Special Sub-Topic: Aleister Crowley Click Here To Play: Aleister Crowley

What was Crowley's real name?

Edward Alexander Crowley. Crowley was named after his father, Edward, and a pious family friend called Alexander.

Crowley's parents belonged to which religious group?

Plymouth Brethren. The Plymouth Brethren were an extremely strict sect and, whilst growing up, Crowley was forbidden to read any other book apart from the Bible.

Which famous rock star bought Crowley's Scottish manor house, Boleskine Lodge?

Jimmy Page. Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page has the largest collection of Crowleyana in the world, including some of Crowley's original diaries.

The novel "The Magician" featured the lead character Oliver Haddo who was based on Crowley. Who was the author?

W. Somerset Maugham. Maugham met Crowley in Paris, around 1904, and instantly disliked him. His unflattering portrayal of Crowley in "The Magician" led Crowley to describe the book as, "an amusing hotchpotch of stolen goods."

Which mountain did Crowley attempt to climb in 1902?

K2. The K2 expedition ended in disaster with Crowley accused of causing the death of a fellow mountaineer. The expedition failed to get to the summit but they did break the existing altitude endurance records.

What is the correct Thelemic response to Crowley's dictum, "Love is the law..."?

"...love under will.". The religion founded by Crowley was called Thelema. Its main tenet is, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." When followers of Thelema greet each other, they often say "Love is the law", to which the proper reply is "love under will."

In 1929, the first two volumes of Crowley's autobiography were published. What was the book called?

The Confessions of Aleister Crowley. With typical ego, Crowley subtitled his book "An Autohagiography" which translates as "autobiography of a Saint."

What was the highest magical grade that Crowley claimed to have achieved?

Ipsissimus. Crowley claimed to have attained the grade of Ipsissimus in 1921, during a ritual at his abbey at Cefalu, in Sicily.

Who was the person who died in mysterious circumstances at Crowley's Abbey of Thelema?

Raoul Loveday. Raoul Loveday was rumoured to have died after drinking the blood of a cat, although the more likely explanation for his death was that he had drunk contaminated water from a local spring.

According to Deirdie McAlpine, who was at Crowley's bedside when he died, what were his last words?

"Sometimes I hate myself.". It is often thought that Crowley's last words were, "I am perplexed." This, however, is just hearsay. Deirdie McAlpine, mother to one of Crowley's children, was the last person to hear him speak.