''The Diary of a Drug Fiend'', published in 1922, was occult writer and mystic

Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley (; born Edward Alexander Crowley; 12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947) was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer. He founded the religion of Thelema, identifying himself as the pr ...

's first published novel, and is also reportedly the earliest known reference to the Abbey of Thelema in

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Synopsis

The story is widely thought to be based upon Crowley's own drug experiences, despite being written as a fiction. This seems almost conclusively confirmed by Crowley's statement in the novel's preface: "This is a true story. It has been rewritten only so far as was necessary to conceal personalities." Crowley's own recreational drug use and also his personal struggle with

drug addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use oft ...

, particularly heroin, is well documented. Crowley made a study of drugs and their effects upon the body and mind, experimenting widely on himself. Many of his conclusions are present within this novel. ''Diary of a Drug Fiend'' encapsulates much of Crowley's core philosophy concerning

Thelema Thelema () is a Western esoteric and occult social or spiritual philosophy and new religious movement founded in the early 1900s by Aleister Crowley (1875–1947), an English writer, mystic, occultist, and ceremonial magician. The word ' ...

and his conception of True Will.

Plot

The story follows Sir Peter Pendragon a noble, aristocratic

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

veteran pilot who has come into a large inheritance following the death of his paternal uncle. Prior to the war Pendragon had been a medical student, and now finds himself dealing with depression and lacking direction. During a night out he encounters Louise Laleham, a devotee of occultist Basil King Lamus. Pendragon and Laleham quickly fall in love with each other and

cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Ameri ...

. The couple marry soon after meeting then leave for Europe for their honeymoon. While in Europe, they begin using heroin and engage in a drug binge stretching from France to Italy. While in Italy, their luggage and valuables are stolen by a school acquaintance of Pendragon's named Elgin Feccles, whom they had hired as a guide. Soon afterwards they return to England. Back in England, the protagonists find themselves desperate after their drug supply diminishes due to laws that had been passed during their honeymoon. They move from the Pendragons' country estate to a room in a slum house on

Greek Street Greek Street is a street in Soho, London, leading south from Soho Square to Shaftesbury Avenue. The street is famous for its restaurants and cosmopolitan nature. History It is thought to take its name from a Greek church that was built in ...

. Their decline in health and financial problems leads to the couple making several unsuccessful attempts to quit heroin. The particulars of their desperate addiction and cravings are documented in realistic detail. During one of their attempts, they move back to their country estate. While there, the couple begins experimenting with magick. Louise is successfully able to communicate with her

Holy Guardian Angel A guardian angel is a type of angel that is assigned to protect and guide a particular person, group or nation. Belief in tutelary beings can be traced throughout all antiquity. The idea of angels that guard over people played a major role in A ...

Keletiel. Peter's own experiments with magick and quitting heroin do not go as well, and in a moment of frustration he shoots himself in the chest. Louise nurses him back to health, but they soon fall back into a lifestyle of addiction. The couple then moves back to London and engages in another drug binge. Fearing no way out of addiction, they go to a restaurant and plan on killing themselves by drinking

Prussic acid Hydrogen cyanide, sometimes called prussic acid, is a chemical compound with the formula HCN and structure . It is a colorless, extremely poisonous, and flammable liquid that boils slightly above room temperature, at . HCN is produced on an in ...

. The pair, however, are saved from destruction by Basil King Lamus, who agrees to help them with their addiction. Under Lamus' guidance the couple experiences some successes with their battle against addiction. One day, the Pendragons meet with two of their friends, Jabez Platt and Gretel Webster. The former had been behind the laws making cocaine illegal in Great Britain and now wants to buy a cocaine production factory in Switzerland. The latter had been the couple's supplier since their honeymoon. Peter's initial interest in financing the purchase of the cocaine factory upsets Louise so much that she threatens him with divorce and to leave him for Lamus. Lamus agrees to take Louise away from Peter as he had promised her during her fit of rage and to help her with her addiction, but only on the condition that Peter comes with them. The now unhappy couple and Lamus leave England for an Abbey of Thelema located near the fictional location of Telephylus. Lamus then frees Peter and Louise from their addictions through the use of Magical techniques, aimed at mastering True Will and releasing the individual from sloth, self-destructive impulses and craving. Through self-reflection, Peter discovers that he had turned to drugs and had been generally unhappy because he had not wanted to be a medical doctor; instead, he had wanted to be an aircraft engineer. Louise's True Will is discovered to be helping Peter reach his own True Will by loving him and caring for him.

Book I: Paradiso

The first book is narrated by Peter Pendragon. *Chapter I: A Knight Out *Chapter II: Over the Top! *Chapter III: Phaeton *Chapter IV: Au Pays de Cocaine *Chapter V: A Heroin Heroine *Chapter VI: The Glitter on the Snow *Chapter VII: The Wings of the Oof-Bird *Chapter VIII: Vedere Napoli e poi-Pro Patria-Mori *Chapter IX: The Gatto Fritto *Chapter X: The Bubble Bursts

Book II: Inferno

The second book is narrated by Louise Laleham. *Chapter I: Short Commons *Chapter II: Indian Summer *Chapter III: The Grinding of the Brakes *Chapter IV: Below the Brutes *Chapter V: Towards Madness *Chapter VI: Cold Turkey *Chapter VII: The Final Plunge

Book III: Purgatorio

The third book is narrated once more by Peter Pendragon. *Chapter I: King Lamus Intervenes *Chapter II: First Aid *Chapter III: The Voice of Virtue *Chapter IV: Out of Harms Way *Chapter V: At Telephylus *Chapter VI: The True Will *Chapter VII: Lover under Will

Characters

*Sir Peter Pendragon, K.B.E *Louise "Lou" Laleham *Basil King Lamus (Based on Aleister Crowley) *Gretel Webster *Jabez Platt *Elgin Feccles *Haidee Lamoureux (Based on Jane Cheron) *Mabel Black *Dr. Andrew McCall *Maisie Jacobs *Lala *Hermes *Dionysus *Sister Athena *Sister Cypris (Based on Ninette Shumway)

Editions

*1922, First edition published in the U.K., hardback *1970, USA, University Books, Inc. (Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 75-130401), hardback *1971, USA, Red Wheel/

Weiser Books Red Wheel Weiser Conari, also known in different periods in its history as RedWheel/Weiser, LLC and Samuel Weiser, Inc., is a book publisher with three imprints: Red Wheel, Weiser Books and Conari Books. It is America's second-largest publisher ...

(), July 1971, hardback *1971, USA, Red Wheel/

(), July 1971, paperback *1981 USA, Samuel Weiser, Inc. (0-87728-035-5), 6th printing, paperback *1989, USA, Buccaneer Books (), June 1989, hardback

References

External links

Google Books listing

Library of Congress listing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diary Of A Drug Fiend 1922 British novels Thelemite texts Novels about heroin addiction Works by Aleister Crowley 1922 debut novels