Encyclopedia Of Prophecy

From at least 1200 B.C. and probably long before, prophets have attempted to see into the future. Most—from ancient oracles to modern astrologers, from doomsday sects to telephone psychics—have been wrong the majority of the time, says British researcher Geoffrey Ashe. True foreknowledge is rare, but those rare occurrences are impressive.

In this fascinating reference work, the first to encompass the entire 3,000 year span of recorded prophecy, Ashe examines the predictions of both good prophets and bad, including seers like Jacques Cazotte, who forecast the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution, and Morgan Robertson, who described the Titanic disaster 14 years before it happened. He refutes many of the far-fetched claims of Nostradamus, and highlights those that foreshadow events after his lifetime. He also examines failed prophecies that have been influential, including the many end-of-the-world forecasts, along with the surprisingly accurate visions of some science-fiction authors.

A definitive, factual, A-Z reference guide offering a global perspective on the role of prophecy in world history, religion, folklore, and literature.

Library Journal

Worldwide in scope and dating from biblical times, though its thrust is by no means exclusively religious, this encyclopedia ranges widely in its A-to-Z listing of entries. Among them are "apocalypse," "Edgar Cayce," "end of the world," "Napoleon," "premonitions," "sphinx," and "Wandering Jew." The eminently readable text can be perused at leisure or easily used to locate points of interest; the more than 100 entries generally include cross references and a list of further reading. A well-known authority on British legend and a pioneer of Arthurian studies (e.g., The Discovery of King Arthur, 1987), Ashe handles the material expertly, giving historical context where necessary. Even if the predictions themselves are obsolete, their placement here prompts the reader to appreciate the influence of a given prophecy. The global perspective makes this a timely and lasting title for public libraries. Leroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach P.L., FL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.