Alternative Histories: Crypto-Celts and Crypto-Romans in the Legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien

Philip Burton

doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863076.003.0010

Alternative Histories: Crypto-Celts and Crypto-Romans in the Legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien

Philip Burton

Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter discusses the ways in which various fictional groups in J. R. R. Tolkien's work serve as 'crypto-Celtic', 'crypto-Roman', or 'crypto-Germanic'. It is argues that while such groups exist, 'pure' ethnic groups are rare. Contrary to the frequent perception of Tolkien as an ethnic essentialist, his fiction shows that patterns of interbreeding and assimilation make for survival and mutual respect. Particular consideration is given to his 'crypto-Romans' as 'crypto-Roman Catholics', and the importance of this for our understanding of his work.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Celts, Romans, and Britons
Subtitle of host publication	Classical and Celtic Influence in the Construction of British Identities
Editors	Francesca Kaminski-Jones, Rhys Kaminski-Jones
Place of Publication	Oxford
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Chapter	10
Pages	179-200
Number of pages	22
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9780191895609
ISBN (Print)	9780198863076
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198863076.003.0010
Publication status	Published - 30 Sept 2020

Publication series

Name	Classical Presences
Publisher	Oxford University Press

Keywords

Classical reception
Celt
Celticism
alternative history
Roman
‘Anglo-Saxon’
Englishness
Britishness
Roman Catholicism

Access to Document

10.1093/oso/9780198863076.003.0010

Cite this

Burton, P. (2020). Alternative Histories: Crypto-Celts and Crypto-Romans in the Legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. In F. Kaminski-Jones, & R. Kaminski-Jones (Eds.), Celts, Romans, and Britons: Classical and Celtic Influence in the Construction of British Identities (1 ed., pp. 179-200). (Classical Presences). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198863076.003.0010

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Burton, P 2020, Alternative Histories: Crypto-Celts and Crypto-Romans in the Legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. in F Kaminski-Jones & R Kaminski-Jones (eds), Celts, Romans, and Britons: Classical and Celtic Influence in the Construction of British Identities. 1 edn, Classical Presences, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 179-200. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198863076.003.0010

Alternative Histories: Crypto-Celts and Crypto-Romans in the Legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. / Burton, Philip.
Celts, Romans, and Britons: Classical and Celtic Influence in the Construction of British Identities. ed. / Francesca Kaminski-Jones; Rhys Kaminski-Jones. 1. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020. p. 179-200 (Classical Presences).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

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KW - Roman

KW - ‘Anglo-Saxon’

KW - Englishness

KW - Britishness

KW - Roman Catholicism

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Burton P. Alternative Histories: Crypto-Celts and Crypto-Romans in the Legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. In Kaminski-Jones F, Kaminski-Jones R, editors, Celts, Romans, and Britons: Classical and Celtic Influence in the Construction of British Identities. 1 ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2020. p. 179-200. (Classical Presences). doi: 10.1093/oso/9780198863076.003.0010

Alternative Histories: Crypto-Celts and Crypto-Romans in the Legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

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Cite this