Very few books have resulted in the controversy that "The Diary of a Drug Fiend" has caused since its original publication in 1922. While much of the debate is centered on the novel's author Aleister Crowley, the story itself has both enchanted and enraged audiences for nearly a century. Despite being a fictional work, Crowley drew from his own experiences as a heavy drug user for the context of the plot. Peter Pendragon and Louise Laleham, in a drug-induced night of passion, get married after meeting each other for the ...
Read More
Very few books have resulted in the controversy that "The Diary of a Drug Fiend" has caused since its original publication in 1922. While much of the debate is centered on the novel's author Aleister Crowley, the story itself has both enchanted and enraged audiences for nearly a century. Despite being a fictional work, Crowley drew from his own experiences as a heavy drug user for the context of the plot. Peter Pendragon and Louise Laleham, in a drug-induced night of passion, get married after meeting each other for the first time. During their honeymoon, they are introduced to heroin and cannot quit taking drugs. They end up in jail and are eventually returned to England. Through the rest of their "honeymoon period," both Peter and Louise find themselves unable to give up their addiction. In their own sections of narration, they both exhibit the demented mindset of an addict, giving the text a visceral and realistic feel. Rather than overcoming their addictions, though, Crowley introduces his characters to the beginnings of his own religion, Thelema, which says that users can master their drug addiction and control the drugs' affects over themselves. Regardless of one's opinion of Aleister Crowley and his beliefs, "The Diary of a Drug Fiend" is a truly modernistic and existential book that demands of its readers an understanding of the experiences and emotions of a drug addict.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Diary of a Drug Fiend to cart. $7.79, very good condition, Sold by Dotcom liquidators / dc1 rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fort Worth, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2014 by Digireads.com.
Add this copy of The Diary of a Drug Fiend to cart. $10.30, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2014 by Digireads.com.
Add this copy of The Diary of a Drug Fiend to cart. $29.68, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2014 by Digireads. com.
Add this copy of The Diary of a Drug Fiend to cart. $58.84, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2014 by Digireads. com.
For those who listen to Black Sabbath, Ozzy, or wanted to get to know the real Mr. Crowley; or dealve into the Black Art, well this is a fair book on both. It also had some close truisms to being a drug addict and the aspects of depending on drugs.
AbAlexander
Feb 4, 2009
New Pantheon Press Release:
"Diary of A Drug Fiend" is an amazingly well written novel. For those accustomed to "Crowly-speak," you're in for a treat. And particularly for the uninitiated, in this you will find all ever asked from a novel. A wildly entertaining read. Built upon the foundation of his Thelemic law, the thinly veiled characters delight us as familiar and greatly nuanced personalities. Based largely upon personal experiences, his tale of wild and unrepentant drug use(mainly heroin and cocaine, though he covers them all) chronicles a very humanized, not demonized, path. Aleister Crowley writes to great detail regarding all facets of drug use--from the phenomena to the rehabilitation. With intimate characters and beautiful settings, cover to cover, this novel is a rebellious delight!