Dennis Wheatley: Creator of modern Satanism?

Some of my favorite books in my teenage years were "The Devil rides out", "To the Devil - A Daughter", and "Gunmen, Gallents and Ghosts". All of them were occult thrillers authored by Dennis Wheatley (1897-1977).
While researching the fundamentalist Christian witch-hunt of the late 1980s, some studies even claimed that Wheatley's books constructed many of the modern conceptualizations on Satanism.
I've just done some general searches on this mysterious, bestselling author and enigma, from Wikipedia to film, and I hope to add on more.
It appears he was prone to Nazism before WW II, but never supported fascism during the War. Afterwards, he leaned towards the right of the establishment, often conflating the occult with socialism. www.denniswheatley.info...
In an interview he takes a strong position on good and evil, claiming they existed as light vs. dark long before Christianity labelled them as God vs. Satan. He claims to be firmly on the side of light (God), and that barbarism is increasing in the world year by year as Christianity wanes.
Apparently only 8 of his roughly 60 books were about the occult - and they were all bestsellers.
Well, here is the interview: www.youtube.com...

I was just reading snippets of "Gunmen, Gallents and Ghosts" and it seems he does refer to Satanists as a secret underground movement preying on the unwary - the kind of subversive Satanism of popular imagination. Was he describing a reality or inventing fiction? My ATS search on Wheatley revealed no threads, but two posts that claim he was an agent of something sinister (they seem to connect Wheatley to Nazi occultism, and some grand conspiracy behind the scene, notably with Aleister Crowley and Ian Fleming).

Any Wheatley information/discussion is welcome.


[edit on 19-6-2010 by halfoldman]

reply to post by halfoldman

"They draw pentacles on the floor, sir, and late at night the men dress up in silk smocks with the signs of the Zodiac on them. The ladies come wearing masks and red, high-heeled shoes. I've seen black candles, too. I hadn't an idea what it was all about. Just thought they were playing charades, until I read your book ...there can be no doubt about it, my employers are Satanists."
The above is from a letter written to me by a chauffeur. He was employed by wealthy people who lived in a big house in the Eastern Counties. He went on to say that these parties numbered as many as twenty people, some of whom came from London in big cars and drove off again before dawn. ... It follows that the sorcerer or witch must be taught his or her business, just as priests of any other religion are taught theirs. ... Their most successful operations have been to infiltrate themselves into the leadership of movements for reform. Many saintly men have led revolts against the abuses of the Church, but their words have been misinterpreted and their work worse than undone by the disciples of evil a generation later. (Wheatley 1943, "Gunmen , Gallents and Ghosts", pp. 252-253.)

Wow, I guess they weren't playing charades.

One of the strangest aspects of Wheatley's books was his warning about the occult to the reader. It precedes all three of my Wheatley novels.
If anything, it's the best advert for the occult ever:

I desire to state that I, personally, have never assisted at or participated in, any ceremony connected with Magic - Black or White. ... All the characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary but, in the inquiry necessary of writing it, I found ample evidence that Black Magic is practiced in London, and other cities, at the present day.
Should any of my readers incline to a serious study of the subject, and thus come into contact with a man or woman of Power, I feel it is only right to urge them, most strongly, to refrain from being drawn into the practice of the Secret Art in any way. My own observations have led me to an absolute conviction that to do so would bring them into dangers of a very real and concrete nature - Dennis Wheatley

[edit on 19-6-2010 by halfoldman]

reply to post by halfoldman

I have not read any of Mr Wheatley's books but i have always meant to.

I was always under the impression that they were influenced by the Aleister Crowley scandals of the early 20th century that appeared in the British media. These showed that the public had an appetite for various stories of devil worship and the like.

So yes, in a way he was describing a reality but he was inventing a fiction at the same time. A romanticized version of Satanism?

I will have a full investigation of your links when i get a chance. And, when i get a chance, i'll get around to reading one of his books!

Thanks for that!

The Devil Rides out is my Favorite Movie from Hammer Studio's....To the Devil a daughter not so much.. but Wheatly hated that one as well....
I really like Christoper Lee in a heroic role.