Carl de Vidal Hunt

Born: 1869.

Died:  Unknown.

Carl de Vidal Hunt was hired by Crowley in September 1927 to prepare the public for his publication of the Book of the Law. After becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1895, Hunt settled in Los Angeles, where he became part of the nascent motion picture industry, appearing in such early films as Roaring Camp (1916), The Marriage of Arthur (1916), and Jeremias (1922). While in his mid-fifties, he became a journalist, writing racy human interest stories that were syndicated across America. In Crowley's employ, he published a story about Hollywood Jane Wolfe's stay at Cefalu as a resident of the Abbey of Thelema run by "Sir Aleister Crowley, high priest of Thelema (oriental philosophy)."

Crowley was soon paying Hunt £20 a month for his services. Besides preparing the British public for the appearance of Magick in Theory and Practice and editing his Confessions, Hunt was also responsible for trying to arrang Crowley's marriage to a wealthy woman who would support his work.

As with most relationships in Crowley's life, his dealings with Hunt soon deteriorated. In Crowley's mind Hunt had too many irons in the fire and was unable to devote enough time to any and Crowley soon stopped paying Hunt's salary. Hunt promised dire consequences if Crowley refused to pay his salary. Crowley merely scoffed at him and Hunt retaliated by taking a stack of Crowley's news cuttings to the Prefecture. He also told the official that Crowley had been questioned regarding rumors that he had strangled three women in Sicily, and asked the authorities to look into the matter. In response, Crowley alleged that Hunt had stolen his personal property.