Star Wars and History edited by Nancy R. Reagin and Janice Liedl (2012)

Posted by JT

Star Wars and History
edited by Nancy R. Reagin and Janice Liedl
Wiley, 2012
344 pages

There is no shortage of Star Wars-related books on the market, from graphic novels to fiction for young adults to scholarly examinations of the themes of George Lucas’ universe. Star Wars and History, edited by Nancy R. Reagin and Janice Liedl, certainly falls into the latter category. The editors recruited several professors of history and philosophy to contribute to this treatise. Their various articles demonstrate the parallels that connect Emperor Palpatine to Adolf Hitler, the Atomic Bomb to the Death Star, and Ahsoka Tano to Joan of Arc, among others.

History buffs who are also Star Wars fans will enjoy this volume to a much greater degree than those who struggled with their history courses in college. While well-written, it is certainly aimed at those who already possess an affinity for historical knowledge and find a scholarly focus on pop culture institutions interesting.

Star Wars is not the only fictional franchise to receive this treatment; the editors have also assembled historical essays for Harry Potter and Twilight, and Reagin has a volume for Star Trek scheduled for release in April; the publisher also has long-running series examining pop culture works to philosophy and psychology.

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