My review of Frances Yates and the Hermetic Tradition, by Marjorie G. Jones is up on SpiralNature.com.

Though I had of course heard of Frances Yates before, I didn’t know much about her, having only read Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition, and that only recently.

Published by Ibis Press, Jones’ Frances Yates and the Hermetic Tradition is the first full-length biography to be written about Yates, and it’s a fascinating read.

@djninjastar also pointed me in the direction of this interview with Jones about the book on the Occult Sentinel podcast.

Though allusions to her not being a properly trained historian are frequent, not being any kind of historian myself I’m still not clear on what the distinction is. Help with that?

Either way, I’d now like to read the rest of her works, The Art of Memory especially, as it’s been called one of the most influential books of the twentieth century.

Check out my review, and let me know if you’ve read Yates, and what your thoughts were about her work.

Popularity: 4%

Bought Crowley books that is.

An order came in today bearing a few of the books that are still in print that I didn’t already have. Including: Diary of a Drug Fiend (pictured right), White Stains, and the Sutin biography, Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley.

From the out of print market I also picked up The Revival of Magick and Other Essays (Oriflamme).

It’s great to see that Moonchild is in print again, even if it is a limited edition (I’ve already pre-ordered a copy), but with so many titles going out of print, I feel like I have to rush to fill the gaps in my library while I still can.

Whatever polarization there is amongst readers of Crowley, we’re not “beyond the books” (there is no such thing). This OOP situation needs to be rectified. I still can’t find a decently priced copy of Confessions.

Also, thanks to Joseph Thiebes who, on Plutonica.net’s Facebook page, let us know that Buying Crowley Books isn’t just a Facebook group and a Twitter account – it’s also a blog! Complete with an “Anti-Boycott” manifesto.

Final point, unrelated to Crowley (for now), but still on a bookish theme: the Esoteric Book Club is up and running. Check in and let us know where you’re at.

Popularity: 2%

Llewellyn Worldwide recently released a new book enigmatically titled: Aleister Crowley and Dion Fortune: The Logos of the Aeon and the Shakti of the Age, by Alan Richardson.

Richardson is the author of several other esoteric books, including one on Dion Fortune called Priestess: The Life and Magic of Dion Fortune, published by Thoth Publications.

So, what can we expect from this new book exploring the lives and works of two of the most…differently oriented people, shall we say? – of their time?

From Llewellyn:

Aleister Crowley and Dion Fortune were two of the most controversial and powerful occultists of the 20th century. Crowley was regarded by many as a creature of the night, albeit one whose soul was streaked with brilliance; Fortune was viewed as one of the Shining Ones, who nevertheless wrestled with her own darkness. Between them they produced some of the best books on magick ever written, and their influence upon contemporary magicians has been profound.

Written by occult scholar Alan Richardson, this unusual and provocative book draws upon unpublished material to reveal little-known aspects of Crowley and Fortune’s relationship, and their role as harbingers of sweeping cultural changes—foreshadowing the women’s movement, the sexual revolution, and 1960s counterculture—as well as other surprising influences upon our present culture.

I’m intrigued.

Popularity: 2%

Weiser Antiquarian‘s fifty eighth catalogue titled “Austin Osman Spare. Books and Ephemera.” features works by and about Spare.

Here you’ll find first editions of Spare’s work, as well as (more affordable) reprints, biographies and rare catalogues from art exhibitions.

I just bought a copy of Evolution, Volume One, by Stephen Pochin and two catalogues, Borough Satyr and Austin Osman Spare: Artist – Occultist – Sensualist which I’m very excited about.

It’s also fascinating to see how much the prices have climbed for some of the works I already own. Geeze. If you’re interested in Spare, and can afford to, buy while still can.

And hey, as an added bonus, it looks like Weiser Anitquarian now hosts a variety of RSS feeds so you can be notified of any new books that come in under your favourite categories. Neat.

Popularity: 7%

Best remembered by mainstream science as John Whiteside Parsons, inventor of the solid fuel that helped make space travel possible, occultists know Jack Parsons as a devoted Thelemite, chosen by Aleister Crowley to lead the Ordo Templi Orientis’ Agape Lodge in California in the early forties.

The  comic, titled “The Marvel: A Biography of Jack Parsons“, is written by Richard Carbonneau and illustrated by Robin Simon.  The story follows Parsons’ life closely, beginning with his childhood and adolescence, carrying through to adulthood.  Continue reading »

Popularity: 5%