The Diary of a Drug Fiend
by Aleister Crowley
‘This is a true story… It is a terrible story; but it is also a story of hope and of beauty.’
The Diary of a Drug Fiend tells the story of young Peter Pendragon and his lover Louise Laleham, and their adventures traveling through Europe in a cocaine and heroin haze. The bohemian couple’s binges produce visions and poetic prophecies, but when their supply inevitably runs dry they find themselves faced with the reality of their drug addiction. Through the guidance of King Lamus, a master adept, they use the application of practical Magick to free themselves from addiction.
Released as his first published novel in 1922 and dubbed "a book for burning" by the papers of the time, The Diary of a Drug Fiend reveals the poet, the lover, and the profound adept that was Aleister Crowley.
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Paperback Edition
384 pages. Printed card cover.
ISBN: 978-1-57863-494-1
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Press, reviews, endorsements
“The Diary of a Drug Fiend is not a moralistic tale about drugs and how bad they are. Rather, Crowley examines addiction as a form of thwarted spiritual search. The suffering endured by the main protagonists becomes a kind of extended ‘dark night of the soul’, where they are forced to confront the best and worst of themselves before emerging redeemed at the end of the story. Drugs per se are neither good nor evil, Crowley suggests, but rather, it is our attitude to them and how we use them in our lives, which matters… The Diary of a Drug Fiend is highly recommended. It is an intense and gripping read. It also shows… that horror is not always frights or gore, but also lurks within the mind, our fellow humans and in the chaotic universe around us.”
Lynette McClenaghan - read the full review here
“The Diary of a Drug Fiend has a lot of faults, from bad science to obvious propaganda to a ridiculous bourgeois perspective. Yet, for all its faults, the book is quite a gem. It provides a very unique insight into one of the most celebrated occultists of the modern age and in it’s self-conscious way gives a heartfelt and charming introduction to the religion of Thelema. As an insight into Crowley the book is invaluable. I found myself many times wondering if Crowley envisioned himself as Lamus, Pendragon, or both?… Not only is this a fascinating look at addiction from our history, for the discerning reader, the book is also a useful tool for exploring the concept of True Will.”
Star Foster for Patheos - read the full review here
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About the Author
The late Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) was an occultist, ceremonial magician, prolific writer, philosopher and mountaineer. In his youth, Crowley joined the occult organisation The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (1887-1903), where he received much of his training in theurgy and ceremonial magic. In 1904, Crowley established his own religion, Thelema (Greek for "the will”), for which he had reportedly received a divine revelation from an angel. Crowley believed that humans should strive to overcome both their desires and their socially-instilled inhibitions in order to find out the true purpose of their respective lives. Crowley had been dubbed “the wickedest man in the world” and “a man we’d like to hang” by the British press during the first half of the 20th century. A controversial figure, nevertheless, his influence on Western occultism cannot be easily overstated.
