About the Author

Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) was the Sewell L. Avery Distinguished Service Professor in the Divinty School and professor in the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. In 1985 the trustees of the University established the Mircea Eliade Chair in the History of Religions in his honor. His many books include novels, short stories, and plays as well as works in the history of religion, most notably the Encyclopedia of Religions and A History of Religious Ideas.