[Xenophon450]

I am attempting to read a four book series by Jeffrey Burton Russell.

The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity

Satan: The Early Christian Tradition

Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages

Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World

In that respective order. So far I am halfway through the second book. Very well written and researched with copious source citations. Early in the first book it is easy to become disheartened because he feigns a more liberal stance towards the devil, but towards the end he reveals his true thoughts on a more conservative view towards evil and the personification of it.

[Verloona Ti]

Hey, I (re)read that set just a few weeks ago! There's a 5th book Russell wrote, called The Prince of Darkness. It's a one volume "condensation" of the other 4 books. I found it helped to read that book before reading the 4 book set, as an 'outline' to the material...Or maybe reading it after reading the other 4, just to help the material sink in the memory. Just a suggestion to take or leave.