
The Sword of Song
Called by Christians The Book of the Beast
By: Aleister Crowley, Richard Kaczynski (Editor)
Hardcover | 6 May 2025 | Edition Number 2
At a Glance
Hardcover
$156.25
Available: 6th May 2025
Preorder. Will ship when available.
• Presents Crowley’s preferred text, drawing on all existing draft manuscripts and margin notes from Crowley’s personal copies
• Contains an introduction and explanatory notes by Crowley biographer Richard Kaczynski, helping to illuminate obscure passages and references
• Includes Crowley’s mystical essays on his first forays into sex magic, his initial embrace of the legendary title of “the Beast,” and his encounters with the Golden Dawn, Buddhism, Agnosticism, and Christianity
Too inflammatory for English publishers, Aleister Crowley printed The Sword of Song, his first talismanic work, in Paris in 1904, releasing a mere one hundred copies. Deconstructing his encounters with the Golden Dawn, Buddhism, Agnosticism, and Christianity, the book explored Crowley’s magic and spiritual philosophy before he experienced the revelation that led to The Book of the Law. The Sword of Song also contained Crowley’s first manifesto, his first forays into sex magic, his initial embrace of the legendary title of "the Beast," the occult poem "Ascension Day," and mystical essays.
Now in this fully annotated deluxe hardcover edition, renowned Crowley biographer Richard Kaczynski presents Crowley’s preferred text for The Sword of Song, drawing on all existing draft manuscripts as well as unpublished margin notes from Crowley’s personal copies of the book. Kaczynski clarifies all the significant changes and additions throughout the book’s various iterations and provides explanations for the many occult and popular culture references. He also includes a substantial scholarly introduction, reflecting an intimate knowledge of Crowley and the development of his magical practice.
Kaczynski demonstrates how The Sword of Song was not only a prototype for Crowley’s later works such as Konx Om Pax and The Book of Lies, but that The Sword of Song's blend of poetry, allegory, fiction, and essay reveals the formative inner workings of one of the twentieth century’s most provocative thinkers just before he received the life-changing Book of the Law from the discarnate entity Aiwass.
Industry Reviews
ISBN: 9798888501511
Available: 6th May 2025
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Number of Pages: 464
Audience: General Adult
Publisher: Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
Edition Number: 2
Dimensions (cm): 25.4 x 17.78
Weight (kg): 0.87
Shipping
Standard Shipping | Express Shipping | |
---|---|---|
Metro postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
Regional postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
Rural postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
How to return your order
At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.
Additional postage charges may be applicable.
Defective items
If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.
For more info please visit our Help Centre.