“In this insightful cultural history of the mythical, self-immolating bird, Nigg traces the evolution of the phoenix from its origin as a sacred Egyptian symbol of the sun to its modern appearances in popular literature and as a motif in civic and corporate logos. Using excerpts from the writings of scholars, ecclesiastics, and poets—as well as a selection of pictorial representations from ancient eras to the present day—Nigg illustrates how the creature’s association with rebirth and longevity has resonated throughout history, serving variously as a symbol of resurrection to Christians, an alchemical allegory for the process of chemical and spiritual transformation, and a poetic convention for an idealized lover or the hopeless passion of the lovelorn. The enduring power of the phoenix as an emblem of triumph over adversity even led to its adoption as a symbol for rebuilding efforts following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Highly recommended.”

Library Journal

“This exhaustively researched and meticulously organized study of the mythical phoenix is an exceptional work of scholarship. . . . Even readers familiar with just the bare bones of the phoenix myth will find this book an engrossing history of an idea.”
 

Publishers Weekly

“Nigg ransacks obscure texts—ancient, medieval, and modern—to discover the phoenix’s strange, exotic, compelling identity.”
 

Literary Review

"Ambitious and painstakingly researched. . . . Enlightening."

Fortean Times

"Nigg’s The Phoenix is as singular as its subject. With intelligence, grace, and sound scholarship, he has restored this extraordinary beast to its rightful place in the universal library.”
 
 

Alberto Manguel, author of The Dictionary of Imaginary Places

“Nigg tells the intricate story of the phoenix in human culture with the most meticulous thoroughness, from its origins in ancient Egypt, Greece, and China to its use as a symbol of resurrection of New York City after the bombing of the World Trade Center. The tale of this mythic bird is so ubiquitous, multifaceted, and evocative that it seems to merge with the story of humankind.”

Boria Sax, author of Imaginary Animals: The Monstrous, the Wondrous and the Human