The Cambridge Companion to Apocalyptic Literature

Description

Jewish and Christian apocalypses have captivated theologians, writers, artists, and the general public for centuries, and have had a profound influence on world history from their initial production by persecuted Jews during the second century BCE, to the birth of Christianity - through the demise of the Western Roman Empire and the medieval period, and continuing into modernity. Far from being an outlier concern, or an academic one that may be relegated to the dustbin of history, apocalyptic thinking is ubiquitous and continues to inform nearly all aspects of modern-day life. It addresses universal human concerns: the search for identity and belonging, speculation about the future, and (for some) a blueprint that provides meaning and structure to a seemingly chaotic world. The Cambridge Companion to Apocalyptic Literature brings together a field of leading experts to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject.

Colin McAllister is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. His publications include The Vanguard Guitar (2004) and Fourteenth Century Counterpoint: Music of the Chantilly Codex (2005) as well as a translation of the Cambridge Glossa in Apocalypsin (forthcoming). He directs the annual Through a Glass Darkly: UCCS Symposium on Apocalyptica.

'This is a rich, wide-ranging and sometimes provocative collection which brings together serious scholarship adapted to a wider readership ... consistently thought-provoking, informative, and full of leads for further exploration.' Roger Pooley, The Glass '... the volume usefully addresses multiple dimensions of apocalyptic studies - definition, characteristics, purpose, and adaptation to changing circumstances.' W. L. Pitts Jr, Choice 'This is a very well written and researched collection of essays presented in a balanced and structured way, and it is strongly recommended for both students and scholars of apocalypticism, biblical literature, reception history, and worldviews.' Gerbern S. Oegema, Society of Biblical Literature