New Books Network Nick Katsiadas and Carl Sell eds., "Tolkien's Medievalism in Ruins: The Function of Relics and Ruins in Middle-earth" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
Sep 30, 2025
Nick Katsiadas, an assistant professor specializing in literary history, and Carl Sell, an expert in medievalism studies, dive into the treasures of Tolkien's world, focusing on the significance of ruins and relics. They discuss how Tolkien's portrayal of places like Moria and Gondolin evokes nostalgia for a glorious past. The scholars also explore the implications of these themes in contemporary adaptations, including video games and television, while sharing their personal favorites among Middle-earth's enchanting ruins.
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How The Editors First Connected
- Nick met Carl in their first graduate class and bonded over Tolkien tattoos, which sparked a lasting collaboration.
- That early connection led to panels, conference papers, and eventually this edited volume on ruins and relics.
Turn Dissertation Work Into Publications
- Use your dissertation research as a launchpad for publishable chapters and book projects.
- Convert conference papers into chapter submissions and solicit panels to build momentum.
Carl's Relics-And-Aragorn Origin Story
- Carl's interest in relics came from medievalism studies and his dissertation comparing Aragorn to Arthurian figures.
- That scholarly path led him to explore relics like Andúril and the ruined Númenórean lineage within the book.
