The Watkins Dictionary of Angels

by Julia Cresswell

Book Overview

What is an angel? Anyone who has ever wondered about the nature of these seraphic beings will find all the answers in this comprehensive dictionary. With 2,000 easy-to-access and cross-referenced... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1842932055
• ISBN13: 9781842932056
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Watkins Publishing
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A very good Dictionary of Angels

There are several books claiming to be dictionaries and encyclopedias of Angelic beings This is one such book that truly is a detailed dictionary

If you're studying angel lore, you need this book

The word "angel" has acquired a positive meaning today, but as you probably know, that is a connotation developed throughout culture and in fact there are all kinds of angels. This book is an essential resource for angel lore research, and a nice reference book. There are four parts to this book: 1 - Introduction: Here the author gives an introduction to angels and some of the origins of their names, and it also contains a brief list (with explanations) of technical terms that are encountered in the book, like various religions and languages. 12 pages. 2 - A-Z of Angels: This is the focus of the book. An entry consists of a name, along with a description. Where appropriate, you are directed to a different entry. 197 pages. 3 - Descriptive Bibliography and Further Reading: Self-explanatory. 5 pages. 4 - Angel Attributes: Here is an alphabetical list of things of various forms, such as natural disasters, celestial bodies, human traits, days -- just about anything -- which can be attributed to known angels. A sample entry reads "War- see Michael, Gadreel, Phaleg." 3 pages. That is pretty much the rundown of this book. Obviously you are reading this review for an opinion on whether it's worth getting or not, and believe me: if you are studying angel lore, or even if you just need a reference for whatever other reasons, you should get this. The author, Julia Cresswell, specializes in mythology, the Middle Ages, and language. She has an MA and Doctorate, so this book is the product of serious academic research. Obviously when you're dealing with topics like this it's impossible to know the authenticity of all the details, but the bottom line is, this book aims to be as accurate as possible, and is not a work of fiction. I would also recommend Gustav Davidson's "A Dictionary of Angels - including the fallen angels" to those who want a more complete source, but this book is one that you should not be without. It's worth a lot more than it costs.