The Watkins Dictionary of Angels

There are several books claiming to be dictionaries and encyclopedias of Angelic beings This is one such book that truly is a detailed dictionary

The word "angel" has acquired a positive meaning today, but as you probably know, that is a connotation developed throughout culture and in fact there are all kinds of angels. This book is an essential resource for angel lore research, and a nice reference book. There are four parts to this book: 1 - Introduction: Here the author gives an introduction to angels and some of the origins of their names, and it also contains a brief list (with explanations) of technical terms that are encountered in the book, like various religions and languages. 12 pages. 2 - A-Z of Angels: This is the focus of the book. An entry consists of a name, along with a description. Where appropriate, you are directed to a different entry. 197 pages. 3 - Descriptive Bibliography and Further Reading: Self-explanatory. 5 pages. 4 - Angel Attributes: Here is an alphabetical list of things of various forms, such as natural disasters, celestial bodies, human traits, days -- just about anything -- which can be attributed to known angels. A sample entry reads "War- see Michael, Gadreel, Phaleg." 3 pages. That is pretty much the rundown of this book. Obviously you are reading this review for an opinion on whether it's worth getting or not, and believe me: if you are studying angel lore, or even if you just need a reference for whatever other reasons, you should get this. The author, Julia Cresswell, specializes in mythology, the Middle Ages, and language. She has an MA and Doctorate, so this book is the product of serious academic research. Obviously when you're dealing with topics like this it's impossible to know the authenticity of all the details, but the bottom line is, this book aims to be as accurate as possible, and is not a work of fiction. I would also recommend Gustav Davidson's "A Dictionary of Angels - including the fallen angels" to those who want a more complete source, but this book is one that you should not be without. It's worth a lot more than it costs.