What a treat for the modern occultist! Here is a parallel biography of the two prime movers of the modern magick revival in the 20th century.
     Both Aleister Crowley and Dion Fortune were true exemplars of the Western mystery and magick tradition in action. Both have left a legacy of magickal teachings and affected many areas on the social and metaphysical landscape of our times.
     As author Alan Richardson – himself no mean occultist – notes in his introduction, this is a twin biography in an unusual form. It is a backwards story, starting at the end and following the string, so-to-speak, as it leads the reader back in time.
     In this form, it illuminates the life and times of both subjects, enabling the reader to place them firmly in their social and metaphysical context.
     Alan Richardson is an occult writer on many metaphysical subjects. Some of his important works are on Dion Fortune, Gerald Gardner, and other well-known and powerful mages in 20th century organisations.
     His research tends to be objective as he claims to have no affiliation to any lodge, order or temple. He shares much never-before-published material in this book that will further clarify the important works that Crowley and Fortune gave to the Western esoteric heritage.
     The style of the book is quite accessible and easy-to-read. For readers unfamiliar with the magickal tradition, there may be some bemusement. The connections between the two mages of the title and other major figures in the magickal revival reads like a who’s who of the 20th century movement.
     Mr. Richardson uses the subjects’ own words where it reinforces his points, or other notables who had significant connection with them. There are pertinent footnotes and two appendices with a solid bibliography at the rear of the book.
       Aleister Crowley (AC). What can you say about this self-styled ‘Beast’, or Logos of the Aeon? There is no denying his legacy and influence on Western culture.
       The author looks first at his rather lacklustre death from pneumonia in 1947, an old drug addict, having expended himself in World War II on behalf of the Allies. (All his battling was supposedly done on the astral plane.) This contrasts with his multifaceted action-man life of travel, adventure, sexual outrage, and magick.
     His books are among the best available on ritual magick. The picture emerges of a fascinating, intelligent man with a huge ego, emerging from a strict Plymouth Brethren family.
     Dion Fortune (DF) was born Violet Mary Firth in 1890. In the ‘compare and contrast’ with AC, she seems to be the polar opposite of AC.
     She died a year earlier than AC, of leukaemia, also exhausted from her spiritual efforts on the etheric planes during the war. The author illustrates her life as one of spiritual discipline and psychic battles.
     Her many written works on magick and metaphysics are still among the best. Her metaphysical fiction is top quality.
     How were AC and DF connected? Mr. Richardson shows that they were not personally connected, but had many acquaintances in common.
     The magick revival in 20th century England was a small community and made up of artists, metaphysicians, writers, poets, middle-class dilettantes, and sincere Wiccans and pagans. In particular, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn had a huge influence, as did Theosophy.
     AC wrote books, articles, rituals, and DF was busy writing books, essays and articles on ritual magick and psychology, as well keeping up a steady correspondence with many people. They both founded mystery schools, some of which still exist today.
     Both were well versed in Western and Eastern metaphysics, and used elements from both in their own rituals. This, then, becomes a veritable history of the modern magickal revival as well as the dual biography of two of its most influential and powerful members. Today, their legacy is seen in many areas of society, and the freedoms we currently take for granted.
     AC and DF were two very eccentric people whose ideas affected many. Both were giants in their circle and Mr. Richardson presents a very even-handed parallel biography of their life and work.
     I recommend this book to anyone who seeks a succinct, accurate and objective history of both Aleister Crowley and Dion Fortune.