Book
Ahead of Publication
Popularising the Middle Ages in Modern Fantasy
Neomedievalism, Video Games, and Vikings
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Edited by:
Carolyne Larrington
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With contributions by:
Angela Schwarz
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2026
About this book
Examines the development, nature, and significance of gritty (neo)medievalism in popular culture, from Assassins Creed: Valhalla and Berserk to Robert Eggers' The Northman.
Twenty-first-century popular culture has a fascination for the medieval. Its imagery, tropes and settings have become an integral part of the epic fantasy genre across different media, demonstrated by and following the success of such globally acclaimed television shows as Game of Thrones and Vikings. This volume studies this phenomenon, aiming to establish a broader understanding of why the Middle Ages have become so popular in an era of transmedia productions; it argues that concepts of accuracy and "authenticity" are key to this popularity, alongside engagement with contemporary debates about identity, race and gender, and agile responses to fan-community and media critiques.
The essays address a variety of topics, from worldbuilding and narrative structures to female agency and the reception of Vikings, across a wide range of media, including film, television, literature, video games and manga. It also explores how contemporary fantasy engages with both academic knowledge and developments in imagination more widely, responding to ever-changing ideas about how an "authentic" Middle Ages may be created.
Twenty-first-century popular culture has a fascination for the medieval. Its imagery, tropes and settings have become an integral part of the epic fantasy genre across different media, demonstrated by and following the success of such globally acclaimed television shows as Game of Thrones and Vikings. This volume studies this phenomenon, aiming to establish a broader understanding of why the Middle Ages have become so popular in an era of transmedia productions; it argues that concepts of accuracy and "authenticity" are key to this popularity, alongside engagement with contemporary debates about identity, race and gender, and agile responses to fan-community and media critiques.
The essays address a variety of topics, from worldbuilding and narrative structures to female agency and the reception of Vikings, across a wide range of media, including film, television, literature, video games and manga. It also explores how contemporary fantasy engages with both academic knowledge and developments in imagination more widely, responding to ever-changing ideas about how an "authentic" Middle Ages may be created.
Author / Editor information
Contributor: Carolyne Larrington
CAROLYNE LARRINGTON is Emerita Professor of medieval European literature at the University of Oxford and Emerita Research Fellow in medieval English literature at St John's College, Oxford.
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Contributor: Hans Rudolf Velten
HANS RUDOLF VELTEN is a Professor of medieval German language and literature at the University of Siegen.
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Contributor: Helen Young
HELEN YOUNG is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin University, Australia where they hold an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship.
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Contributor: Carolyne Larrington
CAROLYNE LARRINGTON is Emerita Professor of medieval European literature at the University of Oxford and Emerita Research Fellow in medieval English literature at St John's College, Oxford.
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Contributor: Hans Rudolf Velten
HANS RUDOLF VELTEN is a Professor of medieval German language and literature at the University of Siegen.
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Contributor: Helen Young
HELEN YOUNG is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin University, Australia where they hold an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship.
Topics
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook
planned publication:
January 6, 2026
eBook ISBN:
9781805439240
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781805439240
Keywords for this book
Middle Ages; Modern Fantasy; Neo-medievalism; Popular Culture; Assassins Creed: Valhalla; Berserk; Robert Eggers; The Northman; Epic Fantasy; Game of Thrones; Vikings; Transmedia Productions; Accuracy; Authenticity; Identity; Race; Gender; Fan-community; Media Critiques; Worldbuilding; Narrative Structures; Female Agency; Reception of Vikings; Film; Television; Literature; Video Games; Manga; Academic Knowledge; Imagination; Authentic Middle Ages
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
