Scan barcode
Reviews
The Devil's Atlas: An Explorer's Guide to Heavens, Hells and Afterworlds by Edward Brooke-Hitching
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
4.0
A lush coffee table book that gives a brief overview of a number of religious ideas of the afterlife- namely heaven, hell and those in between. Brook-Hitching goes rather in depth about Biblical (eg Jewish and Christian) concepts of heaven and hell, but also addresses other religions like Egyptian, Mayan, Islam and a handful of others sprinkled in.
The main draw of this book is the artwork within it. Every page has something new to show, which were gorgeous to look at. I loved the variety of art and how it tied in to what was being written about.
What I found interesting was the idea of people, namely those in Biblical religions, that tried to measure the dimensions of heaven and hell. How curious how people tried to combine science and religion together like this... and how heaven and hell now seem to be considered in an entirely different plane of existence these days.
The main draw of this book is the artwork within it. Every page has something new to show, which were gorgeous to look at. I loved the variety of art and how it tied in to what was being written about.
What I found interesting was the idea of people, namely those in Biblical religions, that tried to measure the dimensions of heaven and hell. How curious how people tried to combine science and religion together like this... and how heaven and hell now seem to be considered in an entirely different plane of existence these days.
wenchamok's review
4.5
Printing screwup — a number of chapters end in the middle of a sentence, like the final line got cut off.
laydownyoursoul's review
4.0
"What could better symbolise the insidious mundanity of evil and man's capacity for it, than for its personification to be in our own image?"
"Satan, as he laments in a soliloquy at the beginning of Book IV: 'Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell'. This is ultimately the truest hell of Milton's universe, the spiritual state, the hell one carries within oneself"
Super interesting book, loved all the featured artwork and the comprehensive research and references to some very interesting historical materials and introductions to some incredible new artists. A little more factual than I was expecting but this ended up being a positive. One of those books that leads to hundreds of tabs open, and interested to read more from the author who seems to have a nice selection of other books with a similar appeal.
As well as the exposure to new concepts and works around heaven and hell, I also really enjoyed learning more about some of the more well-known bits of culture around hell and heaven like the work of Dante and Milton.
"Satan, as he laments in a soliloquy at the beginning of Book IV: 'Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell'. This is ultimately the truest hell of Milton's universe, the spiritual state, the hell one carries within oneself"
Super interesting book, loved all the featured artwork and the comprehensive research and references to some very interesting historical materials and introductions to some incredible new artists. A little more factual than I was expecting but this ended up being a positive. One of those books that leads to hundreds of tabs open, and interested to read more from the author who seems to have a nice selection of other books with a similar appeal.
As well as the exposure to new concepts and works around heaven and hell, I also really enjoyed learning more about some of the more well-known bits of culture around hell and heaven like the work of Dante and Milton.
inthelunaseas's review against another edition
4.0
A lush coffee table book that gives a brief overview of a number of religious ideas of the afterlife- namely heaven, hell and those in between. Brook-Hitching goes rather in depth about Biblical (eg Jewish and Christian) concepts of heaven and hell, but also addresses other religions like Egyptian, Mayan, Islam and a handful of others sprinkled in.
The main draw of this book is the artwork within it. Every page has something new to show, which were gorgeous to look at. I loved the variety of art and how it tied in to what was being written about.
What I found interesting was the idea of people, namely those in Biblical religions, that tried to measure the dimensions of heaven and hell. How curious how people tried to combine science and religion together like this... and how heaven and hell now seem to be considered in an entirely different plane of existence these days.
The main draw of this book is the artwork within it. Every page has something new to show, which were gorgeous to look at. I loved the variety of art and how it tied in to what was being written about.
What I found interesting was the idea of people, namely those in Biblical religions, that tried to measure the dimensions of heaven and hell. How curious how people tried to combine science and religion together like this... and how heaven and hell now seem to be considered in an entirely different plane of existence these days.
amymurnan's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
More...