Best Golden Dawn-era Histories?

[vee]

I'd like to read more about the Golden Dawn and any of its members, but I'd rather read biography/history and I'm having trouble sorting out what is more divination/occult oriented and what's more factual.

Any recommendations for biographies of any of its members or of the society itself? Crowley in particular has a lot of biographies written about him--which one is the best? I do plan to pick up Women of the Golden Dawn and the Michael Drummet book.

[roppo]

well then, GD history books I read and can be recommended--

classics
Ellic Howe, The Magicians of the Golden Dawn
Francis X. King, Ritual Magic in England
George Mills Harper, Yeats's Golden Dawn
R.A. Gilbert, The Golden Dawn, The Twilight of the Magicians
Mary K. Greer, Women of the Golden Dawn

somewhat controversial
Israel Regardie, My Rosicrucian Adevnture
Ithell Colquhoun, Sword of Wisdom

supplemental
R.A. Gilbert, The Golden Dawn Scrapbook
R.A. Gilbert, The Golden Dawn Companion
Darcy Kuntz, The The Complete Golden Dawn Cypher Manuscript
Poke Runion, The Secrets of Golden Dawn Cypher Manuscript

I suppose Women of the Golden Dawn and A History of the Occut Tarot are good choice for a starting point. As to the Crowley biographies, why don't you go to the Thoth forum and ask them?

[vee]

Thank you very much roppo! That's a great list, lots of good looking, meaty reads there. Most appreciated. I considered posting this in either the Thoth or Golden Dawn forum, but I figured it was most appropriate here.

[Grigori]

For a Crowley Biography I think Churton's is the best to start. Its one of the enjoyable reads and puts things into context that is meaningful.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/IS...sim/aeclectic/

Purdurabo is the most detailed and extensive, but a more academic and longer read which some find off putting. I thought it was great though, so if you like detail then I'd recommend it highly.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/IS...sim/aeclectic/

[vee]

Academic is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for the help!

[fyreflye]

roppo forgot to mention that A History of the Occult Tarot is by Micharl Dummett and Ronald Decker. Though it covers a broader historical framework I think both the larger picture and skeptical viewpoint are necessary for understanding the Golden Dawn and its successors.

[fyreflye]

BTW, Crowley was far from being the most important figure in the Golden Dawn. That role went to Samuel Liddell Mathers, who devised most of the grades, correspondences and rituals which Crowley later appropriated for his own use, breaking his solemn oath of secrecy in the process. Nick Farrell's recent biography. King Over the Water - Samuel Mathers and the Golden Dawn is the first full length examination of Mathers and his role in the GD, and while not by an academic is a well researched and generally fair assessment of Mathers and his contribution to the 19th Century Occult Revival.

[vee]

thank you fyreflye!! I hadn't seen that book in my searches, will add it too! I know Crowley wasn't the most important, he's just the one that seems to have the most books written about him.

[fyreflye]

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