The Black Mass
Author: Peter N. Krassnoff
Illustrated by Rhea Wells
©1931 Duffield and Green
Duffield and Green
CAB Comment––“The Black Mass” is a VERY RARE book and few copies are out there that still have an original dust jacket. The few available go for $150 to $300 per book. This particular copy has no dust jacket but is otherwise in great shape; it flaunts some beautiful age and has had its own life complete with unique bookplate. I personally love the illustrations by Rhea Wells, which are very 30’s deco-chic and sexy. A genuinely unique book ‘The Black Mass’ is an excellent haunt on anyone’s occult library shelf. As for the story…well, read the synopsis below from the original dust jacket.
“The Black Mass”––Synopsis From An Original Dust Jacket:
“‘The Black Mass’ is a beautiful, and at the same time terrible, episode in which General Krassnoff epitomizes the Russia of Rasputin’s era. Into this single episode in the life of the girl Svetlana, Krassnoff injects all his horror at the abyss into which thousands of souls were plunged by the Revolution, and reveals a strong faith in the avenging Sword of Righteousness. Contrary to popular belief, the black mass is known to have been celebrated in Europe in the past; Krassnoff’s story, which appeared originally in ‘The White Coat’, is one of the few accounts of its survival in our times. In itself a complete story, ‘The Black Mass’ moves with the swiftness, the terror, and the inevitable majesty of Greek tragedy. ‘The Black Mass’ is not merely an adventure in horror, but the true history of a human soul embracing the Devil. A young and ardent Russian girl of the old regime, exiled in Poland, haunted by the memories of revolutionary atrocities––her father a traitor to his faith, her companions futile reactionaries––turns in profound hope to the powers of darkness. Under the influence of a brilliant and extraordinary old man, she penetrates further and further into the mysteries. Her visits to Pinsky’s house at the far end of town, the strange experiences that follow, and her participation in the diabolical ritual, will amaze the reader who is unacquainted with the cult of Satan.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Peter N. Krassnoff (Pyotr Nikolayevich Krasnov) was a Don Cossack historian and officer, promoted to Lieutenant General of the Russian army when the revolution broke out in 1917, one of the leaders of the counter-revolutionary White movement afterwards and a Nazi collaborator who mobilized Cossack forces to fight against the Soviet Union during World War II. On February 19, 1919, Krasnov fled to Western Europe after losing the election for the office of Don Ataman. He was succeeded by Afrikan P. Bogaewsky. Arriving first in Germany, he moved to France in 1923, where he continued his anti-Soviet activities. In France Krasnov was one of the founders of the Brotherhood of Russian Truth, an anti-communist organization with an underground network in Russia. In exile, Krasnov wrote memoirs and several novels. His famous trilogy From Double Eagle To the Red Flag, in addition to the main plot, with its hero, General Sablin, has several sub-plots which encompass many places, events, and personages. It presents a vast panorama of the Revolution and the Civil War throughout the country. Events are revealed through the fates of many characters, who, in turn, give their own interpretations of the events. Even the revolutionaries have an opportunity to express their views, although, in general, their political expositions seem to be the weakest parts of the novel. The ideology of the book is thus presented polyphonically. The author, although he tends to align himself with his conservative characters, offers no personal opinion of his own. All major themes, such as authority vs. anarchy, respect for human dignity vs. violence, creative work vs. destruction, as well as cruelty and terror, are treated in this polyphonic manner. Krasnov's novels were translated into English, German, French, Serbian and other European languages.
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