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A History of the Devil
From the Middle Ages to the Present
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Check link for latest rating. ( 337 ratings, 34 reviews)
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A History of the Devil
$5999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book is ideal for readers interested in history, cultural studies, religious symbolism, and the evolving psychological and societal conceptions of evil. It will appeal to those fascinated by historical witch-hunts, folklore, and the portrayal of the devil in media and art.
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See moreThis highly original and engaging book by French historian Robert Muchembled, is a journey through time and space in search of the changing perception and significance of the devil in Western culture. * An outstanding book about the changing perception and significance of the devil in Western culture.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
This highly original and engaging book by French historian Robert Muchembled is a journey through time and space in search of the changing perception and significance of the devil in Western culture.
The author takes the story back to the 13th century, when visual images of Satan first started to appear, and forward to the 20th century, dealing with, among others, the place of the diabolical in the films of Stanley Kubrick, including Eyes Wide Shut. The changing figures of Evil over time are shown to correlate with the way in which men conceive of their destinies and the future of their civilisation.
Fascination with the diabolical reached its height in the witch-hunts of the 15th and 16th centuries. By the Enlightenment, this fascination began to show signs of decline, a process which has continued up to today. The result of this process, for modern Western society, is a subtle metamorphosis of the notion of the devil from the fear of Satan into an internal demon, "the demon within," characterised by a distrust of oneself and one's desires.
It is this conception of the diabolical that is visible today in our interest in the supernatural, exorcism, and, for example, in the role of the "devilish good" in advertising. A rich, vivid history of a topic that never ceases to intrigue.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Richard Kieckhefer praises the book as "only on one level a history of the Devil; on a deeper level it is a history of the shifting and fluctuating status the Devil has occupied in Western culture ... a valuable book, once one has recognised its unusual intentions." Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780745628165
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 31 October 2003
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Polity Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 27.0mm
Width: 153.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 526g
Pages: 360
About the Author
Robert Muchembled is a professor of history at the University of Paris XIII.
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