Angels A to Z [Paperback]

James R. Lewis (Author), Evelyn Dorothy Oliver (Author), Andy Lakey (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1995

Written by a recognized authority on nontraditional religious movements, this resource is one of the most comprehensive books on angels and related topics currently available. More than 300 entries are included and drawn from multiple religions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Hindu traditions, as well as from pop culture. A variety of angel topics are discussed, including celebrity angels, classifications of angels, obscure angels still waiting for their big break, guardian angels, fallen angels, Anaheim angels, biblical figures associated with angels, angels in art and architecture, and angels in the media and literature. Angels are also discussed in terms of the occult and metaphysics, with entries on UFOs, fairies, and witches.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Trying to catch the current wave of angel popularity, this source compiles angel facts and lore in short readable citations. Alphabetically arranged entries range from "Abaddon" (the angel of death) to "Zoroastrianism" (the ancient Persian religion that believed in the notion of angels as agents of God). Topics include how various religions view angels, artists' renderings, angel medicine, and angels in folklore and literature. Supplementing the entries is an appendix containing angel resources and an angel filmography (no ghosts or spirits) current up to 1994 although not complete (the film "Prophecy' starring Christopher Walken is not listed). For quick trivia, this book works, but for more specific and detailed synopses on angels, try John E. Ronner's Know Your Angels (Mamre Pr., 1993).?L. Kriz, West Des Moines P.L., Ia.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

It was bound to happen. With angels as the subject of a growing number of books and angel gifts appearing in stores and catalogs, a reference book couldn't be far behind. This dictionary, by two firm believers in angels, has 300 entries discussing angels across religious traditions, including New Age thought. Lewis is the author of several other Gale titles, including The Dream Encyclopedia [RBB N 15 95] and The Encyclopedia of Afterlife Beliefs and Phenomena [RBB Ap 15 95].

Angels in various religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism) are treated, along with well-known angels, such as Michael and Gabriel, and obscure ones like Abdiel and Hadraniel. There is coverage of guardian angels and fallen angels and biblical figures associated with angels. Angels in art, architecture, film, TV, and music, as well as literature about angels, from Dante to today's New Age writers, are also included. In addition to treating angels from the point of view of religion, they are also discussed in terms of the occult and metaphysics, with entries on UFOs, fairies, and witches. There are brief bibliographies at the end of entries, with sources ranging from The Encyclopedia of Religion to A Treatise on Angel Magic. The beautiful religious art featuring angels doesn't reproduce too well in black and white. Appendixes include a classified bibliography, a filmography, and angel resources: organizations, publications, retail and mail-order companies, and Web pages. A detailed index includes illustrations as well as text.

For public libraries where there is an interest in angels, from either a traditional religious or New Age point of view. Sandy Whiteley --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 509 pages
• Publisher: Visible Ink Press; First edition. edition (December 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787606529
• ISBN-13: 978-0787606527
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,756,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Quite A to Z, June 23, 2001

By 

Padmadan (Heaven) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels A to Z (Paperback)

This book is good but I find another book "A Dictionary of Angels : Including the Fallen Angels" by Gustav Davidson much better and complete.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is easy to lose yourself in this book for hours...., March 12, 2003

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Angels A to Z (Paperback)

I found this to be the most comprehensive book on the subject of angels and related topics that I have ever seen. Whether you are approaching this subject from a biblical, historical, cross cultural, or esoteric viewpoint you should find most everything that you are looking for. Indeed, you will find much that you were not originally looking for. It is easy to find yourself absorbed for hours reading from subject to subject, seeing associations and connections that never occured to you before. I couldn't really see where the author was promoting any particular agenda or viewpoint- it all seemed pretty objective to me. Yet, the writing isn't in dry-as-dust academic style either.

The book itself is hefty 485 plus pages and laid out in dictionary form (though there is a well written introduction on the overall subject.) The illustrations are in black and white, but they are well-chosen, crisp, and plentiful.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Angel resource, June 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Angels A to Z (Paperback)

Both informative and readable, this book is a wonderful guide to the world of angels. It covers the topic from all angles and viewpoints, and is superbly cross-referenced. Great book!