The Political History of the Devil

Irreverent and ironic, this 1726 satire by the author of "Robinson Crusoe"examines the evolution of evil and the rise of thehistorical force known as "the devil." Beginning with asurvey of Satan'sorigins, Defoeexplores devilishinfluences on 18th-century monarchs, tyrants, and ordinary "beaus, beauties, wits, and fools.""