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About this book
In this book, Lisa Coutras explores the structure and complexity of J.R.R. Tolkien’s narrative theology, synthesizing his Christian worldview with his creative imagination. She illustrates how, within the framework of a theological aesthetics, transcendental beauty is the unifying principle that integrates all aspects of Tolkien’s writing, from pagan despair to Christian joy.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Christianity is often held in an unsteady tension with the pagan despair of his mythic world. Some critics portray these as incompatible, while Christian analysis tends to oversimplify the presence of religious symbolism. This polarity of opinion testifies to the need for a unifying interpretive lens. The fact that Tolkien saw his own writing as “religious” and “Catholic,” yet was preoccupied with pagan mythology, nature, language, and evil, suggests that these areas were wholly integrated with his Christian worldview. Tolkien’s Theology of Beauty examines six structural elements, demonstrating that the author’s Christianity is deeply embedded in the narrative framework of his creative imagination.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Christianity is often held in an unsteady tension with the pagan despair of his mythic world. Some critics portray these as incompatible, while Christian analysis tends to oversimplify the presence of religious symbolism. This polarity of opinion testifies to the need for a unifying interpretive lens. The fact that Tolkien saw his own writing as “religious” and “Catholic,” yet was preoccupied with pagan mythology, nature, language, and evil, suggests that these areas were wholly integrated with his Christian worldview. Tolkien’s Theology of Beauty examines six structural elements, demonstrating that the author’s Christianity is deeply embedded in the narrative framework of his creative imagination.
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Table of contents (16 chapters)
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Front Matter
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On Myth
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Front Matter
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On Creation
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Front Matter
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On Language
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Front Matter
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On Good and Evil
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Front Matter
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On Tragic Heroism
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Front Matter
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On Women
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Front Matter
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Reviews
“This book was an interesting read. To find out more about where Tolkien’s theology stands, Catholic though it may be, was certainly enlightening. I give this book 4 stars out of 5.” (Justin Dilliplane, Resolved for Christ, resolvedfc.blogspot.de, January, 2018)
“This excellent study … is, to the best of my knowledge, the only monograph on its subject … . Throughout the text, Coutras gives ample and insightful references to earlier scholarship, making the book valuable as an introduction above and beyond the virtues of its own argument.” (John Wm. Houghton, Journal of Tolkien Research, Vol. 4 (2), 2017)
“Lisa Coutras’s Tolkien’s Theology of Beauty is an important addition to Tolkien Studies, and worthy of being read by more than just those interested in religious readings of the Silmarillion legendarium or The Lord of the Rings.” (Philip Irving Mitchell, Mythlore, Vol. 36 (1), 2017)
“This book is an enormous achievement. It is wonderfully ‘heavy’ in content and ‘light’ (clear) in style. The book unifies Tolkien’s vision, explains and interprets it accurately, probes it philosophically and theologically, and defends it against common misunderstandings (e.g. that Tolkien was anti-feminist). Coutras has more than done her homework. This work will be a definitive touchstone for generations to come.” (Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Boston College, USA )
“This is a genuinely original, remarkably rich, and frequently absorbing contribution to theological aesthetics. One need not be a Tolkien enthusiast to learn from it; but enthusiasts and casual admirers alike are sure to be surprised and delighted by this book.” (David Bentley Hart, University of Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study, USA)
“This book is particularly valuable for its explication of Tolkien’s integration of Marian and valkyrie imagery, resulting in female characters of transcendental beauty and heroism.” (Janet Brennan Croft, editor of Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature, and co-editor of Perilous and Fair: Women in the Works and Life of J.R.R. Tolkien)“Lisa Coutras gently but firmly corrects the many misrepresentations of narrative context and authorial intention that characterize too many works of Tolkien scholarship. Her discussion restores to their proper value those characteristics most central to Tolkien’s creative vision. Coutras provides an especially compelling and textually sensitive reading of female characters, suggesting that Tolkien integrates central Nordic and Christian mythological traditions into a profound statement on beauty.” (Leslie A. Donovan, co-editor of Perilous and Fair: Women in the Works and Life of J.R.R. Tolkien)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Lisa Coutras holds a PhD in Theology from King’s College London, UK, and an MTh in Applied Theology from the University of Oxford, UK.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Tolkien’s Theology of Beauty
Book Subtitle: Majesty, Splendor, and Transcendence in Middle-earth
Authors: Lisa Coutras
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55345-4
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan New York
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-55344-7Published: 06 July 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-55345-4Published: 03 August 2016
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVII, 279