The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols (Dictionary, Penguin)

A massive guide to the erudite stuff that modern education never explains.

I have just purchased the dictionary of symbols as a reference tool for my English Literature Degree, helping me understand literary analogies, allegories and some allusions (such as mythology) and for use as assignment quotes. So far it has been fantastic for quotes as it is surprisingly hard to find academically acclaimed guides to symbolism via online searches... believe me I've tried! OK.. so it doesn't have pictures, you really don't need them, and all entries are alphabetically listed so really easy to find what you need. It spans many different subjects and cultures for its references, and is really interesting (I have found myself reading articles I didn't need to). Some entries are short and concise as they don't have many different meanings, however others such as serpents have an longer entry looking at a wealth of meanings including biblical and psychological. Maybe not for everyone, but I honestly don't know how I have coped without this book.

Arrived in good condition. The only fault is there is no index.

One to have handy if you're interested in this sort of thing

Good dictionary of symbols but no illustrations. Disappointed

Information in this book is super interesting. It includes symbolic info about colours, numbers, animals, and many other stuff.

The ultimate reference book. You can't say you actually love it but it is wonderful.

It's a very interesting book particularly useful for scholars who believe in the Jungian criticism in literature

An indispensable volume. While it shares the inherent 'boring' quality of any dictionary, its exceptional accessibility and unwavering trustworthiness make it a true treasure. This is a must-have for any philologist, general intellectual, or indeed, any dedicated seeker of knowledge. It's the kind of resource Umberto Eco would likely have pored over and appreciated immensely. Given its unparalleled utility and depth, a clear five-star rating.

Such a beautiful explanation to everything mentioned in it.

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Perfect for used book

Extraordinario diccionario y llegó en excelente estado. Su traducción al español es demasiado caro (costo triplicado). La versión en inglés es óptima, en papel y pastas delgadas de buena calidad, manejable con facilidad, sin que se dañe. Es legible aunque de letra chica. Su contenido temático es de alta calidad para quien tenga intereses desde la filosofía, la cultura, la psicología, la teología y el arte.