But black magic? In 1930s England? Nobody believes in that mumbo-jumbo anymore and he can hardly believe the things that his friend is saying to him. In fact, he finds the Duke’s actions a little over the top and only goes along with him because they have been through so much together in the past and he has learned to trust the Duke’s judgement. He doesn’t believe in witchcraft or black magic. The Duke de Richleau is a very level-headed man, but before too many pages have been turned it becomes apparent that he has hidden depths and is quite an expert on the occult.

The Duke knocks Simon out cold then he and Rex carry him to their car. This is easier said than done because the crowd that Simon has fallen in with are members of a coven of Satanists, so Rex and the Duke are forced to resort to desperate measures. It’s then up to his friends, Rex van Ryn and the Duke de Richleau, to save him. It was first published in 1934 and the story begins with a young man, named Simon Aron, becoming involved with the wrong crowd. By the end, the reader hatred level of Madam Renee rivals the antagonist Iago in Shakespeare's tragedy 'Othello.The Devil Rides Out is a Dennis Wheatley novel about black magic and the occult. Madam Renee proves through the 570 page book that she is everything opposite of respectable. The suggestive Devil characterized of Madam Renee is symbolized by her clever camouflage of a respectable French woman. What is fascinating about 'The Devil Rides Outside' is the seeming symbolism of Griffin's characterization of the Devil as a French woman named Madam Renee. Where as, 'Black Like Me' was a chronological account of Griffins perilous journey through Southern Black American in the 1960 as a white man who pharmaceutically alter his caucasian skin to negro in order to fully understand the undercurrent and apparent racism between whites and blacks. Interestingly, the journal style of writing Griffin portrays in 'The Devil Rides Outside' parallels his later book entitled 'Black Like Me.'Įven more interesting about 'The Devil Rides Outside,' which is contrary to 'Black Like Me,' is that Griffin apparently wrote 'The Devil Rides Outside' from his own imagination. 'The Devil Rides Outside' by Griffin is an extraordinary first novel from a 32 year old man.

The devil rides out novel