Review
------
"Whether as mediators between the divine and human, or
involved in the complex intertwining of good and evil, angels
form a central part of human culture. In her fascinating book,
From Gabriel to Lucifer, Valery Rees offers her readers a
tantalising glimpse of the multi-faceted role angels have played
in religion and history. She thereby helps restore to a more
prominent position this much-neglected feature of human
experience." - Christopher Rowland, Dean Ireland's Professor of
the Exegesis of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford, UK and
author of Blake and the Bible
"Our fascination with angels and the angelic seems to go from
strength to strength, and in her readable new book Valery Rees
provides a lively and engaging account of why that is. Thoughtful
and intelligent throughout, From Gabriel to Lucifer is a thorough
and thought-provoking guide to the role of angels in many of the
world's religions and cultures." - Oliver Leaman, Professor of
Philosophy and Zantker Professor of Judaic Studies, University of
Kentucky, USA
"This work of deep learning traces the idea of angelic beings
through the history of the religions of the Book, and the
cultures from which they emerged. Speculations so widespread and
of such duration and elaboration plainly represent some general
need or intuition; the book is an angel in itself, bringing us a
message about human attempts to imagine and comprehend the
mysterious universe we live in." - Jill Paton Walsh, CBE, author
of Knowledge of Angels (shortlisted for the Booker Prize, 1994)
'I very much enjoyed Valery Rees' From Gabriel to Lucifer. It is
a terrific read: an absorbing account of angels across world
history, ancient and modern. The author manages to find
comparisons and connections in civilisations which appear to be
quite different, and presents what could seem as merely antique
speculations in a fresh and most thoughtful way. She gives us
visions of worlds in which angels played their part as much
"Whether as mediators between the divine and human, or involved
in the complex intertwining of good and evil, angels form a
central part of human culture. In her fascinating book, From
Gabriel to Lucifer, Valery Rees offers her readers a tantalising
glimpse of the multi-faceted role angels have played in religion
and history. She thereby helps restore to a more prominent
position this much-neglected feature of human experience." a "
Christopher Rowland, Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of
Holy Scripture, University of Oxford, UK and author of Blake and
the Bible
"Our fascination with angels and the angelic seems to go from
strength to strength, and in her readable new book Valery Rees
provides a lively and engaging account of why that is. Thoughtful
and intelligent throughout, From Gabriel to Lucifer is a thorough
and thought-provoking guide to the role of angels in many of the
world's religions and cultures." a " Oliver Leaman, Professor of
Philosophy and Zantker Professor of Judaic Studies, University of
Kentucky, USA
"This work of deep learning traces the idea of angelic beings
through the history of the religions of the Book, and the
cultures from which they emerged. Speculations so widespread and
of such duration and elaboration plainly represent some general
need or intuition; the book is an angel in itself, bringing us a
message about human attempts to imagine and comprehend the
mysterious universe we live in." a " Jill Paton Walsh, CBE,
author of Knowledge of Angels (shortlisted for the Booker Prize,
1994)
'I very much enjoyed Valery Rees' From Gabriel to Lucifer. It is
a terrific read: an absorbing account of angels across world
history, ancient and modern. The author manages to find
comparisons and connections in civilisations which appear to be
quite different, and presents what could seem as merely antique
speculations in a fresh and most thoughtful way. She gives us
visions of worlds in which angels played their part as much as we
now reckon that particles do today. She brings to life an aspect
of our past often forgotten or dismissed but compellingly
relevant to the worldview of those who lived only a few centuries
ago.' a " Melvyn Bragg
""Whether as mediators between the divine and human, or involved
in the complex intertwining of good and evil, angels form a
central part of human culture. In her fascinating book, From
Gabriel to Lucifer, Valery Rees offers her readers a tantalising
glimpse of the multi-faceted role angels have played in religion
and history. She thereby helps restore to a more prominent
position this much-neglected feature of human experience."" a "
Christopher Rowland, Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of
Holy Scripture, University of Oxford, UK and author of Blake and
the Bible
""Our fascination with angels and the angelic seems to go from
strength to strength, and in her readable new book Valery Rees
provides a lively and engaging account of why that is. Thoughtful
and intelligent throughout, From Gabriel to Lucifer is a thorough
and thought-provoking guide to the role of angels in many of the
world's religions and cultures."" a " Oliver Leaman, Professor of
Philosophy and Zantker Professor of Judaic Studies, University of
Kentucky, USA
""This work of deep learning traces the idea of angelic beings
through the history of the religions of the Book, and the
cultures from which they emerged. Speculations so widespread and
of such duration and elaboration plainly represent some general
need or intuition; the book is an angel in itself, bringing us a
message about human attempts to imagine and comprehend the
mysterious universe we live in."" a " Jill Paton Walsh, CBE,
author of Knowledge of Angels (shortlisted for the Booker Prize,
1994)
'I very much enjoyed Valery Rees' From Gabriel to Lucifer. It is
a terrific read: an absorbing account of angels across world
history, ancient and modern. The author manages to find
comparisons and connections in civilisations which appear to be
quite different, and presents what could seem as merely antique
speculations in a fresh and most thoughtful way. She gives us
visions of worlds in which angels played their part as much as we
now reckon that particles do today. She brings to life an aspect
of our past often forgotten or dismissed but compellingly
relevant to the worldview of those who lived only a few centuries
ago.' a " Melvyn Bragg
About the Author
----------------
A prominent scholar of the Renaissance, Valery Rees is a
Senior Member of the School of Economic Science in London. She
co-edited Marsilio Ficino: His Theology, His Philosophy, His
Legacy (2002), and has featured as a regular panellist on BBC
Radio 4's ship ideas programme, In Our Time.