Fantasy : the liberation of imagination /

Mathews's historical survey includes definitions, origins, and discussion of archetypes, motifs, themes, and the "dialectic" with realism. The author gives detailed analyses of novels and cycles by exemplars: e.g., Morris (notably, his "communal and social ideals"), Tolkien (tales marked by "Christian issues" and "the struggle to survive and recover from loss"), T.H. White (with attention to "the explicit critic and lecturer" and the evolution of tone), Robert E. Howard ("bringing an American frontier mentality into fantasy"), and Ursula LeGuin (an intriguing treatment of "the interplay of language, power, and vision"). A chapter comparing Morris and his successor Tolkien particularizes "the contrast of horizontal and vertical hero." Mathews (Univ. of Tampa) cites frequent, helpful instances of the genre's "primary characteristics and patterns." His criticism is comprehensive, accessible, assured, and free from the complex jargon of earlier analysts like Christine Brooke-Rose (A Rhetoric of the Unreal, CH, May'82) and Rosemary Jackson (Fantasy: The Literature of Subversion, CH, Sep'81). This fine and timely achievement has notes and references, a marvelous four-part bibliographic essay, and best of all a generously annotated list of suggested reading. Strongly recommended for all general and academic collections. L. K. MacKendrick University of Windsor