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Title: J. R. R. Tolkien: Architect of Middle Earth by Daniel Grotta, Greg Hildebrandt, Tim Hildebrandt ISBN: 0762409568 Publisher: Running Press Pub. Date: 01 March, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.38
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent overview; easy read.
Comment: I'm ordering a second copy for a dear friend. It's an easy read but is perfect for introducing someone who knows little of JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, others. I paged through the "authorized biography" (Grotta is not the "authorized" Tolkien biographer) at the bookstore and my first impression was that the "authorized"version was a bit verbose and certainly not as elegant; I also appreciate biographies by authors not given special access by the family -- one always wonders where allegiances lie. If you are already quite familiar with "Tolk" this book probably has little to offer; but as a first book for someone who has been caught up in the recent movie trilogy, this is where I would start.
Rating: 1
Summary: No stars from this hobbit. . .
Comment: The cover art represents a scene in which a hobbit like myself would find comfortable. That is where the pleasure ends.
Hobbits of the Shire (and of Bree) owe a great debt of gratitude to Professor J.R.R. Tolkien for allowing Big People to see and appreciate our world and our lives. This volume shows no respect to the Professor at all, and by extension, shows us no respect as well.
Hobbits understand family and family life. Hobbits understand privacy. Mr. Grotta apparently understands neither, preferring to denigrate the Professor and his family for not providing access to family papers. I'm sorry, Mr. Grotta, the Professor's family has chosen an authorized biographer -- and you are not it. Accept that fact, and make contributions (if you have any) in other areas of Tolkien lore.
I urge all hobbits to stay away from this volume, and suggest that the purchase of Mr. Carpenter's books "JRR Tolkien", "The Inklings", and "The Letters of JRR Tolkien" would be a wiser use of money.
Mr. Grotta is definitely NOT invited to tea.
Rating: 1
Summary: Grotta should have read Tolkien on Tolkien.
Comment: I must say that as a college student I would like to have my 15 dollars returned to me from the purchase of this book. Although there are some interesting "facts" in this book, it is largely not credible. I believe Grotta used questionable resources in compiling this biography which Tolkien himself refutes in many of his letters. i.e. Grotta writes of Tolkien's garage work shop on Sandfield Rd., which in "The Letters of..." Tolkien himself states that he "...had never written any literary matter in it..." and that the room was only used by his secretary. Grotta was clearly perturbed at his lack of "access" and seemed to want to portray one of the most prolific writers in history as a "lazy" individual. Obviously Grotta has never balanced a teaching post at Oxford, an ill wife, several children, along with creating one of the most fully imagined "secondary worlds" ever created. Hats of to all things Middle Earth and Grotta back to the drawing board.
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Title: Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien ISBN: 0345357116 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 1988 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: TOLKIEN by David Day ISBN: 0684839792 Publisher: Fireside Pub. Date: 1996 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: The Road to Middle-earth : Revised and Expanded Edition by Tom Shippey ISBN: 0618257608 Publisher: Mariner Books Pub. Date: 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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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: 2000 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien ISBN: 0345325818 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 1990 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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