anything written by A.C. However where it occurs is intelligible enough to those knowing the subjects treated.
The Grants [Kenneth and Steffi Grant] address is 11a Fawley Road, Hampstead. N.W.6. I shall however be very surprised if Steffi is prepared to do more drawings for you. She is fully occupied with their new baby.
Picture Post for this last and next week are running a serial on Crowley. I provided them with some illustrations for it, and in return am getting a complete set of the frescoes found by Anger [Kenneth Anger] in the Abbey of Thelema in Cefalu. He is at work at this moment scraping away whitewash. Fascinating but quite unpublishable material.
Look me up when you are in London—but not after Dec 14 when I go to the country for the Xmas holidays. Am also away rather a lot of week-ends as my father cannot go down to the country unescorted now.
I came across a perfectly fascinating mummied human phallus, origin a small west country museum which was sold up. I told the dealer to write you and gave him your address. Far and away the most macabre thing I have ever seen. It is attached to part of the sacral bone. Just your line of country. He asked me £10 for it. But I should have had to keep it in a drawer, so declines. I strongly recommend it to you.
Yours
Gerald Yorke
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