The Satanist is a black magic/horror novel by Dennis Wheatley. Published in 1960, it is characterized by an anti-communist spy theme.[1] The novel was one of the popular novels of the 1960s popularizing the tabloid notion of a black mass.[2][3]
Author | Dennis Wheatley |
---|---|
Cover artist | Sax |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Genre | Horror fiction, Spy fiction |
Published | 1960, Hutchinson & Co. |
The novel follows on from To the Devil – a Daughter, a successful occult novel from January 1953, later filmed in 1976 and features from the earlier novel Colonel Verney, an anti-Soviet anti-black magic British spymaster. The plot concerns Mary Morden, a young widow, and Verney's special agent Barney Sullivan who infiltrate a satanic cult.[4] In doing so they foil a communist plot to conquer the world.
The novel presents conservative political and social views,[5] and a conservative picture of the hero's masculinity.[6]
The novel was published by Hutchinson & Co. who coincidentally had published the gothic novel of the same name by Mrs Hugh Fraser in 1912.[7]