Ursula Le Guin, The Tombs of Atuan

Luke Shelton (University of Glasgow)

Ed. by Dimitra Fimi, University of Glasgow
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.4: American (US) Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary, 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Sofia Ahlberg (Uppsala University), Patrick Chura (University of Akron), Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), Dale Enggass (University of Utah), Christopher Hugh Gair (University of Glasgow), Matthew Hofer (University of New Mexico), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Justin Parks (UiT - The Arctic University of Norway), Nick Selby (University of East Anglia)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1972

Places

United States (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Children's Literature
Fantasy
Novel

Resources

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In 1970, Atheneum Books published Ursula K. Le Guin’s

The Tombs of Atuan

as the second volume in the Earthsea cycle. Like its predecessor, this installment to the cycle was well received. It was awarded the status of being a 1972 Newbery Honor book, indicating that it was a distinguished American children’s book. It was also a finalist for the 1972 National Book Award for Children’s Literature. As with all of the Earthsea stories, however, it would eventually see more widespread attention from adults and crossover readers.

Despite claims that fantasy literature is escapist, influences of the culture surrounding Le Guin as she wrote are evident in The Tombs of Atuan. Significant themes from the text include oppression, social upheaval, and the role of activism. These themes reflect

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2068 words

Citation: Shelton, Luke. "The Tombs of Atuan". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 November 2019 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=24757, accessed 22 November 2024.]

Ursula Le Guin, The Tombs of Atuan

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