Book by M.A. Orlova is a succinct outline of the views on the nature of evil that prevailed in the Middle Ages and Modern times, right up to the 19th century, and contains many legendary stories that reflected the ideas of people of past eras about good and evil spirits, demons, witches, sorcerers, etc. From this book, the first edition of which has long become a bibliographic rarity, the reader will also learn many details about witch trials and other manifestations of religious intolerance and fanaticism.