The Devil in Britain and America

An engaging, illustrated survey of demonology and witch‑craft, this work brings together dozens of original engravings and rare documents to trace how the figure of the Devil has been understood in Britain and America. Drawing on seldom‑cited authorities and painstaking archival research, the author reveals forgotten cases and regional variations that have shaped popular belief from the early modern period onward. The narrative balances scholarly detail with clear explanations, making the complex history of superstition accessible to modern ears.

A highlight of the volume is the reproduction of a mysterious “devil’s writing” – a single, purportedly demonic script captured in a 16th‑century printing. The book examines how artists visualized the Prince of Darkness, from grotesque medieval depictions to later, more fanciful portrayals, and it explores the cultural forces that kept the idea of a personal, powerful evil alive. Listeners will come away with a richer sense of how fear, faith, and folklore intertwined across the Atlantic, offering fresh insight into a subject that still fascinates today.