On its surface, Aleister Crowley's The Book Of Lies could easily be thought one of his lesser books. It certainly has less text than most ... following a format where on the verso there is a poem, invocation, obscure statement, or bit of brief philosophizing (typically around 12 lines), and on the recto there is a commentary on the preceding page, sometimes as brief as a single sentence, sometimes a dense extrusion of arcane symbolism.Reading through this, one also gets the sense that Crowley was working on this in a mode somewhat along the lines of a diary, as there is much coming and going, especially of LAYLAH, Crowley's magickal partner, 77, Lady Babalon, over whom The Great Beast moons like a schoolboy at times. Of course, while it is not inconceivable that Crowley might have allowed himself to become overbearingly smitten with the young lady, and even to write about it ... the thought that his pining for her in her absences may have more to do with the Sufi classics of "the beloved".
This volume, also, has a rather key place within the Crowley mythos ... as is discussed within the Foreword:
Now, I do wish that I had the "spiritual vision" to suss out the chapter so indicated (out of the 90-some in the book), but I've never immersed myself into Thelema to the extent where this would be obvious to me, and nobody who might be privy to such information has pointed it out. Suffice it to say, however, that the suspicion that this is a particularly dense bit of "feints and misdirections" enclosing some rather key mystical truths gains credence over the equally plausible theory that Crowley was having quite a go at his followers, as one might suggest from reading chapter 68:... One of these chapters bothered me. I could not write it. I invoked Dionysus with particular fervour, but still without success. I went off in desperation to 'change my luck', by doing something entirely contrary to my inclinations. In the midst of my disgust, the spirit came over me, and I scribbled the chapter down by the light of a farthing dip. When I read it over, I was as discontented as before, but I stuck it into the book in a sort of anger at myself as a deliberate act of spite towards my readers.
"Shortly after publication, the O.H.O. (Outer Head of the O.T.O.) came to me. (At that time I did not realise that there was anything in the O.T.O. beyond a convenient compendium of the more important truths of Free Masonry.) He said that since I was acquainted with the supreme secret of the Order, I must be allowed the IX° and obligated in regard to it. I protested that I knew no such secret. He said `But you have printed it in the plainest language'. I said that I could not have done so because I did not know it. He went to the book-shelves; taking out a copy of THE BOOK OF LIES, he pointed to a passage in the despised chapter. It instantly flashed upon me. The entire symbolism not only of Free Masonry but of many other traditions blazed upon my spiritual vision. From that moment the O.T.O. assumed its proper importance in my mind. I understood that I held in my hands the key to the future progress of humanity...."
... to which, the commentary ran:68
KEΦAΛΗ ΞΗ
MANNA
At four o'clock there is hardly anybody in Rumpel-
mayer's.
I have my choice of place and service; the babble of
the apes will begin soon enough.
"Pioneers, O Pioneers!"
Sat no Elijah under the Juniper-tree, and wept?
Was not Mohammed forsaken in Mecca, and Jesus
in Gethsemane?
These prophets were sad at heart; but the chocolate
at Rumpelmayer's is great, and the Mousse Noix
is like Nepthys for perfection.
Also there are little meringues with cream and
chestnut-pulp, very velvety seductions.
Sail I not toward LAYLAH within seven days?
Be not sad at heart, O prophet; the babble of the
apes will presently begin.
Nay, rejoice exceedingly; for after all the babble of
the apes the Silence of the Night.
As the saying goes: You mileage may vary! If you enjoy puzzles, or, perhaps, Mr. Crowley's writing in general, then you might very well find The Book Of Lies quite appealing. If, however, your tastes run towards "straightforward exposition", this might not be the book for you. One way or the other, you're in luck, as this (as is the case with most of Crowley's writings) is available free on-line over on SacredTexts.com (HERE, specifically).COMMENTARY (ΞΗ)
Manna was a heavenly cake which, in the legend, fed
the Children of Israel in the Wilderness.
The author laments the failure of his mission to
mankind, but comforts himself with the following
reflections:
(1) He enjoys the advantages of solitude. (2) Previous
prophets encountered similar difficulties in con-
vincing their hearers. (3) Their food was not equal to
that obtainable at Rumpelmayer's. (4) In a few days
I am going to rejoin Laylah. (5) My mission will
succeed soon enough. (6) Death will remove the
nuisance of success.
Now, I've not gotten to the point of "buying into" on-screen reading (although I love having a source for cut-and-paste rather than extensive-re-type quotes!), so obtaining the book is always a factor in my data flow. This is, of course, in print (most of Crowley's works stay that way), so you should be able to get it from your neighborhood bookmonger if you so chose, but Amazon has it at about 1/3rd off the coverprice, which makes it cheaper (once you get to free shipping, of course) than picking up a used copy! I wouldn't tell you not to ...
