Return of the Gods

Reviews / Votes

Owen Ware's interpretation of the complex texts of the romantic era is rich with literary as well as philosophical insights. It succeeds magnificently in its objective of showing how deeply intertwined the traditions of British and German romanticism were at the turn of the nineteenth century. For readers of all kinds seeking a concise account of the philosophical significance of early romanticism, Ware's lucid and well-researched book is an invaluable guide * Karl Ameriks, University of Notre Dame * Owen Ware has authored a first-rate study of the major romantics, both British and German, which combines clarity and accessibility with impressive erudition. ... Ware has not only done justice to his subjects; he has gifted us with an opportunity to rediscover the richness of their artistic and philosophical visions in our own era of fragmentation. * Benjamin D. Crowe, Boston University * This fascinating new book draws attention to the way that a revival of myth operates in both British and German romanticism. It is novel both in its treatment of the shared sources and interplay between British and German romanticism, as well as in the fluidity with which Ware moves between the philosophical-theoretical and the literary-artistic aspects of romanticism * Naomi Fisher, Loyola University Chicago * Essential reading for those interested in the lasting significance of romanticism. * Anthony Bruno, Royal Holloway University of London * Return of the Gods should spark discussions on the value of mythology to Romantic thought in both traditions. * R. Bledsoe, Choice * Ware's book is a real achievement. At once addressing lacunae in scholarship and offering a global perspective on Romanticism, it will be of immense benefit to the scholar and the general reader. * Gregory S. Moss, Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Review of Metaphysics * Owen Ware's study is exemplary in terms of its clarity and the breadth of literature taken in consideration. Because of this, and because of the pivotal role of the chosen subject, Return of the Gods will be an essential resource for any scholar wishing to take their first steps in discovering British and German Romantic philosophy. * Giulia Valpione, Universita degli Studi di Padova, British Journal of the History of Philosophy * Return of the Gods .... reflects a perfect marriage of sensibilities of a philosopher and a poet that the subject matter of this book demands, and that the age of romanticism had beautifully accomplished. * Anusha Hegde, Chandigarh University, Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics * Return of the Gods is a significant scholarly achievement which deepens and expands our knowledge of the intellectual context of the Romantic turn to myth... Ware's impressively researched and sharply focused book will be a valuable resource for scholars of the history of European philosophy and literature, as well as those interested in religion, aesthetics, and poetics. * W. Ezekiel Goggin, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Symphilosophie: International Journal of Philosophical Romanticism * Owen Ware has written a lively, engaging, erudite, and ambitious book on the place of myth, mythology, and myth-making in late 18th and early 19th century romantic philosophy, literature, and poetry. Ambitious, first, because of its coverage. There are useful volumes devoted to religion and myth in German romanticism. There are illuminating monographs dedicated to the same in British poets from the period. And some scholars have wrestled admirably with both. But Return of the Gods is the first book in English to offer a coherent and detailed philosophical account of the mythological imagination in German and British romantic traditions, with a diverse cast of characters and modes of writing in view, and in a way that aspires to do justice to both the philosophy and the poetry. * James D. Reid, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Journal of Aesthetics and Phenomenology *