This is a very interesting historical account of the mythical figure variously known as "the Devil", Satan, and the Prince of Darkness. I was intrigued to learn how very much the devil is a product of Christian theology. Not much a product of Judaism, its existence was also denied by Islam. In the 1st century and beyond, Christians found the figure useful as a means of negatively characterizing Judaism, their theological rival; hence the long history of considering Jews to be allies of Satan. Stanford's book traces the devil figure throughout the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and the Renaissance, into modern times, with particular emphasis on the role of the devil in popular culture. I listened to this work as an audio tape set, and as a result did not fully absorb much that I would have liked to remember. I'm therefore inclined to seek a print copy that I can reread and keep for reference. ( )

Some hold that we are defined by the enemies we choose. In that light, Stanford’s book tells more about the early Catholic church than it does about its subject, who morphs throughout the ages to better serve the needs of the church. The book is well researched, well written, and even entertaining at times. It falls short on documentation, and I have never been fond of end notes. ( )

A nicely written theological examination of the Devil. Intelligent without being pompus, easily accessible and well researched. ( )