A Quest of Her Own

<p> This collection of new essays seeks to define the unique qualities of female heroism in literary fantasy from Tolkien's <I>The Lord of the Rings</I> in the 1950s through the present. Building upon traditional definitions of the hero in myth and folklore as the root genres of modern fantasy the essays provide a multi-faceted view of an important fantasy character type who begins to demonstrate a significant presence only in the latter 20th century. The essays contribute to the empowerment and development of the female hero as an archetype in her own right.</p>