Fantasy: The Liberation of Imagination

by Richard Mathews

Using a broad definition of fantasy to include myth, folklore, legend and fairy tale, this survey of the genre will entice as well as inform any student interested in the mysterious, mystical or magical. Beloved authors like J. R. R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, William Morris and Robert E. Howard are examined closely.

Genres: Fantasy, Literary Criticism, Theory

248 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Richard Mathews was a distinguished publisher, educator, and champion of book arts whose career spanned decades at the University of Tampa Press. As Director, he published over 100 books, cultivating the Press’s reputation for excellence in contemporary literature, book arts, and regional history. A meticulous editor and designer, he combined a deep knowledge of printmaking with a passion for mentoring colleagues and students, inspiring countless individuals to appreciate the craft of bookmaking.
In 2008, Richard founded the Tampa Book Arts Studio, directing it until 2020. The studio preserved historical letterpress traditions and offered visitors hands-on experiences with 19th- and early 20th-century presses. His dedication extended to preserving historical typefaces, such as Frederic Goudy’s Companion, and producing rare works including Julius J. Lankes’ The Rich Mouse. Richard generously donated the studio’s extensive library of over 10,000 items, representing more than 600 presses, to UT’s Macdonald-Kelce Library.
Richard also transformed Tampa Review into an internationally recognized multi-genre journal, publishing writers such as Derek Walcott and Peter Meinke while nurturing emerging authors through programs like AWP’s Intro Journals Project. Over 34 years at UT, he taught courses in book arts, literature, poetry, Tolkien studies, and academic writing, providing students with hands-on printing and design experience.
In addition to his editorial and teaching work, Richard published poetry collections, including A Mummery and Numbery, and authored Fantasy: The Liberation of Imagination. His scholarship and artistry left an enduring mark on literature, publishing, and the university community, creating a legacy of passion, mentorship, and dedication to the art of the book.

Reviews

[M. M. J. Miguel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Práctico manual de lectura para introducir las obras de fantasía más relevantes, según el autor, del siglo 20; un repaso de William Morris, Tolkien, T. H. White, Robert L. Howard y Ursula K. Le Guin. El gran acierto del libro es hacer una comparativa entre los autores, sus contextos y sus poéticas, además de señalar las rutas que se deberían observar a la hora de entrar en estos trabajos mitopoéticos, quizás abusando un poco del parafraseo de las obras en sí. Hay que tomarlo con pinza. El capítulo dedicado a T. H. White me parece una maravilla, y la cartografía de los primeros capítulos si bien puede causar que uno levante la ceja con algunos títulos, es útil para el entusiasta de la literatura imaginativa. Todo vale como bibliografía de apoyo.

[Nicholas Zacharewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I was finishing high school and throughout university, I was convinced that there was a way to write a kind of literary fantasy that would make everyone who ever dismissed the genre as kids' stuff stand up and take notice. Enter this book, something I found in a used book shop during that time but never got around to reading until now.

Though this book is fairly dated (it only covers works up to the 1990s) it is still useful as an extensive reference for a few seminal fantasy works from the 1800s and 1900s. And this function is further expanded in Mathews' reference sections.

However, Mathews' in-depth approach to the works of William Morris, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and Ursula K. Le Guin is perhaps less useful now. Though, I think that these sections of the book offer a pretty good and not dully academic basis for critiques of these authors' works.

In the end, I didn't find any sort of magic formula for "literary fantasy" within this book. But I was at least able to find a few key works to add to my reading list that should help me clarify what I mean when I say "literary fantasy". (And came away with a newfound curiosity about Robert E. Howard's works.)

[Richard Gaunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a good overview of the main ideals in the fantasy genre. However, there is a huge focus on seemingly comparing William Blake and Tolkien, as well as other high/epic fantasies.

The broad range of sources cited offer a lot of further reading to develop my knowledge.

[Sabine Lauridsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hvis man nogensinde er interesseret i at skrive opgave om fantasy eller bare er interesseret i genrens historie, så er denne bog rigtig god :)

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

made fantasy boring

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good critical analasys of fantasy as a genre. It does focus more on epic/high fantasy than other types of fantasy.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy makes you free and freedom makes you fantastic.