Author: Richmond, Keith

A journal chronicling the visionary and magical experiences which Lancashire-born Frank Bennett (1868-1930) underwent during an intense retreat or Magical Retirement which he undertook at Crowley's Abbey of Thelema in Cefalu in 1921.

Crowley himself was profoundly moved by Bennett's visions, which he described as 'exalted and intense and intimate,' and felt displayed a 'kinship of the soul' with John Bunyan.' 'The Magical Record' contains the text of Frank Bennett's Cefalu diary, with Aleister Crowley's added comments, along with several other writings by Bennett.

It also includes the text of Crowley's Liber Samekh, a ritual he prepared especially for Bennett's use during his Magical Retirement The collection has been assembled and introduced by Keith Richmond, the author of the biographical study of Crowley and Bennett: Progradior and the Beast.

The Magical Record has a previously unpublished photographic portrait of Bennett as its frontispiece, and the book's dustwrapper and endpapers include striking colour reproductions of two paintings of Cefalu by Crowley which he presented to Bennett.

Clothbound, with full colour dustwrapper, and black and white frontis-portrait of Frank Bennett. 176 Pages.