Defending Middle-earth: Tolkien - Myth and Modernity - Tapa dura

The work of J.R.R. Tolkien has sold nearly 100 million copies worldwide, and continues to enthral new generations of readers. yet it has also been widely labelled as reactionary and escapist by hostile critics. Patrick Curry's book shows just how mistaken they are. He reveals Tolkien's advocacy of community, ecology, and spiritual values against the destructive forces of runaway modernity. Tolkien's remedy, and the project implicit in his literary mythology, is a re-enchantment of the world. Curry argues that Tolkien's books, which draw on ancient magical mythology whilst also resonating closely with the ideas of contemporary radical ecology, help us to realize that living nature, including humanity, is sacred. He argues that Tolkien addresses hard global realities and widely justified fears and that, in this way, his story has transcended its English roots to achieve universal relevance.