Customer Reviews
Aleister Crowley's friends - By: Ms. M. M. L. Packwood, 11 Oct 2009 
I had heard about Victor Neuburg from a book by Richard Cavendish called the Black Arts. Neuburg was a magical assistant to Aleister Crowley & accompanied him into the desert to perform magical spells & rituals during Crowley's North African sojourn. This book by the recently departed Jean Overton Fuller, a prolific writer & former British Spy during the Second World War describes her early daysin London as a young womanin the 1920s & 1930s & her deep love for Victor Neuburg & her shock at finding that he was formerlyin a homosexual relationship with Aleister Crowley. Indeed Crowley wasin fact the love of Victor Neuberg's life. Jean joins the the poetry society of Neuberg & his friends - called Zoists & gets to know the young Dylan Thomas who was also a member of the Zoists. She describes the friends of Victor Neuberg & his female companion Runia & the bohemian society they gathered around them. She particularly admires his poetry & his sensitivity & intellect. Later, after his death she spends much time & researchin discovering the detailed relationship of Victor Neuburg to Aleister Crowley - & their combined passion for Magic. But more importantly what came between then & why did they part?
A brilliant and intensely readable portrait of a true poet-m - By: , 21 Dec 2001 Miss Overton Fuller's book is a wonderfully written & compelling portrait of a neglected & important writer who provided lyrics to music composed by Peter Warlock & nurtured the talents of Dylan Thomas. Hitherto obscured by the bogus mythology surrounding his associate Aleister Crowley, Victor Neuberg has been regrettably overlooked &in this book Jean Overton Fuller thankfully provides us with a real picture of a true poet-mysticin the great visionary tradition & a beguiling account of her own meeting & relations with him.This is more than just a dry biography, it is a living glimpse of the literary & occult bohemia of 30's London & unfolds a story of some considerable poignancy. A superb & unique book.
