The Devil: A Biography - Hardcover

Stanford, Peter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805030824 ISBN 13: 9780805030822

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co, 1996

Synopsis

Drawing on literature, the arts, folklore, psychology, world history, and church history, the author explores why humans have needed the Devil to explain evil and human suffering and why modern Americans are once again turning to the explanation of a Devil. 20,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

"Though this biography is definitely unauthorized," Peter Stanford writes in his preface, "and the subject has not cooperated -- as far as I am aware -- I did at least manage to track down not one but three exorcists." We're used to seeing entertaining biographies of the famous, but here's something new: a very readable biography of the most infamous of all, the Devil himself. Peter Stanford presents a great amount of historical and scholarly material, yet manages to do so in a witty and highly intelligent style that keeps the reader turning the pages. From early Mesopotamia through the long history of Christianity, from medieval witch hunts to today's heavy metal rockers and Satanic cults, Stanford manages to, as he puts it, present a "very personal exploration of the highs and lows of the Devil's influence."

About the Author:

Peter Stanford is a journalist and broadcaster who writes and reviews regularly in the Guardian, the Sunday Times and the New Statesman. A former editor of the Catholic Herald, he presented the award-winning Channel 4 series Catholics and Sex and co-wrote the accompanying book. His other books include biographies of Lord Longford and Cardinal Basil Hume.

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0805030824
• ISBN 13: 9780805030822
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 315