Bizarre, devilish, macabre, thrilling, unhinged, ethereal, and, not least, humorous, Aleister Crowley's Moonchild tells of a battle between two magical lodges on the eve of the First World War. Into this battle is drawn a young lady who is to bear the soul of the moonchild. Upon its first publication in 1929, it was greeted with enthusiasm, as the following illustrates:
"We are constantly reminded of the moods of Anatole France and the methods of Rabelais. From extensive dissertations on magic and spiritualism we are suddenly switched into humour that is sometimes normal, sometimes sardonic. From a glimpse into the blackest mysteries of Hecate we are transferred to a wonderful white vision of the poets. From the trivialities of peace we emerge into the horrors of the Great War. Moonchild is not more fantastic than a thorough going "thriller", but it is also a satire and an allegory, full of disorder and genius." (Aberdeen Press & Journal, 25 October 1929.)
This edition contains annotations casting light on some lesser known facts and figures mentioned in the text, along with translations of Latin and French phrases appearing therein.
