Every literary genre has the names of at least one or two authors indelibly linked to it. These authors not only went on to inspire those who came after them but they also knew how to tell a good story themselves. Nobody can say for instance that they truly love the horror genre if they haven't yet read Mary Shelley's groundbreaking 'Frankenstein', for instance. Among the most popular and influential classic fantasy novels of all time are the books of two authors who were actually great friends as well.
The defining characteristic of fantasy is that it's about things that don't exist in reality. Witches or wizards turn people into toads, dragons terrorize kingdoms and fairies help or hinder someone's journey through life. Ever since people started telling stories, they made up stories that included elements of the fantastical. Think about the myths of ancient Greece or the tales Scheherazade spun to entertain the king and save her own life during the 'Arabian Nights'.
The old myths and legends often influenced later authors. One of these was J. R. R. Tolkien, one of the most influential writers of the genre. Born in Bloemfontein, a city in what was to become South Africa, late in the nineteenth century, Tolkien grew up in England. He served in the British Army and was wounded while fighting in World War I. He became a professor of literature and taught at Oxford. He also edited and translated works from early English legends such as that of Beowulf.
However, it's for his writing that Tolkien is mostly remembered. His children's book 'The Hobbit', set in a mythical world of fairies, dragons and wizards and called Middle Earth, was a runaway success. To Tolkien's surprise, the story was very popular with adults too, so he wrote the sequel that would become one of the most popular epic novels of all time, 'The Lord of the Rings'.
An author whose life took many similar turns as that of Tolkien was C. S. Lewis. Lewis came from Belfast but also spent large parts of his childhood in England. He was wounded while serving in World War I as well and later also taught literature. In fact, at one stage both authors lived and worked in Oxford and they became firm friends.
Lewis dabbled in different genres, including science fiction. However, he was also fascinated by legends and myths. These, along with Christian themes, inspired his classic series 'The Chronicles of Narnia', in which the main characters enter a magical realm through a wardrobe.
Both Tolkien's and Lewis' most well-known works were made into Hollywood blockbusters in recent years. These movies won the authors many new fans and the fantasy genre saw a huge revival. Today's modern classics include series by J. K. Rowling, George R. R. Martin and two writers who are also friends, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
Before the revival of the genre, these books were often grouped with the sci-fi books or even the children's books. Now you'll find that most bookstores and libraries have dedicated sections just for fantasy books. If you want an even wider choice, order the books online or download them as e-books for a wonderful escape from reality.
The defining characteristic of fantasy is that it's about things that don't exist in reality. Witches or wizards turn people into toads, dragons terrorize kingdoms and fairies help or hinder someone's journey through life. Ever since people started telling stories, they made up stories that included elements of the fantastical. Think about the myths of ancient Greece or the tales Scheherazade spun to entertain the king and save her own life during the 'Arabian Nights'.
The old myths and legends often influenced later authors. One of these was J. R. R. Tolkien, one of the most influential writers of the genre. Born in Bloemfontein, a city in what was to become South Africa, late in the nineteenth century, Tolkien grew up in England. He served in the British Army and was wounded while fighting in World War I. He became a professor of literature and taught at Oxford. He also edited and translated works from early English legends such as that of Beowulf.
However, it's for his writing that Tolkien is mostly remembered. His children's book 'The Hobbit', set in a mythical world of fairies, dragons and wizards and called Middle Earth, was a runaway success. To Tolkien's surprise, the story was very popular with adults too, so he wrote the sequel that would become one of the most popular epic novels of all time, 'The Lord of the Rings'.
An author whose life took many similar turns as that of Tolkien was C. S. Lewis. Lewis came from Belfast but also spent large parts of his childhood in England. He was wounded while serving in World War I as well and later also taught literature. In fact, at one stage both authors lived and worked in Oxford and they became firm friends.
Lewis dabbled in different genres, including science fiction. However, he was also fascinated by legends and myths. These, along with Christian themes, inspired his classic series 'The Chronicles of Narnia', in which the main characters enter a magical realm through a wardrobe.
Both Tolkien's and Lewis' most well-known works were made into Hollywood blockbusters in recent years. These movies won the authors many new fans and the fantasy genre saw a huge revival. Today's modern classics include series by J. K. Rowling, George R. R. Martin and two writers who are also friends, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
Before the revival of the genre, these books were often grouped with the sci-fi books or even the children's books. Now you'll find that most bookstores and libraries have dedicated sections just for fantasy books. If you want an even wider choice, order the books online or download them as e-books for a wonderful escape from reality.
About the Author:
Read more about The Most Beloved Classic Fantasy Novels And The People Who Wrote Them.
No comments:
Post a Comment