Tolkien's Medievalism in Ruins - by Nick Katsiadas & Carl Sell (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The structural and symbolic purposes of ruins in literary texts have a long history, yet few scholars explore their importance within J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium.

From the ruins of Erebor and the relics of Gondolin appearing in The Hobbit to the various images of Amon Sûl, Moria, and Osgiliath in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien constructs a distinct mood-one that captures characters' awareness of the glories of the past and a desire to emulate them. The scholars who do engage Tolkien's relics and ruins tend to limit the scope to Tolkien's debt to the Middle Ages. While such scholarship begins important conversations, the full story of Tolkien's relics and ruins is left untold. Tolkien's Medievalism in Ruins takes corrective action and expands this historical and critical literary scope. This collection seeks to promote a more comprehensive approach to Tolkien's legendarium.

About the Author

Nick Katsiadas is Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures, Cultures, and Writing at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

Carl Sell is Associate Director for McNair and Undergraduate Research Programs at the University
of Pittsburgh.