A History of the Devil
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 337 ratings, 34 reviews)Read More
Found a better price? Request a price match
A History of the Devil
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?
Latest News
The First Ever NZ Children's Book Week!
We are so excited to celebrate kids reading books with the first NZ Children's Book...
What Lizzy's Family Loved on a Long Weekend Away
We recently went on a family long weekend away to Ohakune, a new spot for...
Why We Still Love Pokémon
Pokémon has changed enormously since I was trading cards at school and playing it on...
Paw Patrol : The Dino Movie Toys Have Arrived!
The new Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie toys have arrived & are ready to ship!
New Releases to add to your TBR (11th August)
There's a new release for everyone this week - here's your TBR roundup! Lizzy shares...
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.
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.
Also by Robert Muchembled
View allMore from Education & Reference
View allWhy buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
