Meredith Veldman

Meredith Veldman, an author specializing in the ties between romanticism, fantasy literature, and political thought, dives deep into Tolkien's romantic anarchism. She discusses the underlying protest in The Lord of the Rings and how romanticism appeals to both anarchists and fascists. The conversation touches on the bureaucratic struggles in academia, the intersections of Tolkien’s views with critiques of industrialization, and the philosophical influences of figures like Coleridge and Ruskin on his works. They also explore the notion of a modernized Middle Ages versus technocratic society.