Description: Examines the political views implicit in the mythological theories of three of the most widely read popularizers of myth in the twentieth century, C. G. Jung, Mircea Eliade, and Joseph Campbell.
Brief description: Robert Ellwood is Professor of Religion, Emeritus at the University of Southern California, and the author of numerous books including The History and Future of Faith, The Sixties Spiritual Awakening, and The Fifties Spiritual Marketplace.
Review Quotes:
"This book represents an insightful, balanced, historical, and critical assessment of the right-wing politics of three figures important specifically for the study of mythology and for religious studies in general. Ellwood does an excellent job of placing Jung, Eliade, and Campbell within their historical context and intellectual heritage, and he is not afraid to be critical of his subjects, although he is never unfair. It is a pleasure to read a work that does not trash figures for not being politically correct their entire careers and attempts to come to grips with the spiritual aspect of fascism without forgetting about the horrible suffering it caused. Moreover, Ellwood helps us to understand why someone might be attracted to fascism, and how it can be interpreted as a spiritual revolution." - Carl Olson, Allegheny College