Fantasy Literature

By Oxford UniversityEducation

Fantasy Literature episodes

July 23, 2021 A Walk around C. S. Lewis's Oxford
A biographical tour of C. S. Lewis's Oxford Using the geographic touch points in Oxford, Professor Simon Horobin of Magdalen College, Oxford interweaves a biography of C. S. Lewis, his relationships with other writers, and the influences on his fantasy works.
21 min
July 23, 2021 William Morris and E. R. Eddison Collections at the Bodleian
An interview with Rachael Marsay about the William Morris and E. R. Eddison collections at the Bodleian Library An interview with Rachael Marsay about the William Morris and E. R. Eddison collections at the Bodleian Library. This covers the illuminated manuscripts of Morris, and the letters, drafts, and juvenilia of Eddison. Rachael Marsay is the Roy Davids Archivist at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
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31 min
July 22, 2021 Elizabeth Knox
A discussion of the writer Elizabeth Knox An analysis and discussion of the contemporary fantasy writer Elizabeth Know, by Dr Alicia Smith.
17 min
July 13, 2021 An Interview with Elizabeth Knox
An Interview with Elizabeth Knox, author of 'The Absolute Book' Carolyne Larrington interviews critically-acclaimed fantasy author Elizabeth Knox about The Absolute Book, arcane thrillers, fairy realms, dream visitations from Norse gods, and the merits of school stories.
43 min
July 08, 2021 A Conversation With R. F. Kuang
Carolyne Larrington and Caroline Batten interview Rebecca F. Kuang. Carolyne Larrington and Caroline Batten interview Rebecca F. Kuang, award-winning fantasy author of the Poppy War trilogy and the forthcoming Babel: An Arcane History, about style, influence, responding to fantasy tropes, military strategy, and shamanism.
44 min
July 06, 2021 Desiring Dragons: Creative and Critical Responses to the Dragon in Beowulf
Laura Varnam discusses dragons in fantasy literature. Laura Varnam discusses dragons in fantasy literature, exploring the ways in which the dragon of Beowulf inspired Tolkien in his writing of Smaug, allowed Maria Dahvana Headley to explore female power in her 2020 interpretation of the text, and gave Varnam herself new material for two original poems, read here for the first time.
36 min
June 25, 2021 Maria Dahvana Headley on Beowulf
Author Maria Dahvana Headley reads from her 2018 novel The Mere Wife, is interviewed by Prof. Carolyne Larrington, and shares drafts from her 2020 translation of Beowulf. This lecture was recorded live at St John’s College, Oxford in November 2018. Author Maria Dahvana Headley reads from her 2018 novel The Mere Wife, is interviewed by Prof. Carolyne Larrington, and shares drafts from her 2020 translation of Beowulf. This lecture was recorded live at St John’s College, Oxford in November 2018.
1 hr 14 min
June 25, 2021 George MacDonald
An introduction to the Victorian fantasist and fairy tale author George MacDonald, who convinced Lewis Carroll to publish Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, inspired C. S. Lewis' Christian writings, and may even have influenced Tolkien's Elves. An introduction to the Victorian fantasist and fairy tale author George MacDonald, who convinced Lewis Carroll to publish Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, inspired C. S. Lewis' Christian writings, and may even have influenced Tolkien's Elves.
52 min
June 23, 2021 Old Norse in the New World: The Mythology and Politics of Immigration and Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods'
A talk on Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods'. A talk by Professor Heather O'Donoghue, Lincoln College, Oxford on Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods' and in particular the relationship to Old Norse mythology, and the issues of immigration and modern-day America. Professor O'Donoghue is Professor of Old Norse and Vigfusson Rausing Reader in Ancient Icelandic Literature and Antiquities at the University of Oxford.
22 min
June 22, 2021 Discworld - and the Modern University
A short talk introducing Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels and how they reflect the modern University. A short talk introducing Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels and how they reflect the modern University, by Andrew Shamel, Chaplain of Lincoln College, Oxford.
15 min

About Fantasy Literature

From the publisher's feed

Fantasy Literature has emerged as one of the most important genres over the past few decades and now enjoys extraordinary levels of popularity. The impact of Tolkien’s Middle-earth works and the serialisation of George Martin’s ‘Game of Thrones’ books has moved these and their contemporaries into mainstream culture. As the popularity grows so does interest in the roots of fantasy, the main writers and themes, and how to approach these texts.