The History of the Devil and the Idea of Evil

About this book

The Devil has appeared as a tempter, monster, rebel, trickster and explanation for suffering. Paul Carus follows these changing figures through religions, folklore, art and philosophical argument.

His illustrated history ranges from ancient traditions to Christian demonology, tracing the ways people gave evil a recognisable face. Some comparisons reflect the scholarship of his period, but the images remain a remarkable record of fear made visible. The variety is striking: there is no single portrait that could contain all the Devils history has imagined.