Banners of Light: The First time the Truth Has Been Given from the Spirit World
New York: Vantage Press, 1973. First edition. 8vo, 528pp. From the library of Anne Rice with her ownership signature to ffep. Publisher's blue cloth boards, spine lettered in silver in bright yellow and white jacket. Endpapers toned, boards a touch foxed else near fine in jacket with some edge wear and a few small tears.
Anne Rice's complex spiritual journey from Catholicism to atheism and later return to Christianity greatly influenced her writing, and was also reflected in her reading interests. Late in life, she turned to New Age Spiritualism. This vanity publication is an example, consisting of tape-recorded transcripts between Dr. Mandel, a naturopath, and his numerous teachers and healers from the "great galaxy of departed souls," including many celebrities such as Clark Gable, Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK, Marilyn Monroe, and others, as well as his own late daughter. This parallels Rice's loss of her own daughter at the age of 5 in 1972 from Leukemia, an event which impacted her deeply and inspired her writing of Interview with the Vampire.
The book itself is scarce, with OCLC citing 6 holdings. A wonderful example of occult literature which influenced the great horror author. Item #8739
Price: $300.00