The History of the Devil, the Horned God of the West: By R. Lowe Thompson, B.A. (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd., 1929. Pp. 172. Price 7 s. 6 d. net.)

This is a stimulating and genially written essay on the Devil, the title of which is perhaps somewhat pretentious. It is in no way a comprehensive history. The Christian idea of the Devil is dealt with in a few pages, and no attempt is made to consider it from a theological point of view. The author begins with an archæological excursus in which he suggests that the paleolithic etchings of wild animals may have served as a starting point for identification of human and animal figures. He stresses the conception of horned gods and heroes through various ages and attempts to bring this figure into close relation with that of the Devil. He confesses his inability to explain the psychological significance of the interest in horns and crescents, but does not mention the well-known phallic and yoni symbolism attaching to them. Needless to say, no account is taken of psycho-analytic work on the subject.

Miss Murray's views about the prevalence of pagan religions in organised witch cults are accepted and the epidemic of witch persecution in the Middle Ages is attributed to the endeavours of the Church to stamp these out.