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The Quest for Corvo
by Symons, A. J. A
- Used
- near fine
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Near Fine/good
- Seller
-
New Milford, Connecticut, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Michegan: Michegan State University Press, 1955. First printing thus. Hardcover. Near Fine/good. A remarkable aesthete and connoisseur, Symons was 33 when he became obsessed with the self-styled Baron Corvo and created this account of his quest to discover the almost forgotten author of 'Hadrian VII'. Both men constructed a tangled self-image and life-style, "noted for outbursts of elaborate expenditure alternating with extreme aestheticism", but Symons, who was dead at 41, has written one of the great literary detective works of all time, now a rare book in itself. Jacket has some dirt and edge chipping, particularly to top of spine.
Reviews
On Oct 6 2010, EarlEDoors said:
I first came across the name of Aleister Crowley when I acquired a copy of Maugham’s 1907 novel ‘The Magician’. The character Oliver Haddo is said to be based on Crowley. It made me want to read more.Symons’ book is a scholarly work if it is sometimes written in the style of a boys own adventure story. It traces, quoting its sources, a life which began in London in 1860 and ended in Venice in 1913.In between these dates the subject lived the live of a chancer;of a ‘ducker-and-diver’ and died in poverty. There is very little mention of his writings other than his novel Hadrian 1V,although he wrote copiously on the black arts (The Goetia,The Book of the Law etc) and no mention of his infamous stay in Sicily mentioned by Cammell (Aleister Crowley the Black Magician 1969).However, reading ‘The Search for Corvo’ with no other knowledge about Crowley you feel that you have read a well-written thoroughly researched study of a very unusual man.(To confuse the picture further see also ‘The Magical Dilemma of Victor Neuberg’ Fuller 1990)
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Details
- Bookseller
- Christopher de Lotbiniere Rare Books
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 1153
- Title
- The Quest for Corvo
- Author
- Symons, A. J. A
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First printing thus
- Publisher
- Michegan State University Press
- Place of Publication
- Michegan
- Date Published
- 1955
Terms of Sale
Christopher de Lotbiniere Rare Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Christopher de Lotbiniere Rare Books
Biblio member since 2010
New Milford, Connecticut
About Christopher de Lotbiniere Rare Books
online used bookseller
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Chipping
- A defect in which small pieces are missing from the edges; fraying or small pieces of paper missing the edge of a paperback, or...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Frequently asked questions
Collecting Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley was a well-known and highly controversial figure in the first half of the 20th Century. A writer, occultist, magician, and mountaineer, Crowley impacted a diverse collection of sub-cultures and interests. See collectible Crowley from Biblio booksellers.
Collecting and Using City Directories
Don’t overlook that old city directory - it is priceless for authors, collectors who focus on specific cities, geneaology, and other niche interests. Learn more...
