Aleister Crowley, alias "The Beast," has inspired passionate - but seldom fair - assessments from historians. This biography treats Crowley as a cultural phenomenon, not simply a sorceror or charlatan. The result is a fascinating study of how one man devoted his life to subverting the dominant moral and religious values of his time. "Sutin presents a convincing portrait of Crowley as a product of his times, without apologizing for the unsavory aspects of his character." - Washington Post.