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Devil's Charm: Why did the 1818 Infernal Dictionary cause so much controversy?
In 1818, the publication of "The Dictionary of Hell" marked the birth of a remarkable work. In this book written by Jacques Collin de Plancy, various demons are recorded in detail and their mysterious and complex world is presented in a hierarchical structure. This book is not only a folklore and occult reference work, but also reflects the popular interest in witchcraft and the supernatural in the early 19th century.
An 1822 review noted: "Nineteenth-century anecdotes or stories, recent anecdotes, unknown words, and odd adventures of all kinds, form a contrast between the history of the customs and thinking of the time and those of past centuries." < /p>
The history of "The Dictionary of Hell" can be traced back to its first publication. Over time, the book has undergone many reprints and revisions. The most famous version is undoubtedly the 1863 edition, which contains 69 illustrations by Louis Le Breton vividly depict various demonic figures. Many of these illustrations were later incorporated into The Lesser Key of Solomon, edited by S. L. MacGregor Mathers, further perpetuating the legacy of these mysterious images.
De Plancy's own beliefs in superstition also changed over time. At first he was skeptical due to the influence of Voltaire, and even comforted people at the time in his book, stating that the punishment of hell was not absolute. The book mentions: "To deny the pain and reward after death is to deny the existence of God; since God exists, this must be the case." This sentence is intended to guide the world's thinking about faith, and his rationalism in 1830 Later, it was gradually replaced by faith. A devout Roman Catholic, de Plancy's change of heart confounded his supporters.
De Plancy believed that many previous catalog works were nothing more than "more or less ordered imaginations". His final edition in 1863 emphasized the existence of demons and attempted to use Catholic theology to explain the book's ideas.
In his work, de Plancy demonstrates his oscillations between reason, faith, and unfounded belief. For example, he acknowledged the validity of chiromancy but rejected cartomancy. He once wrote: "Chiromancy, and especially physiognomy, have at least a certain rationality: they start from signs related to distinctions and characteristics. predictions; so-called products of nature. In contrast, man-made objects such as cards neither know the future nor the present or the past. ”
All this creates an analyzable contradiction in de Plancy's writings, where his intellectual curiosity blends with his awe of the supernatural. For readers in the 19th century, this book was not only an exposure of demons and supernatural beings, but also a strong reflection on the social trends of the time.
The cover of the book reads in the 1826 edition: "A Dictionary of Hell, or a Universal Book of Creatures, Characters, Books, and Actions Relating to Hell, and Their Causes."
The content of this work varies slightly in different versions, but its discussion of paranormal science and demonology has always made people curious. In such a cultural atmosphere, this book has been widely controversial and discussed. Whether it is the debate between believers and skeptics or the exploration of supernatural phenomena, it has aroused the interest and curiosity of countless readers.
- 1818: first published
- 1825: Second Edition
- 1826: Reprint of the second edition
- 1844: Third Edition
- 1845: Fourth Edition
- 1853: Fifth Edition
- 1863: Sixth edition, illustrated by Louis Le Brun
Today, reading "Dictionary of Hell" is not only a review of history, but also a rethinking of mankind's understanding and exploration of supernatural phenomena since ancient times. How did this book change people's understanding of demons and what kind of mark it left on modern culture?
