Neil Gaiman is one of the most widely known writers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, having produced fiction and nonfiction, fantasy and horror, television, comics, and prose. He often attributes this eclecticism to his 鈥渃ompost heap鈥 approach to writing, gathering inspiration from life, religion, literature, and mythology.
Readers love to sink into Gaiman鈥檚 medieval worlds鈥攂ut what makes them 鈥渕edieval鈥? Shiloh Carroll offers an introduction to the idea of medievalism, how the literature and culture of the Middle Ages have been reinterpreted and repurposed over the centuries, and how the layers of interpretation have impacted Gaiman鈥檚 own use of medieval material. She examines influences from Norse mythology and Beowulf to medieval romances and fairy tales in order to expand readers鈥 understanding and appreciation of Gaiman鈥檚 work, as well as the rest of the medievalist films, TV shows, and books that are so popular today.
鈥淚lluminating and provocative by turns, this book is a fascinating deep dive into Neil Gaiman鈥檚 many medieval inspirations, ranging from Old Norse myth to morality play to folktale. Carroll鈥檚 work inventively rereads well-known medieval texts alongside Gaiman鈥檚 eclectic and creative reimagining of them in comic, novel, short story, and film.鈥濃擟arolyne Larrington, author, The Norse Myths that Shape the Way We Think
鈥淲ith clarity and humor, Carroll puts Neil Gaiman鈥檚 works in conversation with chronicle histories, dream-vision poetry, saints鈥 lives, folktales, and other medieval (and medievalist) texts, drawing out chains of influence and reinterpretation. Like Gaiman himself, this book is accessible to the medievalist, the speculative fiction fan, and everyone in between.鈥濃擪avita Mudan Finn, author, The Last Plantagenet Consorts: Gender, Genre, and Historiography, 1440鈥1627
鈥淎n accessible survey of medieval influences across Gaiman鈥檚 work, imbued with Carroll鈥檚 humor and fresh voice. It provides historical and literary context for prominent themes and characters in Gaiman鈥檚 most famous stories, as well as analysis of lesser-studied works such as The Books of Magic and the 2007 film Beowulf.鈥濃擳ara Prescott-Johnson, author, Neil Gaiman in the 21st Century: Essays on the Novels, Children鈥檚 Stories, Online Writings, Comics and Other Works
鈥. . . an easy and enjoyable reading experience.鈥濃MEDIENwissenschaft
鈥. . . a useful guide for teachers hoping to introduce their students to medieval literature through Gaiman (or, conversely, to Gaiman through medieval literature). And, for those already familiar with some of Gaiman鈥檚 work, Carroll鈥檚 well-researched medievalist readings should offer some satisfying new perspectives.鈥濃Mythlore
