Perdurabo, Revised and Expanded Edition

The Life of Aleister Crowley

By: Richard Kaczynski

Narrated by: Alan Irving

A rigorously researched biography of the founder of modern magick, as well as a study of the occult, sexuality, Eastern religion, and more

The name “Aleister Crowley” instantly conjures visions of diabolic ceremonies and orgiastic indulgences—and while the sardonic Crowley would perhaps be the last to challenge such a view, he was also much more than “the Beast,” as this authoritative biography shows.

Perdurabo—entitled after the magical name Crowley chose when inducted into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn—traces Crowley’s remarkable journey from his birth as the only son of a wealthy lay preacher to his death in a boarding house as the world’s foremost authority on magick. Along the way, he rebels against his conservative religious upbringing; befriends famous artists, writers, and philosophers (and becomes a poet himself); is attacked for his practice of “the black arts”; and teaches that science and magick can work together. While seeking to spread his infamous philosophy of, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law,” Crowley becomes one of the most notorious figures of his day.

Based on Richard Kaczynski’s twenty years of research, and including previously unpublished biographical details, Perdurabo paints a memorable portrait of the man who inspired the counterculture and influenced generations of artists, punks, wiccans, and other denizens of the demimonde.

Do what thou wilt

A fascinating and detailed biography of the wickedest man in the world. Performed well and gives a great insight into his mind.

The narrator ...

Words I had assumed were in everyday use, and have never in my life heard mispronounced ... well, the narrator has made a fool of me. Consistently gets even the most basic words wrong, to such an extent I had to check it was a real human, and not AI, reading the book. At one point, even makes a dog's dinner of the word "be".

A superbly done biography.

This book is a very thorough biography of Aleister Crowley. The book itself is very detailed and gives you a good sense of who Crowley was as a person. It’s also a fairly good primer on the philosophy of Thelema. The audiobook narration is very good in my opinion. Almost like listening to a BBC documentary. The narrator makes what could have been a very boring listen engaging. If you’re interested at all in the life of Crowley it’s worth a listen.

Fantastic book

Some of the more difficult words were pronounced incorrectly but the book is spectacular!!! The performance is amazing and the overall experience is super duper great!!!

Completely badass

There was nothing I disliked. Well written, perfect narration, Aleister Crowley. I mean, the name speaks for itself. In the ears of those not well versed in the narrative of his life, his name conjures negative images and fabrication that is widely believed. He was no saint but he was indeed a consecrated holy man. This book helps clear a little of that up. Enjoy. 93