Nicholas Birns – författare

This volume analyzes the literary role played by history in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. It argues that the events of The Lord of the Rings are placed against the background of an already- existing history, both in reality and in the fictional worlds of the books.

History is unfolded in various ways, both in explicitly archival annals and in stories told by characters on the road or on the fly, and in which different visions of history emerge. In addition, the history within the work can resemble, or be patterned on, histories in our world. These histories range from the deep past of prehistoric and ancient worlds to the early medieval era of the barbarian invasions and Byzantium, to the modern worlds of urbane civility and a paradoxical longing for nature, and finally to great power rivalries and global prospects. The book argues that Tolkien did not employ these histories indiscriminately or reductively. Rather, he regarded them as aspects of aesthetic and representative figuration that are above all literary.

While most criticism has concentrated on Tolkien’s use of historical traditions of Northern Europe, this book argues that Tolkien also valued Southern and Mediterranean pasts and registered the Germanic and the Scandinavian pasts as they related to other histories as much as his vision of them included a primeval mythic aura.

This volume analyzes the literary role played by history in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. It argues that the events of The Lord of the Rings are placed against the background of an already- existing history, both in reality and in the fictional worlds of the books.

History is unfolded in various ways, both in explicitly archival annals and in stories told by characters on the road or on the fly, and in which different visions of history emerge. In addition, the history within the work can resemble, or be patterned on, histories in our world. These histories range from the deep past of prehistoric and ancient worlds to the early medieval era of the barbarian invasions and Byzantium, to the modern worlds of urbane civility and a paradoxical longing for nature, and finally to great power rivalries and global prospects. The book argues that Tolkien did not employ these histories indiscriminately or reductively. Rather, he regarded them as aspects of aesthetic and representative figuration that are above all literary.

While most criticism has concentrated on Tolkien’s use of historical traditions of Northern Europe, this book argues that Tolkien also valued Southern and Mediterranean pasts and registered the Germanic and the Scandinavian pasts as they related to other histories as much as his vision of them included a primeval mythic aura.

This book offers a profound and necessary re-evaluation of pacifism, positioning it not merely as a negative stance against war, but as a comprehensive philosophical orientation toward living and ethical engagement. Moving beyond conventional political and historical limitations, the collection interrogates the radical intellectual and practical potential of non-violence in the twenty-first century.

The contributions explore historical reappraisals—from reintroducing the Quaker pacifist Jonathan Dymond to considering Tolstoy in relation to critiques of Eurocentrism. Contemporary articulations of non-violence are examined, including anarcho-pacifism and feminist counternarratives emerging from movements like the Arab Spring. The book expands the scope of violence and pacifist resistance, questioning whether the ethical imperative of pacifism must extend to include refusal of violence against animal life and the inanimate, thereby embracing ecological and environmental justice.

This collection addresses academics, researchers, and advanced students in philosophy, political theory, peace studies, and environmental studies. It serves as essential reading for courses on pacifist philosophy, nonviolent resistance, and contemporary political thought, offering a revitalisation of pacifist knowledge as a critical counterforce to aggressive politics.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Angelaki: Journal for Theoretical Humanities.

This book offers a profound and necessary re-evaluation of pacifism, positioning it not merely as a negative stance against war, but as a comprehensive philosophical orientation toward living and ethical engagement. Moving beyond conventional political and historical limitations, the collection interrogates the radical intellectual and practical potential of non-violence in the twenty-first century.

The contributions explore historical reappraisals—from reintroducing the Quaker pacifist Jonathan Dymond to considering Tolstoy in relation to critiques of Eurocentrism. Contemporary articulations of non-violence are examined, including anarcho-pacifism and feminist counternarratives emerging from movements like the Arab Spring. The book expands the scope of violence and pacifist resistance, questioning whether the ethical imperative of pacifism must extend to include refusal of violence against animal life and the inanimate, thereby embracing ecological and environmental justice.

This collection addresses academics, researchers, and advanced students in philosophy, political theory, peace studies, and environmental studies. It serves as essential reading for courses on pacifist philosophy, nonviolent resistance, and contemporary political thought, offering a revitalisation of pacifist knowledge as a critical counterforce to aggressive politics.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Angelaki: Journal for Theoretical Humanities.