Tobias Churton, "Aleister Crowley: The Biography" (2011)

While Crowley's life might present some fascinating episodes, and raise equally fascinating questions, Churton's stilted writing and over-the-top hagiography is difficult to wade through. That Churton could be so self-confident to label his book "THE biography" - as if no other has been written, or could be written - suggests a problematic approach from the outset.

The core of Churton's perspective lies in his belief that many of the questions about Crowley's life can be answered by the proposal that Crowley was working as a British spy. This is a fanciful proposal, for which the documentary proof is wanting. Additionally, while he doesn't come right out and state this (at least not in the hundred or so pages I've read) Churton seems to be taking the position that Crowley may have actually been able to engage in... supernatural... acts. Finally (but perhaps not least troubling), Churton seems to lose track of his narrative, making references to claims that seem quite significant in a dismissive way, but for which no intimation has been previously provided. Let me explain what my butchered writing surely confused. On pg. xxx, Churton states that "by... Crowley was hooked on heroin." Churton has never stated before this page, however, that Crowley was ever taking heroin. Of course, he was not obligated to tell us this, and he may not know when Crowley first tried heroin. That being said, surely his life, notes, letters, etc., must have included some inkling. If not, perhaps it was a worthwhile open question to introduce earlier in the narrative, at least to prepare the reader.

The Telegraph ran a light, though fair, review by John Preston, in Sept. 2011.