Monsters: A Bestiary of the Bizarre

A dark yet engrossing visual history of fearsome beasts from every age and culture in art, mythology and legend

Monsters have preoccupied mankind from the earliest times: even cave art includes animal–human monsters. Certainly monsters were present in the ancient religions of Egypt and Mesopotamia; the Old Testament describes the giant land and sea monsters Behemoth and Leviathan, while in the world of Classical mythology, monsters embody the fantasies of the gods and the cruellest punishments of human beings.

This book explores monsters down the ages and throughout the world. It provides a visual history of the human mind, lit up by flashes of wild and unearthly inspiration.

Contents List:

Introduction • Gods and Monsters • Devils and Demons • Magical Monsters • Dragons and Flying Monsters • Water Monsters • Transformations and Hybrids • Ghosts and Ghouls • Monsters of Folklore • How to Fight Monsters • Off the Edge of the Map

About the Author:

Christopher Dell holds a degree in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute, London. He has written and edited many bestselling titles on art and visual culture, including Freemasonry, Mythology, Monsters, What Makes a Masterpiece? and The Occult, Witchcraft & Magic, all published by Thames & Hudson.