The Diary of a Drug Fiend: Gilded Pocket Edition

Name: The Diary of a Drug Fiend: Gilded Pocket Edition
Price: 13.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Crowley, Aleister
ISBN: 9781398869240

✍️ Crowley, Aleister

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Dive into a dark European odyssey of love, addiction, and forbidden magick.

Aleister Crowley's compelling narrative, influenced by his own tumultuous life, plunges readers into the scandalous journey of Sir Peter Pendragon and Louise Laleham. As they traverse Europe, their passionate romance becomes intertwined with a dangerous descent into cocaine addiction and the practice of esoteric magick. This "gilded pocket edition" beautifully presents a raw, gritty, and supernatural tale that fearlessly exposes the complex truths of human nature and the allure of the unknown. It's a revealing exploration of obsession, hedonism, and spiritual seeking.

Key themes

{'title': "Obsessive Love's Grip", 'body': 'The novel meticulously charts the intense, often destructive, romantic entanglement between Peter and Louise. Their love is portrayed not as a tender bond, but as a consuming force that propels them deeper into their shared vices and esoteric pursuits, blurring the lines between devotion and codependency amidst their hedonistic escapades.'} {'title': 'Descent into Addiction', 'body': "Crowley offers an unflinching look at the insidious nature of drug addiction, specifically cocaine, through the characters' experiences. The narrative explores the initial allure, the subsequent dependency, and the profound impact on their physical, mental, and spiritual states, revealing how substances can both fuel and derail the search for transcendence."} {'title': 'Unveiling Dark Magick', 'body': 'Beyond mere dabbling, the book delves into the practical application and philosophical underpinnings of magick. It portrays how Peter and Louise integrate occult rituals and principles into their increasingly chaotic lives, suggesting that these practices are not separate from their worldly desires and addictions, but deeply interwoven with their quest for ultimate experience.'}

🏛 Sirius Entertainment 📅 2026 📖 336 pages 🌐 en 📐 Hardcover ISBN: 9781398869240

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Fun fact

Crowley's *Diary* is a potent, unflinching descent into the abyss of human desire and spiritual experimentation. It excels in its raw portrayal of addiction and the seductive power of the occult, offering a darkly captivating journey. Those seeking a straightforward narrative or clear moral lessons might find its ambiguities challenging. It stands as a seminal, if controversial, work within the esoteric literary canon, offering a mirror to the soul's shadows and the complex interplay of vice and spiritual yearning.

📝 Description: The Diary of a Drug Fiend: Gilded Pocket Edition

This classic tales of love, addiction and occult intrigue is presented here in an ornate pocket hardback edition with silver cover embossing and gilded page edges. Based on Aleister Crowley's own experiences, this story follows Sir Peter Pendragon and Louise Laleham on their journey across Europe. While falling in love, the pair also falls into adventures, cocaine and magick. Dark, gritty and supernatural, it's a revealing tale that exposes the truth of human nature. This is elegantly presented with a embossed cover design, ivory pages, beautifully designed endpapers and gilded page edges, making a wonderful gift or collectible for any fans of the occult.

⭐ Reader reviews

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⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.7/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to tales where human nature's shadows meet esoteric practices, or seek a raw exploration of obsession and altered states, this journey across Europe is for you. Fans of psychological depth, occult fiction, and Crowley's unique perspective will find much to ponder within these gilded…

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❓ Frequently asked questions

While presented as a novel, 'The Diary of a Drug Fiend' is deeply informed by Aleister Crowley's personal experiences, esoteric philosophies, and the events of his own life. It blurs the lines between autobiography and fiction, offering a potent, albeit dramatized, insight into his world.

This "Gilded Pocket Edition" is designed as a collector's item or a luxurious gift. It features an ornate, silver-embossed cover, beautifully designed endpapers, and gilded page edges, elevating the reading experience of this classic occult tale.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Obsessive Love's Grip

The novel meticulously charts the intense, often destructive, romantic entanglement between Peter and Louise. Their love is portrayed not as a tender bond, but as a consuming force that propels them deeper into their shared vices and esoteric pursuits, blurring the lines between devotion and codependency amidst their hedonistic escapades.

Descent into Addiction

Crowley offers an unflinching look at the insidious nature of drug addiction, specifically cocaine, through the characters' experiences. The narrative explores the initial allure, the subsequent dependency, and the profound impact on their physical, mental, and spiritual states, revealing how substances can both fuel and derail the search for transcendence.

Unveiling Dark Magick

Beyond mere dabbling, the book delves into the practical application and philosophical underpinnings of magick. It portrays how Peter and Louise integrate occult rituals and principles into their increasingly chaotic lives, suggesting that these practices are not separate from their worldly desires and addictions, but deeply interwoven with their quest for ultimate experience.

💬 Quotes from the book

«The white powder promised liberation, but delivered only deeper chains, each dose a surrender to a more potent, terrible master.»

«In the depths of our depravity, where flesh met spirit and will defied consequence, we found a truer form of magick, raw and unyielding.»

📜 Historical context

Published in the early 20th century, Crowley's novel emerges from an era fascinated by occult revival and decadent counter-culture. It reflects the author's own life and Thelemic philosophies, presenting a thinly veiled exploration of his experimental approach to spirituality, sexuality, and consciousness. This work stands as a testament to the period's intellectual and spiritual ferment.

📚 Glossary

Occultism
Magick (Crowleyan)
Fiend

📔 Questions to reflect on

{'text': "How does the pursuit of extreme experiences, whether through substances or spiritual practices, ultimately reveal or obscure one's true self?"}
{'text': 'Consider the intersection of love, dependency, and personal will as portrayed in the narrative. Where do these forces align or conflict?'}
{'text': "What truths about human nature, particularly its darker aspects, do you believe this 'revealing tale' uncovers?"}