Elsevier's Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery: In English (With Definitions) [Hardcover]

Arthur De Vries (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0444513450 | ISBN-13: 978-0444513458 | Publication Date: May 8, 2004 | Edition: 2nd Enlarged

This dictionary supplies associations which have been evoked by plants, animals, gems, objects and concepts throughout the history of Western civilization, from the hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt to the poetry of Dylan Thomas. It supplies background information from fields which may not be everyone's speciality, such as biology and mythology. It gives not one, but several meanings which may apply simultaneously, since indefiniteness is the mark of symbols. No fine distinction is made between symbols, allegories, metaphors, signs, types or images, since such subtle distinctions, however sensible from a scientific point of view, are useless to a person struggling with the deeper comprehension, and thus appreciation, of a particular 'symbol'. Important general entries are listed such as archetypes, ass, binary, bull, calendar, eagle, elements, Great Goddess, Sacred King, sun, etc., which it is advisable to read first. Information was gathered from primary sources: both famous and obscure classical authors; the Bible; the medieval scholar and musician Hildegard von Bingen; but also Donne, Shakespeare and Eliot. Lists of primary and secondary literature are included. From the many notes left behind by the late Ad de Vries, his son has gathered enough new material to enlarge the original 1974 edition more than 20 per cent. Included are many new entries taken from herbals and lapidaries as well as ancient books on medicine, architecture and dreams. This dictionary is an invaluable source of reference for students of many disciplines, as well as for writers and artists.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Just buy it on an impulse and don't think about the price, you won't repent. It's a wonderful dictionary. I love it and I strongly recommend it to everybody.
Amazon.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 668 pages
• Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing; 2nd Enlarged edition (May 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0444513450
• ISBN-13: 978-0444513458
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,377,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intuitive dictionary, April 16, 2001

By 

J.M. Hoekman (Den Haag Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery: In English (with definitions) (Hardcover)

A dictionary of imagery as given by Ad de Vries gives the reader an entrance into often difficult symbols and the connections between them. The book leaves the reader a lot of room to distill his or her specific meaning (from allegories, metaphors, signs, types, psychology, myth etc.) from the sought after symbol. For that reason several meanings are given that may apply simultaneously (or in interconnection with each other) giving the user the necessary space for a very personal interpretation. The dictionary thus recognizes the fact that, when intuitively used, the meaning of one image can often lead to a deeper source which the lay person would not easily have distinguished. The book does have a possible drawback in that the material chosen from has been restricted to "Western" civilisation. However, a drawback can also be seen as a positive point in focus.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding reference book, October 22, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery: In English (with definitions) (Hardcover)

This dictionary of symbols and imagery is one of the best books I have ever purchased. It's an invaluable source for humanities students as well as for anybody interested in the meaning and study of images and concepts as showed in literature, mythology, legends, folklore and the like. It offers a wide range of terminology and specific vocabulary and refers the reader to a great number of literary works where certain symbols are represented. Maybe this dictionary by De Vries is not very easy to use and apart from that it is also expensive, austere, and hard-to-find; but I assure you that, once you begin using it, it's worth every penny you spent on it. Just buy it on an impulse and don't think about the price, you won't repent. It's a wonderful dictionary, I love it and I strongly recommend it to everybody.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars symbols, imagery & mythology, January 24, 2009

By 

Siegfried Schubinski (Western Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elsevier's Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery: In English (With Definitions) (Hardcover)

An excellent reference book, printed on quality paper but if there is ever a reprint of the Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore & Symbols by Gertrude Jobes, I would recommend that before this text only because it is more compehensive. Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore and Symbols (Volume 3: Index)