Talk of the Devil has become distinctly unfashionable. Our sceptical age has pensioned off Satan, for centuries the face and name put to the abstract reality of evil. However, the creation of Popes, archbishops and priests will not so easily accept his fate, and Satan continues to serve as a metaphor for evil throughout society. His scaly black skin, horns, cloven hoof and red eyes have become embedded in popular psyche. In The Devil: A Biography, Peter Stanford traces the development of t...

'An intriguing exploration of the many roles that angels have played in spiritual life.' - The Sunday Times: Nick Rennison'In a 2016 poll, one in 10 Britons claimed to have experienced the presence of an angel, while one in three remain convinced that they have a guardian angel. These are huge numbers and mean that, on some counts, angels are doing better than God.'In the secular, sceptical, post-Christian world of the West, contin...

In this fascinating historical and cultural biography, writer and broadcaster Peter Stanford deconstructs that most vilified of Bible characters: Judas Iscariot, who famously betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Beginning with the gospel accounts, Peter explores two thousand years of cultural and theological history to investigate how the very name Judas came to be synonymous with betrayal and, ultimately, human evil.But as Peter points out, there has long been a counter-current of thought ...

Pilgrimage, a global ritual embraced by all faiths, is one of the most enduring traits in our human story. In this compelling history Peter Stanford reflects on the reasons people have walked along the same sacred paths across the ages. How do the experiences of the first pilgrims to Jerusalem, Mecca and Santiago de Compostela compare to the millions of people who embark upon life-changing physical and spiritual journeys today? And why do we still feel compelled to walk, stop and think abo...

'This biography restores Gaudí to life as one of the most original architects of all time...Stanford shows how the Catalan genius put his soul into everything he did.' Blake Morrison'This riveting portrait brings together as a compelling whole the triumphs and the tragedies of Gaudí's life.' Antonia Fraser'In daring to trace the complex connections between Gaudí's religious faith and his famous buildings, this is a...

'A heavenly book, elegant and thoughtful. Get one for yourself and one for the church-crawler in your life!' Lucy WorsleyChristianity has been central to the lives of the people of Britain and Ireland for almost 2,000 years. It has given us laws, customs, traditions and our national character. From a persecuted minority in Roman Britannia through the 'golden age' of Anglo-Saxon monasticism, the devastating impact of the Vikings, the alliance of church and ...

This is a complete guide to the oldest institution in the Western world - the Catholic Church. Explore the essential beliefs and practices of the religion and delve into its long and fascinating history. From the significance of Rome and the importance of the Papacy, to current issues such as science, contraception and new movements within the faith, learn what it means to be Catholic today.NOT GOT MUCH TIME?One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get yo...

En una encuesta de 2016, uno de cada 10 británicos afirmó haber experimentado la presencia de un ángel, mientras que uno de cada tres sigue convencido de que tiene un ángel de la guarda. Estos son números enormes y significan que, en algunos aspectos, los ángeles lo están haciendo mejor que Dios.En el mundo secular, escéptico y poscristiano de Occidente, la fe en los ángeles es considerada tanto una anomalía como un consuelo.¿ Qué son exactamente lo...

'A compelling biography of one of the greatest men of the modern age. Stanford is particularly brilliant on the tensions inside Luther's private and spiritual life. This is a very fine book, written with a flourish.' Melvyn BraggThe 31st of October 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther pinning his 95 'Theses' - or reform proposals - to the door of his local university church in Wittenberg. Most scholars now agree that the details of this eye-ca...

For the first time since the Profumo scandal of the 1960s, the Astors’ own version of the events at Cliveden is told. Peter Stanford has been granted unprecedented access to Lady Astor, her private papers and her friends, as well as to many family members and key players in the drama.When Bronwen Pugh married into the celebrated Astor clan in 1960, she seemed to have the world at her feet. She was a media darling, BBC television presenter, the most celebrated model of her generatio...

Judas le mauvais apôtre, le traître, l’instrument de Satan n’est mentionné que vingt-deux fois dans les quatre Évangiles, soit mille deux cents mots qui parfois se contredisent. Et pourtant… son baiser par lequel il désigna le Christ aux gardes compte parmi les épisodes les plus célèbres de la Bible.À la recherche des traces que Jean, Paul, Marc et Matthieu ont laissées de lui, Peter Stanford tente d’abord d’entrevoir l’homme sous les voiles diaboliques que l’histoire a posés sur lu...

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CATHOLICISM, ALL IN ONE PLACEThis is your go-to guide to the Catholic faith. It covers the basics and history of Catholicism, the Catholic Church today and teachings and traditions. It is your comprehensive and essential account of Catholic doctrine, faith and history.On the world stage, Catholicism is the largest of the branches of Christianity with over 1.2 billion followers. How has the Catholic Church's message reached i...