Mapping Middle-earth: Environmental and Political Narratives in J. R. R. Tolkien's Cartographies

Anahit Behrooz explores how cartography has traditionally been bound up in facilitating power in Tolkien's legendarium, revealing a sub-created tradition of cartography that articulates specific power dynamics between mapmaker, map reader, and what is being mapped. Mapping Middle-earth surveys how Tolkien frames cartography as an inherently political act that embodies a desire for control, and analyses harmful contemporary engagements with land that intersect with, but also move beyond, cartography.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In this groundbreaking exploration of Tolkien's most overlooked maps, Anahit Behrooz delves into the intricate relationship between cartography and power. Far beyond mere illustrations to enhance the story's understanding, Tolkien's comprehensive collection of maps holds immense significance in comprehending the broader narratives between humans and their political and environmental landscapes within his legendary realm. By conducting a diegetic literary analysis of these maps, Behrooz unveils a sub-created tradition of cartography that articulates distinct power dynamics between the mapmaker, the map reader, and the subject matter being mapped. Moreover, she sheds light on the human/nonhuman binary that signifies humans' control over the natural world. Mapping Middle-earth takes a comprehensive approach, surveying how Tolkien frames cartography as an inherently political act that embodies a yearning for control over the mapped subject matter. In turn, it delves into harmful contemporary engagements with land that intersect with, yet transcend, cartography, encompassing environmental damage, human-induced geological change, and the profound physical and emotional costs of political violence and imperialism. Drawing upon historical, eco-critical, and postcolonial frameworks, as well as the insights of theorists such as Michel Foucault, Donna Haraway, and Edward Said, this book explores Tolkien's skillful employment of specific generic tropes, including medievalism, fantasy, and the interplay between image and text, to highlight and, at times, rectify his contemporary socio-political epoch and its detrimental relationship with the broader world.

Weight: 314g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350290808