Fantasy is now an established and lucrative genre with a dizzying array of popular iterations across literature, games, and film. But the story of how hobbits, dungeons, knights, and dragons took over our collective imaginations is a long, complex one, with many surprising twists and turns. Historian Justin M. Jacobs explores the origins of the modern fantasy genre, from the evolution of obscure Gothic novels to the iconic works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and the co-creators of Dungeons & Dragons.   

Jacobs, a professor of Chinese and global history at American University, is the author of several books, including Plunder? How Museums Got Their Treasures. He is currently designing a tabletop roleplaying game inspired by Chinese history.

Session Information

Evolution of Fantastic Storytelling

Since time immemorial, humans have been telling fantastic stories about the world around us, both visible and invisible. Jacobs traces the history of our species’ compulsion to spin dramatic tales of powerful deities and spiritual afterworlds in order to fulfill a deep-rooted psychological need. After exploring the difference between institutionalized religion and several forms of fantastic storytelling, Jacobs discusses the origins of a literary genre of “fantasy” in the form of the Gothic novel and examines its fate and reception up until the early 20th century, contrasting it with Chinese fantastic storytelling traditions.  

Additional Sessions of A History of Fantasy Series

• October 29: Robert E. Howard and Pulp Fantasy
• November 5: J.R.R. Tolkien and High Fantasy
• November 12: The Creation of Dungeons & Dragons
• November 19: Fantasy After Dungeons & Dragons

General Information

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