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The Political History of the Devil

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The Political History of the Devil is a 1726 book by Daniel Defoe.[1]

General scholarly opinion is that Defoe really did think of the Devil as a participant in world history. He spends some time discussing Milton's Paradise Lost and explaining why he considers it inaccurate.

His view is that of an 18th-century Presbyterian – he blames the Devil for the Crusades and sees him as close to Europe's Catholic powers.

Trivia

The book listed as one belonging to Mr Tulliver and read by his daughter Maggie in George Eliot's "The Mill on the Floss".[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ McInelly, Brett (Autumn 2006). The Political History of the Devil. Textual Cultures, 1(2): 175-177.(subscription required)
  2. ^ The Mill on the Floss: Book one chapter 3; Mr Riley Gives his Advice

Further reading