Tolkien Europe and Tradition: From Civilisation to the Dawn of Imagination

As a specialist in Germanic studies, Armand Berger brings a unique passion for Tolkien’s work to life. In Tolkien, Europe, and Tradition, he explores the European heritage that inspired Tolkien by delving into:

• Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian myth
• The Finnish Kalevala
• Greco-Roman influence
• And much more

Berger enriches his analysis with numerous citations from Tolkien himself, drawing from Tolkien’s letters, The Lord of the Rings, interviews, and other sources.

Berger expertly illustrates how these traditions shape the underlying identity of Middle-earth. In this sense, Tolkien’s writings go beyond fantasy—they form a civilisational work that belongs to the identity of the West. Berger’s concise yet profound book serves as a call to Europeans to do more than merely enjoy the fantastical story of Middle-earth. It urges them to appreciate it as an inspiration to recognize and claim what is inherently their own.

‘It is up to European man to know his modern mythology and the heroes related to it. Tolkien, like an “Anglo-Saxon bard”, is one of those noble heralds who have brought our civilisational wealth to its pinnacle. May his work, as a new founding text for our identity, allow us to maintain the sacred fire.’