June Johns

A most peculiar biography of the man who created and popularized what is now known as the Alexandrian Tradition of Witchcraft. The author, Miss Johns, seems to have taken Sanders's word on everything, no matter how outrageous the claim. Consider "probably the most powerful witch in all Europe." My goodness. As Johns had a career as a journalist, one wonders why so many claims went unquestioned. Of course, it was the 1960s, when even the outrageous might seem possible.

Sanders is one of the show more many who claimed to have been initiated by his grandmother, but in his telling it is a sexual initiation and happened at an exceedingly young age. 21st century folks would be truly shocked, and it is one of the reasons I would most certainly NOT recommend this book for newcomers to the Craft.

The book is richly illustrated by black and white photographs by Jack Smith, the author's husband. I noticed that several photos showed the Witches working skyclad (i.e. nude) and featuring Sanders's lovely young wife, Maxine. But in no photo is Sanders himself nude. He explains it by saying he has to (HAS to) wear a loincloth (a rather long, wrap-around skirt sort of loincloth) so it is immediately apparent who the leader is. One does wonder, though, what did Grandma really do to the boy?

At any rate, it is interesting historically, if not factually, for showing what people were willing to believe about Witches half a century ago. But I found it very hard to take seriously. I know too many Witches including a few from that era. show less

Hagiography, rather than history. I know I've *tagged* it as history, but....