The Devil Rides Out
Posted by Carol_Noble at 14:25, 26 Nov 2009Recently I visites several libraries and realised there are very few books, especially fiction, on the shelves. The libraries are now tending to concentrate on dvds, cds, computer access, and book requests, which all encourage payment.
I also noted that very few books were of old established authors. I tried to find books by Dennis Wheatley, and others whose books I read many years ago but there were none available. I enquired and discovered that this particular author's books are available upon request only, and a fee. The cost is not the issue for me, but the fact that if none of these authors are available for the young to read then they will remain ignorant of these books' content.
There are some good modern writers who I do read, however, there are also some rubbish writers who seem to get rave reviews. Recently I read the first few pages of a book and had to stop because one paragraph consisted of only one sentence, and that had the use of the word "and" so often it became intelligable. I never completed it.
Yet, this is not the only reason I am writing this particular blog.
I had mainly read Wheatley's later works, and decided to read the book the Devil Rides Out because of the film that was made many years ago. What surprised me was to discover the original book had been written in the early 1930s! I also was surprised to find that several sections of the book explained in relatively clear details many esoteric ideas that I did not become aware of until after man had landed on the moon!!
I then ordered his first book, Forbidden Territory, published in 1933. This describes in a lot of detail the attitudes shown to tourists by the Russian authorities, and I was amazed to read that in the 1930s things were very much as they were during the days of the Iron Curtain decades later. I had assumed the limited access to places and the secret police were a product of the Cold War, not the Russian Revolution.
I am presently reading his book, The Secret War, published in 1937. It involves Abyssinia (Ethiopa) and the invasion by Italy's Mussolini. It describes in clear detail the various peoples of Abyssinia at the time, and the surrounding countries, including the class system, and the fact that the slave class are actually a white people originally said to be from Egypt, and despised all other races within the country. Wheatly does not mince words with his summary of the people of Abyssinia (which is one reason why this book may not be easily available) however, it has become clear to me that he does not accept pure stereotypes himself, just vocalises what the general consensus was of people at the time. It is very clear that Wheatley has a liking for independent women, who were prepared to endanger themselves for the good of humanity, and he accepts there are many black people who are worthy of respect and honour. But he does give a good overall view of the situation politically of the upper class during the years between the two world wars.
Coincidently, there is a film about to be released in the UK, entitled "Glorious 39". This is about the months just before world war two was declared. The debate between appeasers and was mongerers. Because I have recently become steeped in this period of history (the 1930s) I am determined to see it. But isn't it strange that I should have taken a strong interest in this period prior to public advertising of this particular film? Synchronicity is certainly playing its part at the moment.
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Comments
1 May 2004
5 days 23 hours
Hello
I did hear that when "The devil rides out" first came out occultists were in an uproar because Wheatley described what was basically a version of the lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram; a protection rite which everyone in the field knows today but 60-70 years ago was a secret - Dion Fortune only alluded to it in psychic self defence.
I was at Treadwells bookshop yesterday listening to a talk given by Michael Staley on the magic of Kenneth Grant, who is Crowleys successor and head of the Typhonian order. One of his points is that a lot of occultists hide their ideas in fiction. That is not to say that Wheatley was an occultist, he was not; but he did know people such as Crowley who (whatever else one may say about him) he was certainly a very knowledgeable magician.
However a lot of the early 20th century fiction involving luminaries such as Sax Rhomer (Fu Manchu), Bram Stoker (Dracula, Jewel of the seven stars), William Hope Hodgeson (Carnaki), Arthur Machen (The great God Pan) etc were either occultists; often involved with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn or were friends with such people and moved in the same circles.
This brings us also to HP Lovecraft whose brand of horror fiction is often seen as unique. Lovecraft was a materialist sceptic, however many occultists (myself included) believe that perhaps he was an unconscious medium channelling concepts from beyond in dream - many of his dream diary accounts are almost identical to his stories.
There is a story that Kenneth Grant once showed some of Lovecraft's stories to the occult artist Austin Spare who responded that there is much more in them that Lovecraft could ever know. Certainly the stories are weirdly disturbing (rather than frightening) and can lead the mind into a strange reveries when read late at night perhaps with a glass of absinthe.
If you ever get a chance cheeck out the Hammer Horror film "Blood from the mummies tomb". It is a blatant copy of Stokers "Jewel of the Seven Stars" and has such a sidereal feel to it that makes it a truly occult firm (as opposed to just a horror).
You might be interested to know that a biography of Wheatley has just been released called "The devil is a gentleman" by Phil Baker.
cheers Paolo
http://www.spectrallight.net
22 December 2007
3 weeks 1 day
Good day Mrs. Carol, I have not read Dennis Wheatley's book, but the topic of Ethiopia (Cush) is an interesting and significant within the African worldview. Many of us who study African history believe that Ethiopia (Cush) defeated Benito Mussolini; thus, Jah—God gave them the victory over the Italian invasion and remained as one of the only un-colonized and unconquered territories on the African continent from external European aggression. Yes, there is an occult connection (which is rooted in African nationalism and spirituality), in particular with the Rastafarian movement of the West Indies and their historical connection and reverence of the former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. The Rastafarian ideology traces Emperor Haile Selassie lineage back to King David, King Solomon and Menelik I; he was even believed to be a descendent of Isa Bin Yusuf (Jesus the son of Joseph). There is a legitimate mystic movement centered on Ethiopia (was it the Ark of the Covenant) and is it the cradle of civilization? Some believe that Marcus Garvey's movement the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) was an extension of the spiritual movement that was embodied in Emperor Haile Selassie. There is larger debate that has been going on for many years did Kemet (Egypt) feed Cush (Ethiopia) or did Cush feed Kemet (Egypt)? However, interesting read and there are many angles to a discussion like this one.
Stay Awake Until We Meet Again,
Fahim A. Knight-EL
27 November 2009
2 years 9 weeks
I hope you enjoy Wheatley, I've always enjoyed his books (even the ten to twelve page digressions as he launches into another diatribe against socialism or the fall of the class system), and his work is definitely a snapshot of thinking from an earlier time and place. I've been reading him for years, and while some of his material is hard to get your hands on, I'm pretty sure some of them were reprinted relatively recently.
He was quite a student of occult matters, He wrote a book on 'black magic' at one point, I can't think of the title, because my brother has my copy for years, but it's more a general knowledge compilation on the subject. Still interesting though.
1 May 2004
5 days 23 hours
That one is called "The devil and all his works". its a bit lurid in places, and rather sensationalist rather than accurate. It is a good read however.
cheers Paolo
http://www.spectrallight.net
30 April 2004
1 year 37 weeks
I read a lot of Dennis Wheatley when I was a teenager back in the late 60s early 70s and it is very scary stuff. I've read a lot of horror and other stuff since then and it is still the most unnerving of the lot of them!
Thankfully I have no personal experience, but to me it seems to be an accurate representation (as far is it goes) of this kind of thing.
Enough to put you off ever experimenting with the Occult!
27 November 2009
2 years 9 weeks
That's the one Paolo! Thanks for jogging my memory!
3 June 2008
8 weeks 5 days
Thanks for responding.
He was a prolific writer even publishing during WWII but he did not publish in 1944! He was a member of the War Cabinet in WWII but he joined this in 1941.
His book published in 1945 was entitled - The Man who missed the war!
Interesting title!
Thanks again.
For something to survive and thrive something else must die.
Carol A Noble