Kenneth Grant: A Bibliography

[stephen]

I have just acquired my copy of Kenneth Grant: A Bibliography from Starfire Publishing; fortunately, for both me and Michael, this was one of the books that was not stored at the warehouse.

Just wished to state what a very fine little volume it is. The text told me many things I did not know and the plates are stunning.  Going through the "Works edited" section including Introductions, Forewords, etc. it was a personal pleasure to see how many of the works cited that I was fortunate to own.

Of all the various editions and translations of Typhonian Trilogy volumes, my favourite has to be the Serbo-Croatian version of Aleister Crowley & The Hidden God, published by Esotheria, Belgrade in 1997: ALISTER KROULI I SKRIVENI BOG.

"Is a God to live in a dog?..." AL.II.19.  Is a Bog to live in a pas (dog)? Or, is a Bog to live in a gob?  In either case it seems to lose something in the translation!  (With apologies to our Serbian and Croatian members).

[Deleted]

A fine work. Congratulations Stephen. I always envisioned Grant teaching in his books, as he is shown in plate 2, Kenneth Grant circa 1949.

[stephen]

Plate 2: Kenneth Grant, circa 1949 is a fascinating image, the only 'magical portrait' that has seen the light of day, so far.

The young magical adept is seated in deep contemplation, eyes closed and his chin resting on his hand. He is wearing a dark robe and most interestingly he is wearing also Crowley's Masonic collar, headdress and medallion, a solar Eye in the Triangle. These are to be seen on the title page and page 58 of Remembering Aleister Crowley. Is he in communion with the spirit of Baphomet? or is he receiving the first intimations of the Mauve Zone?

The chair on which he is seated has fine carved leopards on its uprights and Austin Spare's portrait of Black Eagle is discernible in the background.  As yet, the image does not appear to be on the web.

[Michael Staley]

"As yet, the image does not appear to be on the web."

Let's hope, Stephen, that no-one takes that as a challenge . . .

Kenneth's pocket diary for 1949 records in December "Bought Egyptian Couch", and I consider it likely that that is on what he is seated in the photograph. The photograph was taken when the Grants lived at West Hampstead, London. It's a great photograph, and 'Black Eagle' hanging on the wall behind is the icing on the cake.

[N0T 2]

At the risk of inciting readers to book-lust, the deluxe edition of the Kenneth Grant bibliography is perhaps my favourite Starfire publication to date, as an object. And, after, say, the deluxe of Outer Gateways or Nightside of Eden, or Cults of the Shadow, that's quite an impressive feat.

Apart from its multi-aspected content, which a far tastier dish than one could reasonably ask for in a bibliography, it is utterly superb as an artful and sublimely aesthetic example of the bookbinder's art - - fullest compliments to the editors and to the printers for doing such a thoroughly immaculate job. Kenneth would feel extremely honoured by such an object in his memory, I am sure. 

Lovingly prepared and virtuosically executed, it is exquisite, sensuously satisfying, fragrant with numen, and well worth the price. 

The content is amazing, actually - as noted by fellow admirers above it contains a surprising wealth of detail, heaps of gorgeous art and photography, and even the "dry" bits are fascinating.

I note that it is still available at starfirepublishing.co.uk - very happy it was not affected by the burning.

[Michael Staley]

Nov 20, 2017 3:17:12 GMT N0T 2 said:

I note that it is still available at starfirepublishing.co.uk - very happy it was not affected by the burning.

I'm glad that you like the deluxe edition of Kenneth Grant: A Bibliography so much. We've used the same specialist bookbinders – Ludlow Bookbinders – to produce our deluxes for a while now. The first title they did for us was The Magical Revival back in 2010.

Happily, the stock of deluxes was not stored with the standard editions, so escaped the flames.