The Medusa's Head. Or Conversations Between Aleister Crowley and Adolf Hitler.
Thame, England: Mandrake Press Ltd., 1991. Limited edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 216pp. Blue buckram with gilt title, etc. to spine. Edition limited to 350 numbered copies. A very interesting ASSOCIATION COPY. This copy INSCRIBED on the first blank: "For Martin - 93 - The literary executioner's song, 93 93/93 Bill" - that is to say from William Breeze (Hymenaeus Beta of the O.T.O.) to Crowley scholar Martin P. Starr. The "executioner" is in part a play on the author (John Symonds') role as Crowley's literary executor. The relationship between Symonds and the regenerated O.T.O. was never good, and the O.T.O. eventually won a copyright challenge against the publishers of the book, and by default Symonds. The work itself is a bizarre novel about Crowley set in Germany during the rise of the Nazis. John Symonds - the best known of Crowley's early biographers - has borrowed the names of a number of Crowley associates of the time: Heinrich Traenker, Karl Germer, Albin Grau, Max Schneider, Martha Kuntzel, etc. and woven them into this truly odd fictional work. This volume has an exceptional provenance drawing together four significant figures in Crowley publishing in the late 20th century: Martin P. Starr (Teitan Press), Hymenaeus Beta (Outer Head of Ordo Templi Orientis), John Symonds (Crowley's literary executor) and Anthony Naylor (publisher at Mandrake Press Ltd). Bump to fore-edge of upper board, otherwise a tight, bright near Fine copy in VG dust jacket (Dust jacket spine slightly darkened, light rubbing and creasing to edges). Item #40956
ISBN: 1872736068
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