Sunday, August 30, 2009

Ten of the best devils

At the Guardian, John Mullan named ten of the best devils in literature.

One devil on the list:
Muriel Spark's Douglas Dougal

It is not surprising that the devilish (and devoutly Roman Catholic) Spark should spring a Satanic manipulator on the modern world in The Ballad of Peckham Rye. The company of Meadows, Meade & Grindley hires the charming and resourceful Dougal to do "human research" on its employees. His diabolical ability is bringing out the worst in people. As the narrator keeps saying: "It wouldn't have happened if Dougal Douglas hadn't come."
Read about all ten devils on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue