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(1726) Defoe discusses Satan, his history and ways, using a mishmash of what we would think of today as very separate genres: Biblical commentary, literary criticism, doggerel verse, pop history, and folklore. He takes the Devil very seriously, and (as somebody who doesn't), it can sometimes be a bit much. I still found it interesting especially for its theological criticism of Milton, and for its perspective on 18th century diabolical folklore

I doubt not but the title of this book will amuse some of my reading friends a little at first; they will make a pause, perhaps, as they do at a witch‘s prayer, and be some time resolving whether they had best look into it or no, lest they should really raise the Devil by reading his story.

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