The Book of Lies

mous was attributed toan actress. It bore a strong religious note, an ecstatic sense, and it was at once recognized as genuine poetry. Now it has come forth again, retitled ‘Hail Mary,’ and signed Aleister Crowley. We hope it will be widely read, and serveas an introduction tosomeof Mr. Crowley’s other works of poetry. Particularly we hope the Church will look at it. They will find a religious sense that will astonish some of them. The real trouble about Mr. Crowley is this: he is a true poet—he cannot compromise. The persecution of silly and unkind men has wounded him. It is for literary men now to come forward and stand by him. Hear this: ‘Wein the world of woe who stray Lift up our hearts to Thee and pray: Turn all our pain to virgin might, And all our sorrow into light!’ May his enemies learn from these words to ‘lift up’ their hearts with him.”—Euzglish Review. ‘**“ Mortadello’ is a drama of old Venice. It dis- plays a similar fearlessness of treatment. The theme is bitterly cynical, yet there prevails against the cynicism a just appreciation or poetic values. Mr. Crowley has not shirked the ugliness of his theme. He had no temptation to do so. For he holds life cheap as against ideals, even the basest of whichis sacredin his eyes. Let Monica be a raving wanton, so she love Venice and subserve her wantonness to that first object. The use of the Alexandrineis a pleasant innovation, and one fully justified by re- sults.” —Literary World. ***Mortadello’ is a much more ambitious experi- ment. Dubbed a comedy, it certainly contains dramatic stuff underlying the not very pleasant externals. Itis chock-full of incident, but one half- suspects that Mr. Crowley was mainly interested in his bold experiments with the Alexandrine. Mr. Crowleyis always clever, and some of these experiments are extraordinarily so.”—MJanchester Guardian. 130