Myth and folklore are the basis of a lot of fantasy tropes. In this fantastic book, the author takes us through the rich history of English fantasy literature from Beowulf to Blake and Tolkien. English fantasy can best be understood in terms of its strong national character, rather than as an international genre, and in this book, manlove explores it’s distinctive emotive, comic and subversive aspects.
This book is a must-read for any fantasy author as it will introduce you to new forms and styles of storytelling. It will also give you a fantastic introduction on how stories evolve over time and with culture – fantastic for anyone who wants to tell modern versions of old stories.

About the Author

Colin Nicholas Manlove was a literary critic whose keen interest in Fantasy literature has been foundational to the academic study of modern fantasy. His book, ‘Modern fantasy: five studies’ is considered one of the first true texts of Fantasy criticism. Covering topics from Narnia to Hogwarts, Manlove’s books are a must-read for ant Fantasy author who wants to understand the genre from the ground up.