Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien (Culture of the Land) - Hardcover

Dickerson, Matthew T.; Evans, Jonathan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0813124182 ISBN 13: 9780813124186

Publisher: University Press of Kentucky, 2006

Synopsis

Though not often recognized as environmental or agrarian literature, the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien demonstrate a complex and comprehensive ecological philosophy. The ecology of Middle-earth portrayed in ""The Hobbit"", ""The Lord of the Rings"", and ""The Silmarillion"" brings together three potent and convincing elements of preservation and conservation - sustainable agriculture and agrarianism, horticulture independent of utilitarianism, and protection of unspoiled wilderness. Throughout his work, Tolkien reveals his vision of the natural world and environmental responsibility. ""Ents, Elves, and Eriador"" examines the underlying environmental philosophy in Tolkien's major works as well as his lesser-known stories and essays. Matthew Dickerson and Jonathan Evans evaluate Tolkien's writing, especially his Middle-earth legendarium, in the context of modern environmental literature. The authors compare Tolkien's work with that of some of the most important environmental scholars and nature writers of the past century, including Wendell Berry, John Elder, Aldo Leopold, and Scott Sanders, highlighting Tolkien's intellectual depth. A vital contribution to environmental literature and an important addition to Tolkien scholarship, ""Ents, Elves, and Eriador"" offers all fans of Tolkien a new way to understand his writings.

About this title

Review:

"Anyone who ever thrilled to Tolkien's fighting trees, or to the earthy Tom Bombadil, or to the novel charm of the Shire will want to read this important and lovely book." -- Bill McKibben, Scholar in Residence in Environmental Studies, Middlebury College

"The writing style is engaging, and the book presents the first fully developed study of Tolkien and the environment at the same time that it offers insights into a range of Tolkien's major and minor works." -- Choice

"A fascinating ecocritical evaluation of the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. Valuable for both Tolkien fans and those interested in ecocriticism and environmental literature. Especially useful given the popularity of the subject matter." -- Northeastern Naturalist

"This book is a major new contribution to the subject of Tolkien's work in relation to the natural world and environmentalism.... The authors have devised an ingenious and useful distinction between agriculture for food (the domain of the Hobbits), horticulture for aesthetic beauty (that of Elves), and feraculture... for wilderness preservation (Ents)." -- Tolkien Studies

"Dickerson and Evans's ecological thesis has one outstanding merit, which is that Tolkien himself would have recognized and thoroughly approved of what they have to say." -- Tom Shippey, from the Afterword

"Reading a non-fiction book about Tolkien's environmental vision may seem like a way to spoil the sheer fun of reading The Lord of the Rings and his other books. What I found as I read this book was that I wanted to reread every word of Tolkien to see for myself what the authors have given a glimpse of. This book is for everyone who loves the work of J.R..R. Tolkien, and who loves the world around them." -- Armchair Interviews

"The two authors are unabashed in their effort to use the lure of Tolkien to draw readers to the Green movement. The book constitutes an unorthodox yet largely successful combination of scholarly reading and political manifesto. Dickerson and Evans seek to rouse Tolkien fans to scour their own Shires before it is too late and Mordor triumphs." -- Seven

"A well-researched, readable, and relevant study of Tolkien's ecological principles and concerns. And, as Tom Shippey comments in the afterword, Tolkien, no doubt, would approve." -- Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts

"This volume is a thorough and welcome explication of Tolkien's vision of the natural world, and of the ways in which that vision is applicable to our own lives today." -- Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature & the Environment

" Ents, Elves, and Eriador should...be praised for drawing attention to the multifaceted portrayal of the natural world in Tolkien's work." -- Folklore

From the Publisher:

TOM SHIPPEY is Professor Emeritus at St Louis University.

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0813124182
• ISBN 13: 9780813124186
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 344