The Devil: A Visual Guide to the Demonic, Evil, Scurrilous, and Bad (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

—NAPRA ReView, Holiday 1996
One must admire and revere the saints, but as the authors of this beautifully presented book assert, "It is infinitely more fun to play with the bad guys." That explains this companion/ counterpoint to 1994's Saints: A Visual Almanac of the Virtuous, Pure, Praiseworthy, and Good. The universal obsession with incarnate evil is traced through the centuries in art, literature, legend, and theological history, listing the startling variety of names and forms attributed to this entity, describing the environs and inhabitants of Hell as it has been defined by various authorities, and finally -- reassuringly -- ending with a chapter on Protection. The artwork ranges from fiercely devout paintings by medieval masters to whimsical woodcuts and engravings (the portly St. Dunstan tweaking the devil's nose with hot tongs is irresistible) -- serious fun, a delight to the eyes and the mind.

—Star-Ledger, October 1996
Enough with the angel books already. Let's have some devilish fun.

Satan. Lucifer. Beelzebub. Prince of Darkness. Mephistopheles. The Dark Angel. Archfiend. Whatever you call him, he's here. In the book, that is.

The Morgans have put together a playful but fact-filled book on the devil, his world and his minions. And while the writing is a clever delight, the woodcuts, illustrations and paintings are a special treat.

The authors knew full well what they were undertaking when they agreed to take a look at the dark side. After all, they were "chaperoned during the writing of this book by a leering, cackling flock of ravens that roosted outside" their window.

There's more demonic information than anyone could ever want here, but you'd be a fool to miss out on any of it. There are tidbits on the hordes of demons and damned souls the devil has enticed to do his business, as well as a guided tour through hell.

For those, however, who feel it's too late for them because they've already made a pact with the devil, the Morgans have advice: "Once sold, a soul is nearly impossible to redeem. (But if) you are already in the unfortunate position of having made such a bargain and are looking for a way out, see our first book, Saints.

Product Description

Whether you call him Lucifer, Satan, Leviathan, Beelzebub, or the Prince of Darkness, the Devil gets his due in this wickedly entertaining, informative and mysteriously alluring volume. The Devil is a satanic compendium of angels gone bad, the flipside to the immensely popular Saints. Over 100 full-color illustrations.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081181176X
• ISBN-13: 978-0811811767
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,388,288 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Despite the inherent dualism, not a bad read, January 10, 2000

By	Matt West (Tempe, AZ) - See all my reviews

As mentioned above, this book is very nice to look at. The myriad of paintings/engravings really draw the reader in. The writting isn't bad either; if you want an easy read on the subject, this is the book for you. Unfortunately, it wasn't the academic work I had hoped it would be. It was obvious that the authors were trying to appeal to a large audience. In their defense, however, the authors do appear to have done some extensive research, including devils/demons from the Asian and Middle Eastern cultures. I enjoyed this book and would encourage any "devil enthusiast" (if there is such a thing) to purchase it. For the price, it is a good deal.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Skippin' thru hell, June 16, 1999

By	[e-mail] (new york) - See all my reviews

Clear, lucid, and informative without being remotely ludicrous. This tiny book has a BEAUTIFUL cover, beautiful silver ornamentation and really terrific illustrations. The text is direct and smart. This book is especially important to me because I'm using it for a writing project and what I thought would turn out to be dull, hokey, and excessively serious reminds me that my project can be playful & fun.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative,wonderful illustrations,and funny., September 4, 1997

By	[e-mail] (Garapan,Saipan) - See all my reviews

A very informative tome, with many wonderful
illustrations by various artists to satisfy
the readers visual taste.Wonderfully written
with a touch of humor to keep things interest
ing on an otherwise dark subject.