‘The Perfumed Cesspit’: My review of Phil Baker’s book ‘City of The Beast – The London of Aleister Crowley’ (pub. Strange Attractor Press) which appeared in the June 2023 edition of ‘Fortean Times.’ I have two of Phil Baker’s books, namely his study of absinthe and his biography of Austin Osman Spare, interesting subjects both. The challenge of reviewing ‘City of The Beast’ however was my dislike of Crowley. As a wealthy and privileged Victorian male, every pleasure was his for the taking whilst he immersed himself in the darker side of magic(k) Volumes have been written about Crowley and his devotees are legion. Why? He serves as a symbol of rebellion; a one man pre-cursor of the Swinging Sixties but he was a cruel narcissist, his ego as big as the mountains he once climbed, who cared not for those he wrecked, ravaged and slandered, including two partners who both ended up in asylums. Despite this, Baker’s book is an engaging read that captures a freer more bohemian London peopled by a glittering guttersnipe cast.
Nina Antonia 