Histories of the Devil

This book is about representations of the devil in English and European literature. Tracing the fascination in literature, philosophy, and theology with the irreducible presence of what may be called evil, or comedy, or the carnivalesque, this book surveys the parts played by the devil in the texts derived from the Faustus legend, looks at Marlowe and Shakespeare, Rabelais, Milton, Blake, Hoffmann, Baudelaire, Goethe, Dostoevsky, Bulgakov, and Mann, historically, speculatively, and from the standpoint of critical theory. It asks: Is there a single meaning to be assigned to the idea of the diabolical? What value lies in thinking diabolically? Is it still the definition of a good poet to be of the devil's party, as Blake argued?

Aceasta carte este despre reprezentari ale diavolului in literatura engleza si europeana. Urmarind fascinatia din literatura, filozofie si teologie cu prezenta ireductibila a ceea ce poate fi numit rau sau comedie sau carnavalesc, aceasta carte analizeaza rolurile jucate de diavol in textele derivate din legenda lui Faust, se uita la Marlowe si Shakespeare, Rabelais, Milton, Blake, Hoffmann, Baudelaire, Goethe, Dostoievski, Bulgakov si Mann, istoric, speculativ si din punctul de vedere al teoriei critice.