Magical & Philosophical Commentaries on The Book of the Law

[Ariock]

Magical and Philosophical Commentaries on The Book of the Law
by Aleister Crowley, edited by Grant and Symonds
93 Publishing (1974)
 
A title that set a standard for quality of production that I feel many are still trying to catch up to. The occasional typos aside, this is my personal favourite version of the Commentaries.

[Michael Staley]

I agree with you, Ariock; it's a beautifully produced book. I'd love to reach agreement with the holder of the Aleister Crowley copyright in order to republish it.

I've often wished that the projected The Paris and Amalantrah Workings had not fallen through. Grant's Introduction and notes survive, however. So again, depending on reaching agreement with the holders of the Crowley copyright, it might finally be published.

[Ariock]

A Starfire reprint of this would be spectacular! Given the demand for this text, it would certainly sell well, and thus generate revenue for said copyright holder. It is a shame the speed at which they seem to move in terms of long-promised new/revised materials.

[christibrany]

Its my favourite crowley book I own. Not just for the way it looks, but for the wonderful content expounding on the most important Crowley book

[Ariock]

Worth noting that our friends at Treadwell's just got a copy of this title, as well as the Symonds/Grant edited Magical Record of the Beast 666 in stock.

[Marc]

Magical and Philosophical Commentaries is probably the most inspiring book I've ever read. When I first got it, I struggled to put it down.

[ptoner]

Really am hoping that at some stage in the future, a similar edition, with the same comments gets released. Out of my price range currently, always looked at this with pure want in my eyes! :-)

[Michael Staley]

I was lucky enough to buy mine from a London bookshop soon after the book was published. Though of course a sumptuous production, Crowley's commentaries are extremely interesting, as are Grant's notes and Introduction. I appreciate, Paul, that you weren't even a glint in your father's eye at that time (mid 1970s), so it's always been a scarce book.

[Ariock]

I had a copy at my bookshop in the 90's. It was one of the very few titles that I regretted letting slip through my hands. For over a decade, I could not find a copy at the condition and/or price I was looking for. I was lucky to obtain the above pictured copy a few years ago, for half what I sold my copy for, and in near-mint condition (it even has the errata slip in it). From the stampings inside, it seems to have had an interesting history as well.

[Vadge Moore]

I've often wondered if this version is the same as the Falcon Law Is For All but with Introduction and notes by Grant, or is there a more significant difference?

[ptoner]

It also has this comment as far as I understand. along with the old and the new comment.

hermetic.com/legis/djeridensis/

[Vadge Moore]

Wow. That is fantastic. I can't believe I've never seen this. Thanks ptoner. I have the Magical Diaries of the Beast 666 by Duckworth with spectacular commentaries by Grant. I can only imagine how amazing the commentaries by Grant must be in this version of Liber AL!

[Edward Gauntlett]

The Grant/Symonds, Regardie and Motta editions of the comments all came out around the same time - 1974 / 75. Agape magazine No 8 (circa 1976) ran a three column book review comparing the texts in which, referring to the New Comment they said Regardie lacked some material included by Grant. I found that the Motta version, while being cut by about a third, nevertheless included passages that Grant and Symonds had omitted largely, I think, on the basis that they dealt with scientific theories which had been superseded by the time of publication. One problem with the Regardie version is that he did not "dare" to "meddle with the text except to standardize somewhat spelling". The editors of Agape commented that "Standardize in this instance means Americanise [sic] words like 'colour' into 'color'." They go on to say he hadn't done this to Liber Al itself... but he had, e.g. I 60 "My color is black to the blind". Tut. The Djeridensis Comment is (or was then) unique to the Grant/Symonds edition.

[Marc]

I've often wondered if there exists a commentary on the passages in Liber AL (Chapter III:37) commencing with "Unity uttermost showed, I adore the might of thy breath....". If someone knows of a commentary that exists, I would love to hear about it.

[Vadge Moore]

There is, Marc; in the Law Is For All Falcon edition. However, the passage number 37 begins with, "I adore thee in the song-" and continues with the ode to Ra-Hoor-Khuit. Would you like me to quote the entire commentary to verses 36-38? it's a short comment and I wouldn't mind.

[Vadge Moore]

Edward- I've always loved the Motta versions of Liber AL and Magick Without Tears, principally because Motta includes his own commentary. Fascinating stuff.

[Edward Gauntlett]

Vadgemoore, I liked the idea of having commentary and appreciated Motta's intention (as I saw it) of moving the work along. Regrettably, being his own editor and publisher for most of what one might call his 'posthumous collaborations', he included much that should have been omitted; sometimes illuminating though. Crowley himself wanted someone more like the average bloke on the bus to provide an additional commentary to his own and asked (among others) Louis Wilkinson to write one, so Motta had a justification for the format of his "Commentaries on AL"; it would have been nice if Grant had taken the same line.

[Vadge Moore]

Edward...I agree. Funny enough, it would seem that ALL of Grant's books are a commentary on Liber AL, obviously expanded and with his own bent.

[Marc]

Hi Vadge Moore, thanks for the reference to "The Law is for All"..I actually have that book and couldn't remember the specific comment to that whole adoration. I was wondering if there was another, perhaps more elaborated one. I've always wondered about references in the reference to "Supreme and Terrible God" and to whom exactly this is addressing. I have thought of Ra-Hoor-Khuit or Set. Even the comment in "The Law is for All" is somewhat vague. It refers really only to the Rosicrucian Benediction.

[Vadge Moore]

Marc- in that particular adoration Ra-Hoor-Khuit is being addressed...as you can see on the Stele of Revealing, of which that adoration is attached. Ankh-af-na-Khonsu is addressing the god, with, of course, Nuit arched over them and Hadit, the winged globe, nearest to Nuit at the top.

[Vadge Moore]

And, I forgot to mention...Ra-Hoor-Khuit is a form of the hawk headed Horus.

[Marc]

Thanks again Vadge, you know, I actually never thought of pulling the Stele of Revealing out and looking at it during the reading of the commentary to this adoration even though I knew it was on the Stele.....I guess forums like these definitely have their use in making the simplest things click in your head once in a while

[Vadge Moore]

Marc- Absolutely! Especially this particular forum. When Michael announced its coming months back, I couldn't wait.

[Gregory Peters]

This book is one of my most cherished possessions, a true talisman and the best commentary on the Book of the Law.

A Starfire reprint of this would be most welcome!

[Vadge Moore]

Yes! A Starfire reprint!