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Title: The Tolkien Reader by J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 0-345-34506-1 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 12 November, 1986 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.64 (11 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: More from the master of Middle-Earth
Comment: A collection of material about and by J.R.R. Tolkien, this is a must-have for any fan of Lord of the Rings. It combines several previous publications into one longer book, including "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" and "Father Giles of Ham."
It begins with an essay by noted fantasy writer Peter Beagle, who also wrote the screenplay for the animated LOTR movie eons and eons ago. "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son" is radically different from Tolkien's more popular works, in that it is more of a play and less of a short story. It will probably appeal to fewer, given its obscure historical context. "Farmer Giles" is about a rather unusual farmer called on to deal with a rather unusual dragon; this is definitely a light, fluffy, funny story. "Leaf by Niggle" and "On Fairy Stories" are more for the analytical thinkers among Tolkien's fans. "Leaf" is something of a glimpse into Tolkien's own soul, concerning his work and his own mortality. "Fairy Stories," on the other hand, is one of the best-known essays on fantasy works and should be shoved in the face of anyone who denies fantasy's literary worth.
We then lapse into entirely different material. There is a long poem called "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil," written in the style and meter of his songs about himself in LOTR, when he meets the hobbits. It explains a little more about the hearty Maia and his wife Goldberry, as does the second of the poems, "Bombadil Goes Boating." I didn't understand the beautifully written "Errantry" very well; but I did think that the catchy "Princess Mee" was cute, about a little elf princess dancing with her reflection. "The Man in the Moon Came Down Too Soon" is written in a very different style from the similarly titled "Stayed Up," and definitely in a less merry style. There is also the entertaining "Perry the Winkle" and the utterly creepy "Mewlips," and the amusingly jerky "Cat." Also the eerie, beautiful "Sea Bell," which seems almost like a dream.
LOTR fans will recognize some of these poems: "The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late," which fans of LOTR will recognize as the song that Frodo sings in an inn. "Stone Troll", which Sam sang to entertain the others. "Oliphaunt," an old rhyme about certain enormous pachyderms. Others are reminiscent of Middle-Earth: "Fastitocalon," a poem about a creature in the sea; "Shadow Bride," which is reminiscent of Beren and Luthien; "The Hoard," about a massive amount of gold that brings no joy to its owners; and finally "The Last Ship," a tale about a beautiful human girl who is invited by Elves to follow them over the sea.
For unsurpassable prose, nonfiction and poetry, this is where to find the lesser-known gems by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Rating: 5
Summary: An Essential Anthology of Tolkien's Shorter Works
Comment: This book contain's Tolkien's shorter fiction and works, including a play and Leaf by Niggle. There are four works in total:
1. The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son: a play dealing with two men after the Battle of Maldon. Interesting, and shows more of the scholarly side of Tolkien.
2. Tree and Leaf: This is a book consisting of two things: his essay on faerie tales, and Leaf By Niggle. Tolkien's essay is now considered one of the main centerpieces of literature defending and validating fantasy and faerie tale (as if THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT weren't enough). Leaf By Niggle is a very deep work, and basically it deals with his despair of mortality and not being able to finish his mythology, his great work. However, in the end Tolkien shows his glorious hope.
3. Farmer Giles of Ham: a mock medieval story. Everything that THE LORD OF THE RINGS represents, this story pokes fun at and parodies. Very funny story, and shows Tolkien's sense of humour. This was written originally for his children (as much of his stuff was).
4. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: This is a very misleading title. It is a collection of poetry, and only the first two poems have anything to do with Bombadil. The rest of the poetry deals with Middle-earth, or set therein. It is a nice selection of his verse.
Overall, a well put together anthology. However, it would have been better had it included SMITH OF WOOTTON MAJOR. That, along with the two works constituting TREE AND LEAF, is the closest thing to autobiography he ever wrote, and all three are vitally important in any serious study of Tolkien.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great read for Tolkien fans
Comment: I received this book as a birthday gift, but I must confess it took the back burner, but only for a little while. I soon dug into it, an avid Tolkien fan, and found myself slogging through Tolkien's essay on Fairy stories.
First in this edition is a great little summary and analysis of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, popular in its own right, but now immensely popular at the box office since New Line released the first two novels as major motion pictures. The summary is written by Peter Beagle. Yeah, I know, I never heard of him either, but he summarized the series pretty well, without spoiling anything, so you'll enjoy reading it.
Then there's Tolkien's essay. The essay is somewhat long, and quite a hunk of literary philosophizing to bite off and chew . . . and it took me a while to chew. Once I got done, it was on to the more enjoyable things: Leaf by Niggle, the example and essence of all Tolkien wrote of in his essay, Farmer Giles of Ham, the story of the simple farmer whose one act of bravery, and the subsequent events made him a living legend, and the Adventures of Tom Bombadil.
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil gives little insight into the mysterious character that we briefly encounter in the first novel in the Rings series, The Fellowship of the Ring. He is a merry man whom the four hobbits meet in dire trouble, and who helps them on their journey. (This is the man that many fans of the books were disappointed not to see in New Line's cinematic version) While he seams innocent enough in the book, it is obvious that underneath he carries power, some sort of power, the prevents him from being influenced by the Ring, and gives him authority to command tree and leaf. But you learn little more about this fascinating character in the stories in Adventures of Tom Bombadil. Indeed, that section of the book contains a few poems of the doings of Bombadil, and a few other poems as well, some of which readers of the Rings books will recognize, being sung by the hobbits in the books.
Most of you will probably find Tolkien's essay rather dull and dry, but for the rest, it might be interesting to "get into" Tolkien's mind by reading this, and his insight into the realm of fantasy and tales. Most fans of the Lord of the Rings (and I'm talking FANS, not just movie-goers who liked the movie) will enjoy it, and if not the essay, then for sure the sections of stories and poems that follow.
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Title: The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, Humphrey Carpenter ISBN: 0618056998 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: June, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Unfinished Tales: The Lost Lore of Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 0345357116 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 12 August, 1988 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: The Silmarillion by J.R.R. TOLKIEN ISBN: 0345325818 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 12 January, 1985 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo by J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 0345277600 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 12 December, 1979 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Smith of Wootton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham by J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 0345336062 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 12 January, 1986 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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