{"product_id":"the-tower-major-poems-and-plays-9781643171722","title":"The Tower: Major Poems and Plays","description":"\u003cp\u003eOwen Barfield is known primarily for his many publications on the evolution of consciousness and the essential reframing of cultural history that results from this theory. At the center of his philosophy is a deep analysis of mythology and poetics that draws from Coleridge, Steiner, and others to reveal the noetic role of the poetic principle and its salient shifts that map the evolution of conscious experience. A member of the Oxford Inklings group, Barfield's first published book\u003cem\u003e, The Silver Trumpet\u003c\/em\u003e (1925), is the first \u003cem\u003emärchen\u003c\/em\u003e, or fantasy story, published by any of them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite the influence Barfield exerted on contemporary authors such as Howard Nemerov and Saul Bellow, the biggest gaps\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003ein the published corpus of the Philosopher of Poetry are most of the major poems and poetic dramas he wrote according to his theories that place poetics at the core of conscious experience itself. This current publication remedies this absence by presenting five striking literary pieces composed throughout Barfield's lifetime. \u003cem\u003eThe Tower\u003c\/em\u003e, an introspective narrative poem, is the 'great work' of Barfield's youth; \u003cem\u003eMedea\u003c\/em\u003e, a mythopoeic drama, is seemingly his last major poetic and dramatic work. Between these two are the mythopoeic narrative poem \u003cem\u003eRiders on Pegasus\u003c\/em\u003e, a trilogy of Anthroposophical mystery plays \u003cem\u003eAngels at Bay\u003c\/em\u003e, and the light-hearted extended poem \u003cem\u003eThe Unicorn\u003c\/em\u003e. Readers of Barfield's philosophical works and Inklings enthusiasts will find much to admire and enjoy in this volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOwen Barfield (1898-1997) is one of the twentieth century's most original and influential literary figures. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs an author and philosopher, he rallied against 'positivism' and was instrumental in bringing about a new awareness of the spiritual world that would eventually result in the \"New Age\" movement. He lived to see with satisfaction how alternative ways of thinking have begun to transform the limited positivist mindset.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEarly on, Barfield developed his theory of 'The Evolution of Consciousness', based on an understanding of imagination as the highest human ability, \"\u003cem\u003eas a vessel by which divinity passes down into humanity.\u003c\/em\u003e\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis fellow Inklings C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are among the leading figures influenced by Barfield's work. Tolkien's linguistic and literary philosophy were influenced by Barfield's theories. For Lewis, he was a life-long friend and creative partner. Indeed, Owen Barfield was 'Romanticism' personified.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Editors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLeslie A. Taylor (PhD, Southern Illinois University, 1997) is an independent scholar who specializes in Classical and Renaissance Literature. She has published on the Greek and Hebrew translations of Boethius's \u003cem\u003eDe\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003econsolatione philosophiae\u003c\/em\u003e and has co-authored with Jefferey H. Taylor a book on the influence of Boethius on Milton's \u003cem\u003eParadise Lost\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eJefferey H. Taylor (PhD, Southern Illinois University, 1994) is a Professor of English at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is author of \u003cem\u003eFour Levels of Meaning in the York Cycle of Mystery Plays\u003c\/em\u003e and has published on the Dutch and Hebrew translations of Boethius. Dr. Taylor is recipient of the 2016 Owen Barfield Award for Excellence.\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBarfield, Owen:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Owen Barfield (1898-1997) is one of the twentieth century's most original and influential literary figures. As an author and philosopher, he rallied against 'positivism' and was instrumental in bringing about a new awareness of the spiritual world that would eventually result in the New Age movement. He lived to see with satisfaction how alternative ways of thinking have begun to transform the limited positivist mindset. Early on, Barfield developed his theory of 'The Evolution of Consciousness', based on an understanding of imagination as the highest human ability, as a vessel by which divinity passes down into humanity. His fellow Inklings C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are among the leading figures influenced by Barfield's work. Tolkien's linguistic and literary philosophy were influenced by Barfield's theories. For Lewis, he was a life-long friend and creative partner. Indeed, Owen Barfield was 'Romanticism' personified.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTaylor, Leslie A.:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Leslie A. Taylor (PhD, Southern Illinois University, 1997) is an independent scholar who specializes in Classical and Renaissance Literature. She has published on the Greek and Hebrew translations of Boethius's De consolatione philosophiae and has co-authored with Jefferey H. Taylor a book on the influence of Boethius on Milton's Paradise Lost.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTaylor, Jefferey H.:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Jefferey H. Taylor (PhD, Southern Illinois University, 1994) is a Professor of English at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is author of Four Levels of Meaning in the York Cycle of Mystery Plays and has published on the Dutch and Hebrew translations of Boethius. Dr. Taylor is recipient of the 2016 Owen Barfield Award for Excellence.","brand":"Parlor Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50378014753042,"sku":"9781643171722","price":33.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_644b75c6-7831-4b56-8410-27c6f2583b90.jpg?v=1728639501","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-tower-major-poems-and-plays-9781643171722","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}