The Diva and the Beast: Susan Strong and the Wagnerism of Aleister Crowley

Although the occultist Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) remains a fascinating and controversial figure, his connections with Richard Wagner have not been fully explored. In identifying several of Crowley’s literary works from c.1900 onwards (poetry, prose, drama) that make overt reference to Wagner’s compositions, this article suggests one possible catalyst for this burst of activity – the American soprano Susan Strong (1870-1946), to whom Crowley was briefly ‘engaged’ (according to his autohagiography) in 1899. In addition to exploring the Crowley-Strong relationship, the significant aspects of Strong’s musical career, and her status as one of a series of musical women to whom Crowley was particularly attracted, Crowley’s Wagnerian works are discussed in the context of Strong’s potential impact, offering a new perspective from which to appreciate his particular brand of Wagnerism.