Synopses & Reviews
From 'one of the most articulate occult writers of recent years' (Fate Magazine) comes the definitive book on Rosaleen Norton. In the 1950s Norton was popularly known in Australia as the 'Witch of Kings Cross'-a colourful, bohemian figure from Sydney's red light district. 'Roie', as she was often called, could be recognized by her dark flashing eyes, her mysterious arched eyebrows and her devilish smile, but beyond her exotic appearance there was a lot more to her than was generally realized.A natural trance artist, she experimented with self-hypnosis and as a result of her visionary explorations portrayed a wide range of supernatural beings in her paintings and drawings. However her 'pagan' art plunged her into continuous controversy. Widely criticised for allegedly bizarre sexual practices with her lover, Gavin Greenlees, she was regarded very much as a renegade from mainstream society.It is now clear that Rosaleen Norton was one of this century's finest occult artists, and comparisons can be made between her visionary drawings and those of English trance occultist Austin Osman Spare.This biography-the first account of her life as a whole-provides a detailed evaluation of both her magical beliefs and her art and includes a fascinating selection of previously unpublished material.Nevill Drury was born in England in 1947 but has lived most of his life in Australia. An internationally published writer in the fields of magic, occult mythology and the paranormal, he is the author of Don Juan, Mescalito and Modern Magic, Inner Visions, The Elements of Shamanism and The Occult Experience-among many other books.Praise for the Australian edition: '. . . a fascinating study. Drury's understanding of the occult and spiritual realms makes Norton's art and life comprehensible. . . 'Sydney Morning Herald