The King's Psychic.; The True Story of the Occultist Doctor Who Ensnared Edward VIII, England's Nazis and World War II Commanders
Ilkey, UK: Great Northern Press, 2014. First Edition. Softcover. Octavo. 254pp. Illustrated card covers, b&w photos, appendices. "The true story of an occultist doctor’s role in Edward VIII’s abdication and his influence over British high command during World War II." The doctor in question Alexander Cannon (1896– 1963), was a British psychiatrist, occultist, hypnotist, author and true eccentric. He studied at a number of British and European universities, before living and working in Hong Kong and Canton, and travelling in India, China and Tibet. After his return to England Cannon received a Doctorate of Psychiatric Medicine from the Royal College of Medicine in 1931, and served as psychiatrist and research scientist at Colney Hatch Mental Hospital, where he became acquainted with Aleister Crowley, whose second wife, Marie de Miramar, was confined at the institution. Throughout the 1930s Cannon authored a number of books on aspects of the occult and hypnosis that were quite popular. From the publisher: "One man's amazing role in the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII has remained secret – until now. Dr Alexander Cannon was a ‘master of black magic in England’ who was described as enjoying a powerful hold over the psychologically-ailing King Edward. Dr Cannon’s sphere of influence extended at the start of World War II to include military top brass. During his many investigations into the paranormal, he played cupid in what must have been the war’s most bizarre top secret experiment, bringing together a naval commander and the doctor's 'psychic' assistant – all in the name of the war effort. But was Cannon a spy, getting high-ranking patients to disclose military secrets under hypnosis? The more MI5 agents spied on him, the more they became deeply alarmed. Prize-winning Journalist Sean Stowell pieces together The King’s Psychic using MI5 files, archives, journals and obscure history books to tell a hidden story about a significant part of Britain’s history." Anecdotally written, the book focuses, as suggested, on Cannon's connections with the British establishment. NEW book in Fine condition. Item #69943
ISBN: 9780957295193
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