This single-volume edition unites two centerpieces of twentieth-century occult thinking by "the wickedest man in the world." Notorious mystic and esoterist Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) remains a towering figure among occultists. His long and noteworthy career encompassed countless writings and the creation of his own religion, Thelema, the chief precept of which was "Do what thou wilt." Crowley asserted that the content of The Book of the Law was dictated to him from the spirit world, and the 1909 publication formed the basis for Thelema. The volume's 1912 successor, The Book of Lies, features aphorisms and paradoxes that invoke the symbolism of Freemasonry and other traditions.
The Book of the Law and The Book of Lies continue to rank among Crowley's most widely read writings. Both books have exercised a vast influence on popular culture and the practice of magic, offering fascinating glimpses into the author's mystic pursuits.