Book Description
C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien were members of a writing group known as the Inklings, a group that also included novelist Charles Williams, historian Warren Lewis, and philosopher Owen Barfield. In this groundbreaking book, Diana Glyer invites readers into the heart of their meetings, showing how encouragement, criticism, and collaboration changed The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and dozens of other important works. While this book is a must for those who read Lewis or Tolkien, it will also appeal to those who are interested in the writing process, small-group interaction, the nature of creativity, and the various ways that artists challenge, correct, and encourage one another as they work together in community.
Customer Reviews:
The literary community as a source of Tolkein's and Lewis's fantasy classics.......2007-09-19
The fantasy literature of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkein is so imaginative and idiosyncratic that one accepts that they wrote such lasting works somewhat obstinately and mainly privately almost as a hobby with little hope they would ever be published, much less popular. The picture of J. R. Rowling writing the beginnings of the first Harry Potter book sitting along at a table in an English shop comes to mind with this image of the earlier authors. Lewis and Tolkein are known to be good friends as well as professional colleagues at Oxford University. But as professor of English at Azusa Pacific U. in California Glyer puts forward, Lewis and Tolkein were part of a circle of academics and writers who had a large, discernible, and often documented influence on their works. From diaries, memoirs, letters, and other sources, Glyer finds that this influence is most evident with Tolkein. This circle which acquired the name "The Inklings," "modeled the behavior of poets and storytellers, provided feedback on his drafts, helped him develop his own critical faculties, recommended reading material that supported and shaped his imagination, and suggested that certain pieces be started, reworked, completed, or submitted for publication." Glyer continues, "It is no small matter that all of this early influence took place within a highly interactive group setting." What the author says with respect to Tolkein applies as well to Lewis, though not quite so overtly recognizably. In their turn, Tolkein and Lewis were active participants in the group offering the same support and suggestions to its other members. Shortly after arriving at Oxford as a student, Tolkein founded the literary society named the "Apolausticks."
In an appendix by a David Bratman, relevant background on 17 members of the Inklings besides Tolkein and Lewis is given. Most became university professors of English or medieval literature or of language studies, with most doing scholarly writings on literary criticism. This work of literary criticism and author biography is obviously timely given the current interest in these authors as evidenced by widely-popular movies made from books of theirs.
A book I wish I could write.......2007-04-27
This book shows scholarly intellect, hard work, dedication, and insightful thought that I have only achieved in lofty dreams. Diana Glyer presents interesting, insiteful, and inspiring information about the Inklings that you will not find anywhere else. I have never read a book that so skillfully puts scholarship in such an accessable read. For anyone who is a fan of the Inklings, Lewis, Tolkien, Williams, or anyone remotely related to these men do yourself a favor and read this book.
Warning! Homework distraction!.......2007-04-24
If you're interested in community, the writing process, or Tolkien and Lewis, this is the best book out this year. I have to be careful not to pick up the book when I'm supposed to be doing homework. It's entertaining reading full of fascinating facts and an inside look at how works like Lord of the Rings got written.
Keeping Company with The Inklings.......2007-04-02
Diana Pavlac Glyer does a great service to both the history and understanding of literature and to budding writers (and friends of writers), who may have been misled by previous theories about the interaction by the Inklings. The former gain a well-documented investigation of who the Inklings were as well as how and when they influenced each other's writers. The latter gain a practical guide of the ways and means by which writers in community. As Glyer approvingly quotes Karen Burke LeFevre, "Certain acts of invention--or certain phases of the inventive acts--are best understood if we think of them as being made possible by other people." Glyer makes a good case that Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" might never have been written, let alone published had it not been for the support of other Inklings.
"The Company They Keep" is a must read for writers as well as enthusiasts of the Inklings.
A Longer Review & Some Comments from the Real Critics.......2007-01-16
"This is an admirably balanced overview of the web of intellectual and literary interactions of the Inklings that is sure to become an invaluable resource for future readers and scholars. I found myself captured by her engaging writing style, the breadth of her research, and the cogency of her argument. Her own work will itself influence the texture of Inklings scholarship for years to come. It's good, very good indeed."
Verlyn Flieger, professor of English, University of Maryland at College Park, Author of _Splintered Light_ and _A Question of Time_
"Not only does _The Company They Keep_ provide a much-needed fresh look at the Inklings, but it also affords rich insights into the creative and collaborative process itself. There is much to learn and much to enjoy in this excellent volume. This engaging study deserves a place in the library of all those who value the works of the Inklings and is also a worthwhile volume for any who are interested in examining the craft of writing and the impact of creating within the community."
Marjorie Lamp Mead, associate director of the Marion E. Wade Center, Wheaton College
"_The Company They Keep_ is an astonishingly thorough work, lucidly and boldly illuminating the collaborative writing process of Lewis, Tolkien, and their colleagues during the most fruitful period of their careers. Diana Glyer's impressive achievement supersedes in scope and authority all previous treatments of the Inklings and will perhaps become the new standard by which rhetoricians and literary critics should judge the cogency of subsequent research into the phenomenon of writing in community."
Bruce L. Edwards, professor of English, Bowling Green State University
In 1978, Humphrey Carpenter published _Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends_. Although Carpenter's book is perhaps more a biography of C. S. Lewis than anything else, it remains an important and seminal work. However, if Carpenter erred in anything in his book, it was his persistent conviction that the Inklings did not influence one another. For instance, he states matter-of-factly, "It must be remembered that the word `influence', so beloved of literary investigators, makes little sense when talking about their [the Inklings'] association with each other. Tolkien and Williams owed almost nothing to the other Inklings, and would have written everything they wrote had they never heard of the group" (160).
Wholeheartedly disagreeing with Carpenter, Diana Glyer sets out in _The Company They Keep_ to show how and why the Inklings did, in fact, influence one another. Her work is a conglomerate of biography, composition theory, and literary criticism. She not only illuminates your understanding of this remarkable writing group but also expands your concept of the word influence. She persuasively argues that through encouragement, opposition, editing, and collaboration, the Inklings influenced each other's writing in a rich and profound way.
Had this been the book's only strength, I would say that Glyer's book had achieved more than any work written on the Inklings in the last three decades. However, the book's remarkable appeal does not stop there. Another great feat of this book is the amount of time and effort the author poured into her research. To say that the author was exhaustive in her research is perhaps an understatement. There are very few primary and secondary sources she leaves unexplored. In addition, there is a significant amount of previously unpublished material. To put this project in perspective, her Works Cited is 20 pages.
Again, this would be enough to encourage most readers to purchase this book. However, I would add one final note. The beauty of this book lies in the clarity and eloquence of the author's prose. It is one of those extraordinary academic works that is actually easy and enjoyable to read.
Amazon.com
There may be a corner of the world where the name J.R.R. Tolkien is unknown, but you would be hard-pressed to find it. Since their publication, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have been published in every major language of the world. And though he single-handedly gave a mythology to the English and was beloved by millions, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien remained refreshingly unchanged by his fame and fortune, living out his days simply and modestly among the familiar surroundings of Oxford College. Humphrey Carpenter, who was given unrestricted access to Tolkien's papers, brilliantly puts meat to the bones of the Tolkien legend in J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography, offering a well-rounded portrayal of this quiet, bookish man who always saw himself first and foremost as a philologist, uncovering rather than creating the peoples, languages, and adventures of Middle-Earth.
Carpenter chronicles Tolkien's early life with a special sensitivity; after losing both parents, Tolkien and his brother Hilary were taken from their idyllic life in the English countryside to a poverty-ridden existence in dark and sooty Birmingham. There were bright points, however. A social and cheerful lad, Tolkien enjoyed rugby and was proud of his gift for languages. It was also at this time that he met Edith Bratt, who would later become his wife. Academic life--both as a student and professor--is where this biography shines. Friendship with other men played a huge part in Tolkien's life, and Carpenter deftly reveals the importance these relationships--his complex friendship with C.S. Lewis, membership in the Inklings and the T.C.B.S.--had on the development of his writing.
The only criticism one can make about this book is that Carpenter tends to gloss over Tolkien's contributions to comparative philology. True, there is a chapter devoted to Tolkien's academic pursuits, but it tends to skim too lightly over the surface for this reviewer's tastes. Philology is a terribly methodical science, and the author clearly did not want to alienate readers who were primarily interested in Tolkien as a storyteller. Still, it would be nice to understand why Tolkien was held in such high esteem by his fellow academics. As it stands, Tolkien comes off as a slightly eccentric etymologist.
Fans who want to delve even deeper into Tolkien's life should pick up a copy of Carpenter's The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. --P.M. Atterberry
Book Description
The authorized biography of the creator of Middle-earth. In the decades since his death in September 1973, millions have read THE HOBBIT, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, and THE SILMARILLION and become fascinated about the very private man behind the books.
Born in South Africa in January 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was orphaned in childhood and brought up in near-poverty. He served in the first World War, surviving the Battle of the Somme, where he lost many of the closest friends he'd ever had. After the war he returned to the academic life, achieving high repute as a scholar and university teacher, eventually becoming Merton Professor of English at Oxford where he was a close friend of C.S. Lewis and the other writers known as The Inklings.
Then suddenly his life changed dramatically. One day while grading essay papers he found himself writing 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit' -- and worldwide renown awaited him.
Humphrey Carpenter was given unrestricted access to all Tolkien's papers, and interviewed his friends and family. From these sources he follows the long and painful process of creation that produced THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE SILMARILLION and offers a wealth of information about the life and work of the twentieth century's most cherished author.
Customer Reviews:
A Surprisingly Pleasant Read.......2007-06-20
When I set about to read this book, I greatly feared that I'd be bored before I reached chapter two. Biographies have never seemed particularly appealing, especially those of authors. Yet I really wanted to learn a little more about Tolkien and the influences in his life that led to the creation of Middle Earth, so I prepared to suffer through. Carpenter, however, has a very conversational tone which made the read a pleasure. His use of actual letters, pictures and manuscripts, which the Tolkien family kindly gave him access to, was masterful. The text from those papers he chose to include was illuminating, but didn't weigh down the book as frequent quoting tends to do. Carpenter clearly had a sense of who Tolkien was, especially since he had the pleasure of speaking with the man himself.
Carpenter also understands that most people will be reading this book for a glimpse at the creation of Middle Earth, and gives ample focus to that throughout. But he never lets that detract from tackling the man as a whole, giving the reader a well rounded picture of the man behind the legend; from his childhood and relationship with his mother, to his Oxford days and friendship with C.S. Lewis, to his family life with wife and children. A marvelous read for any fan of Tolkien.
Very enjoyable book.......2007-03-29
I enjoyed this book very much. I learned a lot about Tolkien, but it wasn't like reading a text book. The book seemed balanced, not overly critical or sickenly flattering.
Spectacular Job.......2007-01-17
J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the world's most famous and well-known authors. He has and will continue to inspire the written works of others. His famous The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Silmarillion, and his other books about middle-earth have been read by millions everywhere in the world. His books have been translated into over one hundred languages and sold in many countries. Humphrey Carpenter is one of the many people who has always revered and been inspired by Tolkien. He visited Mr. Tolkien and asked him about his life. He wrote this book for others like him who wish to know about Mr. Tolkien's past experiences and what occurred to inspire him to write his fantastic novels.
J.R.R. Tolkien had a normal life. He wasn't rich or poor, and he didn't grow up in a powerful family. He grew up with his brother and his parents in South Africa. After his parents died, Tolkien fought in the First World War. During this time, Tolkien had to support his brother and his family. He had to take courage and stand up for what was right. This is much like the role and attitude of Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird. Afterwards, Tolkien taught at Oxford, where he and other college professors, including C.S. Lewis, formed a group called "The Inklings." Mr. Tolkien started writing The Hobbit, and eventually, the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This book shows how Tolkien had a normal life; having hardships like everyone else does, as well as positive experiences.
Tolkien by Humphrey Carpenter is a great read for anyone who is considering a career in writing, as well as anyone who loves Mr. Tolkien's books. Humphrey Carpenter does a great job of outlining Mr. Tolkien's life and achievements. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I believe that anyone can read this book. Mr. Carpenter used great vocabulary, and he had great development of his writing. I send my compliments to Mr. Carpenter for his spectacular job of writing this book.
J.R. R........2007-01-12
I love biographies. This author was one of the few whom actually was able to meet the man, if you have not read it, please do, you will love it.
Well written and informative........2005-10-26
This biography is well written and very informative. Readers will find important details about JRR Tolkien's life that explains what inspired him to write his books. This is a very realistic and respectful biography of one of the great writers of the 20th century.
Average customer rating:
- just like what it sounds like
- Letters give great insight
- A must read for fans of Tolkien
- very good book of letters from the man who must have wrote letters for a living,just wish it had a little more middle-earth init
- The genius as a man
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The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien , and
Humphrey Carpenter
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
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| Tolkien, J.R.R.
| ( T )
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| Tolkien, J.R.R.
| ( T )
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The Tolkien Reader
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J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator
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ASIN: 0618056998 |
Amazon.com
Scholars and fans of the great mythologist will find a rich vein of information in Humphrey Carpenter's The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien was a prodigious letter writer all his life; the sheer mass of his correspondence would give pause to even the most stalwart archivist (one shudders to think what he would have done with e-mail). But with the able assistance of Tolkien's son Christopher and a healthy dose of determination, Carpenter manages find the cream of the crop--the letters that shed light on Tolkien's thoughts about his academic and literary work, as well as those that show his more private side, revealing a loving husband, a playful friend, and a doting father. The most fascinating letters are, of course, those in which he discusses Middle-Earth, and Carpenter offers plenty of those to choose from. Tolkien discussed the minutia of his legend--sometimes at great length--with friends, publishers, and even fans who wrote to him with questions. These letters offer significant insights into how he went about creating the peoples and languages of Middle-Earth.
I have long ceased to invent (though even patronizing or sneering critics on the side praise my 'inventions'): I wait till I seem to know what really happened. Or till it writes itself. Thus, though I knew for years that Frodo would run into a tree-adventure somewhere far down the Great River, I had no recollection of inventing Ents. I came at last to the point, and wrote the 'Treebeard' chapter without any recollection of any previous thought: just as it is now. And then I saw that, of course, it had not happened to Frodo at all.
This new edition of letters has an extensive index, and Carpenter has included a brief blurb at the beginning of each letter to explain who the correspondent was and what was being discussed. Still, we strongly recommend buying the companion volume, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography, in order to better understand the place these correspondents had in Tolkien's life and get a better context for the letters. --Perry M. Atterberry
Book Description
'...If you wanted to go on from the end of The Hobbit I think the ring would be your inevitable choice as the link. If then you wanted a large tale, the Ring would at once acquire a capital letter; and the Dark Lord would immediately appear. As he did, unasked, on the hearth at Bag End as soon as I came to that point. So the essential Quest started at once. But I met a lot of things along the way that astonished me. Tom Bombadil I knew already; but I had never been to Bree. Strider sitting in the corner of the inn was a shock, and I had no more idea who he was than Frodo did. The Mines of Moria had been a mere name; and of Lothlorien no word had reached my mortal ears till I came there.' -- J.R.R. Tolkien to W.H. Auden, June 7, 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien, cherished author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, was one of the twentieth century's most prolific letter writers. Over the years he wrote a mass of letters -- to his publishers, his family, to friends, and to fans of his books -- which record the history and composition of his works and his reaction to subsequent events.
By turns thoughtful, impish, scholarly, impassioned, playful, vigorous, and gentle, Tolkien poured his heart and mind into a great stream of correspondence to intimate friends and unknown admirers all over the world. From this collection one sees a mind of immense complexity and many layers -- artistic, religious, charmingly eccentric, sentimental, and ultimately brilliant.
Now newly expanded with a detailed index, this collection provides an invaluable record that sheds much light on Tolkien's creative genius, his thoughts and feelings about his own work, and the evolution of his grand design for the creation of a whole new world -- Middle-earth.
Customer Reviews:
just like what it sounds like.......2007-06-14
its a book of random letters that jrr tolkien wrote to people. nuff said
Letters give great insight.......2007-03-17
Tolkien was one of the most prolific letter writers of the 20th century. He passed away before the advent of email, so correspondences back and forth were his way to communicate with his family, friends, publishers, and fans. In Letters we get rare glimpses of Tolkien's direct thoughts and opinions on his works, and another chance to see the evolution of his world and stories as he wrote to others throughout his life. Any fan who boasts having the History of Middle-earth series under their belt should pick this one up... Superb information and descriptions that weren't among the pages of the HoMe are to be found here.
Amongst these gems is a review of the synopsis for the first LotR animated movie ever slated for release. Tolkien enumerates the countless glaring mistakes and shows us why this version never came to be, simultaneously giving both fans and cynics a new and better appreciation of Peter Jackson's film interpretation(s).
Another brilliant aspect of this book is that Tolkien, in his letters, was able to go into in-depth descriptions of objects, and even comparisons between his 'sub-created' cultures and those he had studied or had knowledge of, none of which were or could have been expounded anywhere else. He even gives illustrations for some of these, showing us how he pictured things in Middle-earth. An excellent description of the Númenórean crown of Gondor, along with a comparison to ancient Egypt, stands out in particular.
Simply put, Letters is a must have for the die-hard Tolkien fan and every "Ringer," and will be a most prized addition to their collections.
A must read for fans of Tolkien.......2007-01-06
This is one of the essential sources for those readers who are fans of LOTR and want additional insight into Tolkien's creative process and the meaning of his major work of fiction. Tokien was a fine writer of letters judging by this sampling and wrote in a way that is amusing and interesting.
very good book of letters from the man who must have wrote letters for a living,just wish it had a little more middle-earth init.......2006-03-14
I would suggest that you read this after the lord and silmarillion, but before the whole history set. This will provide you a lot on info of tolien's middle earth, why he was always delayed, some personal problems, his son's going to war, his reflections on the past war, sauron being an allegory to hitler, and many other interesting things.. The letters are written to fans, his son's, other relatives and so on.
Like I said in the title, I wish it would not have gone so much into religion, but it was still interesting, I just wanted to know more about his thoughts on middle earth.
The genius as a man.......2005-11-06
I think this book has something for everybody. You are given personal glimpses into to T's family life, academic environment, meetings with the Inklings, and the dry-heaving struggles with getting LOTR published. He lived quite a life.
As a struggling writer, I felt like was Tolkien. The letters back and forth from the publisher seemed all too familiar. The main thread that interested me was his struggles he had with the mechanics of writing, editing, publishing and marketing LOTR. It was comforting to know that there was a "meat-grinder" even with this literary classic.
I was also impressed and moved by his failure to get the Silmarillion-his heart-song and mainspring for the trilogy-during his life. He stuck too it, and even thought he was "hot property" and obviously marketable, but never succeeded.
There are some oddball surprises. One was a letter from a man named Sam Gamgee, and several letters in elvish and in runes, with the translations in the back. You got to see these letters to believe them.
I also found it fascinating to see his letters that referred to C. L. Lewis. It was interesting to get a second point of view on similar events that you read about in C. L. Lewis's letters. You get a parallax, and therefore better depth perception on the events.
The book has several weaknesses. Many of the letters are really fragments, and therefore incomplete. Furthermore, it is just one volume. A giant such as this deserves more. C. S. Lewis has three volumes of letters, and T deserves the same.
This book allows you to see the genius as a man, and the mind behind the classic.
Book Description
Recent polls have consistently declared that J.R.R. Tolkien is "the most influential author of the century," and The Lord of the Rings is "the book of the century." In support of these claims, the prominent medievalist and scholar of fantasy Professor Tom Shippey now presents us with a fascinating companion to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, focusing in particular on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. The core of the book examines The Lord of the Rings as a linguistic and cultural map and as a response to the meaning of myth. It presents a unique argument to explain the nature of evil and also gives the reader a compelling insight into the unparalleled level of skill necessary to construct such a rich and complex story. Shippey also examines The Hobbit, explaining the hobbits' anachronistic relationship to the heroic world of Middle-earth, and shows the fundamental importance of The Silmarillion to the canon of Tolkien's work. He offers as well an illuminating look at other, lesser-known works in their connection to Tolkien's life.
Customer Reviews:
Breathtaking insights for word-loving anglophile Tolkien fans.......2007-04-17
Almost immediately after its publication, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings suffered scathing attacks from certain critics in the academic and literary worlds. Half a century later, it remains dubious to admit to well-educated friends that Tolkien is one's favorite author. A typical response is "Oh, I don't read those kind of books," by which we are meant to understand that Tolkien wrote "escapist throwback popular trash."
To make matters worse, these days, one can form an opinion without bothering to even read "those books." A few hours spent watching Peter Jackson's screen adaptation (or even a few minutes watching their trailers) gives anyone the confidence to bespeak Tolkien's doom.
How is it that many highly intelligent and sensitive readers cherish the Lord of the Rings, while many highly intelligent and sensitive critics loathe it? Professor Shippey's work, Author of the Century, unravels this mystery. Moreover, he painstakingly details much of the origin and intricacy of Tolkien's magnum opus.
Although it differs in title, in my opinion this book is essentially a re-write of Professor Shippey's "The Road to Middle Earth". Having read them both in short order, I prefer this one, but that I ventured to read both demonstrates the quality of the author and his material. I cannot comment on the even newer "The Road to Middle Earth:Revised and Expanded Edition".
Its table of contents is somewhat misleading. Most chapters cover far more subject matter than their headings would imply. This reviewer identified several themes to which Professor Shippey consistently returns throughout the book. They are 1) Refuting Tolkien's critics. 2) Tolkien's historical and philological sources. 3) Literary analysis of Tolkien's major works. 4) Tolkien's theodicy - his philosophy of Good and Evil.
I opened this review with a reference to the first theme, refuting Tolkien's critics, because the title of this book implies that such is its primary intent. However, Shippey's earlier work, "The Road to Middle Earth", was actually more aggressive in that regard. Perhaps Tolkien's popularity has outlived enough of his critics to warrant a relent in the counter-offensive. At any rate, there is enough material here to silence all but the most stubborn. Memorize a few paragraphs and you will lose any shame you might have felt in proclaiming the "Lord of the Rings" your favorite book.
However, the most enjoyable bits (to me) are those which shed light on the interplay between Tolkien the author, and Tolkien the Oxford professor of Old-English and philology. If you are an Anglophile and a word-lover, the kind of person who enjoys visiting England and reading the dictionary, you will thrill to all the sudden definitions, connections and insights scattered throughout. Examples... An etymology of "Halifirien" which is Old-English for "holy mountain." Tolkien's 1923 publication of an imagined Old-English reconstruction of the prototypical "egg" nursery rhyme riddle later used in the Hobbit. A beautiful story about Oxford's "Rollright Stones", a Neolithic stone circle, relating Middle-Earth to present day England. Detailed etymologies of "Woses" and "Ent", "Elf", "Emnet", and more. Numerous smatterings of Old-English wisdom, such as Beowulf's, "Æghwæþres sceal scearp scyldwiga gescad witan, worda und worca", describing the manner of a coast guard deciding to allow Beowulf to enter Denmark with his armed company, like Hama allowing Gandalf to carry his staff into Meduseld.
It is this such material that "Author of the Century" provides in greater depth and quantity than the earlier "Road to Middle-Earth". Elaborating it was a wise decision, as doing so deftly applies the deep knowledge of Professor Shippey as a fellow Old-English philologist. In fact, Shippey occupied the very position at Leeds that Tolkien helped to create. Perhaps no one else can give so many insights from this highly specialized field into its essential origins in Tolkien's creation. One envies Professor Shippey's students, as one envied Tolkien's, for surely he gives fascinating lectures.
A serious argument that Tolkien WAS the writer of the century.......2007-04-05
I really liked this book. I found it easy to read, and very interesting. It gave many biographic details on Tolkien. It was particularly good for explaining how Tolkien's academic background in philogophy made him into the writer he was. (Not a conclusion most of us would jump to!)
But I think what really stands out about this book is the dead serious argument it makes that Tolkien was the most important writer of the 20th century. As most of us know, Tolkien is not taken seriously by literary critics. The really IMPORANT writers of the 20th century are Virginia Woolf, James Joyce and the other "great" writers who no one wants to read except when under duress. We KNOW that Tolkien can not be significant in a literary sense, because ordinary people in large numbers actually like reading his stuff. Literature is like cod liver oil; it can not be good for you unless you can't stand it.
But, as the 20th century fades into the past, our perspective changes. WHY was James Joyce important? WHY was D.H. Lawrence important?
We all know the conventional answers. Joyce was important, becaus he broke the mold of the old-fashioned way of writing and showed us a radically new way of writing. Blah, blah, blah. What did Joyce SAY about human affairs that was either intrinscially important or important to the particular events of the 20th century? Same questions about Lawerence, Hemingway, Steinbeck and the rest of the usual subjects.
Again, we know the conventional answers. These writers critiqued the inadequacies of bourgeois society, and pointed the way toward the glories of the new day, whether that of radical free sex, socialism or whatever. The bottom line is that, for most of the 20th century, the intellectual class was sure that they knew the way that the future was going -- toward scientific, secular socialism, with Marx and Freud as the new gods -- and they valued the writers whose work validated this worldview.
But, as it turned out, the intellectual class' crystal ball was broken. The good guys did not win; the Soviet Union did not triumph. None of the dogmas of the century survived the century. Marx became the father of fanatic dicators. Freud became an exposed intellectual fraud.
And the events of the century were utterly different than they were supposed to be. They were supposed to be the inevitable triumph of the glorious certainties of the intellectual left. Instead, they turned out to be a desperate death struggle between the Free Nations, lead by America, and a series of crazed dictators seeking some demented satanic utopia.
Which brings us back to Tolkien. In addition to the sin of writing books which ordinary people actually want to read, he also had this gauche habit of writing about a relatively black and white struggle between good and evil. All very incorrect in a century that knows that the only sin is judging anything.
But, in retrospect, who was writing about the real issues actually presented by the 20th century? Is there anything in James Joyce that is actually engaged with the reality of the 20th century? Same queston for Virginia Woff and the rest of them?
Tolkien, however, wrote about the seductive temptations of power, and the death struggle between the little ordinary people and the overwhelming power of Mordor. He wrote about the long, slow decline of high culture of Gondor, as it fell into degeneracy, fought with itself and failed even to breed. There is nothing that he wrote about that is not taken directly from the central events of the 20th century.
Many think that Tolkien is this weird fantasist who is writing about the Middle Ages. Sorry. As Shipley correctly points out, Tolkien is writing about his own time, with insight that goes way past other writers. When the 25th century wants to understand what all of that craziness was about in the 20th century, they are not going to be reading Virginia Woolf; they are going to be reading the Lord of The Rings.
An Exhaustive, Erudite Study of Tolkien.......2007-01-14
Those of us who are hopeless Tolkienites have an insatiable curiosity about--and appetite for--the inner workings of Middle-earth, along with the man that brought that wonderful world to life. J.R.R. Tolkien was a fascinating man, and Oxford scholar Tom Shippey has forgotten more about this author than most of us will ever learn; to prove it, Shippey presents his analysis of Tolkien's work in his very readable book, J.R.R. TOLKIEN: AUTHOR OF THE CENTURY.
I was astounded to learn, via Shippey's patient presentation, that so many of the names of characters and places that appear in Middle-earth are derived from ancient Norse mythology, poetry, and literature. That Tolkien was hugely inspired by Beowulf is a given; that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings borrow extensively and richly from this centuries' old tale is not. Shippey also describes how Tolkien, as a devout philologist, was obsessed with words--with their infinite variations, and how the author utilized this knowledge not only to create names and places in his writing, but also create extensive, intricate languages.
Regarding Tolkien's masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, Shippey allows the reader to draw his/her own conclusions as to whether or not the novel is an allegory. Tolkien himself vigorously denied his fantasy tale was allegorical; in light of the fact LOTR is a classic tale of good vs. evil. . .a story that is a ringing indictment of modernization, industrialization, and technological destruction. . .it's almost comical how Tolkien went out of his way to deny the obvious. Shippey compares the novel to other allegories, and readily admits some of Tolkien's later short stories were indeed allegorical; thus the allegory card is played, albeit in a limited, less than satisfying way.
Shippey provides a detailed analysis not only of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings but of Tolkien's other works, including his poems and short stories, his essays, and his voluminous subject matter published posthumously (The Silmarillion and The Lost Tales, etc.). And "detailed" is the right word, as Shippey examines and magnifies information almost to exhaustion. That the scholar sees mountains where other readers see mole hills is readily apparent via the pages of this book.
J.R.R. TOLKIEN: AUTHOR OF THE CENTURY is a compelling, recommended read for those wanting to know more about the man who brought us Middle-earth. One of Shippey's observations is right on the money: The fact that England itself didn't have its own mythology turned out to be most fortunate; Tolkien went about creating one.
--D. Mikels, Author, THE RECKONING
Linguistic in Focus. .......2004-07-26
I have massive respect for Tom Shippey and his obvious knowledge and command of the English language. There are few books that you'll read which will educate the layman as much as this one will. For the Lord of the Rings fanatic, however, much of this book may not be what one expected as it points a laser into the mechanics of Tolkien linguistic universe present in LOTR, the Hobbitt and the Silmarillion. The worm's eye view can't be beat but it is still a very detailed view. The Foreward is an amazing read as it is more whollistic then the rest of the book and gives a thorough and illuminating overview of Tolkien's majestic place in the history of literature.
The primary criticism of these great works.......2004-03-17
This book is quite simply the seminal criticism and analysis of Tolkien's major works. Shippey is Tolkien's successor at Oxford, and in a very real sense "speaks the language" (no pun intended) that Tolkien spoke. He is able to disassemble and analyze Tolkien's writings in a way that is head and shoulders above any other similar works. His linguistic and literary analysis is the best ever made and is absolutely vital to truly understanding Middle Earth and the man that made it. Add to that a brief but very profound analysis of the religious themes, imagery, and inferences that is better than anything else out there (it completely surpasses Joseph Pearce's fine book on Tolkien, all in less than 10 pages.) Plus you'll get the most insightful discussion of the Anglo Saxon and Old Norse literary traditions and characters that would become Gandalf, Frodo, and the rest of the Fellowship.
If you truly love Tolkien's writing, then you simply must read this book. It is the first most important step in a real understanding of what Middle Earth is, where it is, where its characters came from, and what happened to them in ways that will really open your mind to the vastness and incredible beauty of Tolkien's world. After reading it, you'll have even less patience with the lunkheads who think LOTR is just another fantasy story. It's so, so much more than that.
And if that wasn't enough, you'll learn what Beowulf's name would mean in modern English. ("Beowulf" is usually the only word in the poem not translated, in case you haven't noticed.)
Book Description
Both Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are literary superstars, known around the world as the creators of Middle-earth and Narnia. But few of their readers and fans know about the important and complex friendship between Tolkien and his fellow Oxford academic C.S. Lewis. Without the persistent encouragement of his friend, Tolkien would never have completed The Lord of the Rings. This great tale, along with the connected matter of The Silmarillion, would have remained merely a private hobby. Likewise, all of Lewis' fiction, after the two met at Oxford University in 1926, bears the mark of Tolkien's influence, whether in names he used or in the creation of convincing fantasy worlds.
They quickly discovered their affinity--a love of language and the imagination, a wide reading in northern myth and fairy tale, a desire to write stories themselves in both poetry and prose. The quality of their literary friendship invites comparisons with those of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Cowper and John Newton, and G.K. Chesterton and Hillaire Belloc. Both Tolkien and Lewis were central figures in the informal Oxford literary circle, the Inklings.
This book explores their lives, unfolding the extraordinary story of their complex friendship that lasted, with its ups and downs, until Lewis's death in 1963. Despite their differences--differences of temperament, spiritual emphasis, and view of their storytelling art--what united them was much stronger, a shared vision that continues to inspire their millions of readers throughout the world.
Customer Reviews:
My question is this . . . .......2007-04-28
. . . why was this book needed?
As a previous reviewer has noted, George Sayer has written an outstanding biography of Lewis (and to my mind, the best available). Sayer was a student, friend, and confidante of Lewis for 29 years, and knew Tolkien as well. Humphrey Carpenter has written an outstanding biography of Tolkien, with the full cooperation of the Tolkien estate. Carpenter also edited an edition of Tolkien's letters which frequently reference Lewis (including the very poignant "axe blow at the roots" letter to his daughter upon learning of Lewis's death) and also the critically regarded "The Inklings".
All four of these volumes are easily accessible; none fall into the category of dense academic writing.
Then why did Colin Duriez feel that this effort was necessary?
He breaks no new ground -- indeed his little bit of fiction at the beginning seems more odd than contributive. He makes some unnecessary errors -- Lewis was hardly a "Low-Church" Anglican. (While personally eschewing church politics, Lewis attended a "High" parish, and held a very high view of Communion, practiced auricular confession, and believed in Purgatory!)
I guess what troubles me most here, is that any book which purports to discuss the friendship of Lewis and Tolkien, will, inevitably, lead readers to unfair conclusions. Lewis and Tolkien first met in 1926; by 1927 they had become fast friends. Lewis converted in 1931. By the time Lewis died in 1963, the two men had known each other for 37 years! ANY 37 year friendship will have ebbs and flows. Why is this so difficult for authors to accept?
Yes, Tolkien was disappointed that Lewis never became Catholic.
Yes, Lewis's appreciation for Tolkien's fiction was greater than Tolkien's appreciation for much (NOT all) of Lewis's fiction.
Yes, Tolkien was greatly distressed by Lewis's marriage -- and yes, Edith Tolkien became friends with Joy Davidman Lewis!
My question? So what! Such is friendship!
It was Lewis, who, even in the latter years of their friendship, wrote the enormously glowing reviews of "The Lord of the Rings" which still grace dust-jackets today.
It was Tolkien, who, during the same years, was instrumental in procuring a Professorship for Lewis in Cambridge, after Lewis had been so long denied at Oxford.
And it was Tolkien who was one of the very few mourners at Lewis's funeral.
The point is, is that a 37 year friendship is far more than the quirks, disagreements, differences, and even arguments -- and frankly, I'm amazed that more people don't understand that! I strongly suspect that both Lewis and Tolkien would have been most suspicious (at best) at this type of analysis.
Parallel Biographies.......2005-03-05
The book introduces chapters with fictional vignettes of their lives that might have happened. This approach is a mixed blessing. Who really cares what may have happened in a biography? This approach does make the book an easy read. Duriez presents the lives of both of the men fairly accurately. He even tries to correct the common misconceptions of these two great men. Duriez asserts the men were friends to the end of their lives and they were not estranged by Lewis's marriage to Joy. Duriez writes all long friendships go through peaks and valleys. I tend to agree. I am well read in both Tolkien and Lewis and Duriez summarizes the plot lines of the some of the most well known books fairly well. The book is good as far as it goes. It even reveals some insights that I didn't know before, especially about Tolkien.
However, the book is more like parallel biographies rather than the tracing their friendship and how that friendship influenced their writing. The information in this book is presented far better in other places. Duriez really does not present anything new and interesting about Lewis and Tolkien in these pages. Sayer's biography of Lewis does a better job of presenting the influences on Lewis. Carpenter's book "The Inklings" does a better job of describing the friendships. Carpenter's biography of Tolkien tells the details of Tolkien's life far better. Duriez does not bring a fresh perspective.
I have quibbles about some of the facts in the book. The most glaring one is that Duriez asserts that Tolkien decided to change Bilbo's name to Bilbo from something else while he was writing the Lord of the Rings. "The Hobbit" was already published while he was writing the Lord of the Rings. Tolkien could not very well have changed Bilbo's name. It's possible that The Lord of the Rings was being developed before the Hobbit was published, but from Duriez own words the publisher was pushing Tolkien to write a sequel to the Hobbit and so Tolkien started work on The Lord of the Rings. Duriez must have meant something else or needs to clarify.
If you have not read a biography of Lewis or Tolkien, this book would be a good start. It is slightly repetitious and obvious, but it stays interesting. However, better books are out there on these men.
Well ... not exactly what I was expecting.......2005-01-23
This book might have been better titled: "Two Parallel Lives in Oxford." Perhaps it is more a reflection of the English reserve of the two scholars (or a dearth of first person account's of their friendship) than it is some shortcoming in Duriez's research, but given the title of this book I had expected a greater discussion of their friendship. Instead the reader is treated to a bloodless, albeit intriguing, chronicling of two extraordinary writers who lived in close proximity.
While this "dual biography" was adequate introduction for readers like myself who are relatively unfamiliar with the personal life of either man (though I suspect there are more complete examinations of both men's lives out there), I kept wanting more about their friendship. Buriez doesn't give the reader much to go on. I had a hard time figuring out why the seemingly good-natured and much more emotionally generous Lewis would want to be friends with Tolkien, who comes off as a little petty, insecure, myopic and persnicky (especially given some of the condescending remarks made about Lewis' work).
This book is readable because it discusses two fascinating men - not because it reveals much about their friendship.
Pure genius - simply the best.......2004-05-11
This is pure genius - simply the best book around on these two brilliant guys. Buy your pastor and all the deacons/elders in your church this great book - and don't forget one for all your friends. They will all LOVE this book.
Pen pals.......2004-04-08
Just about everyone who knows things about the life of "Lord of the Rings" author J.R.R. Tolkien knows that he was pals with fellow fantasy writer C.S. Lewis (author of the "Narnia" series). But where that's usually a sidenote in Tolkien biographies, Colin Duriez makes it the center of double-biography "Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship."
Duriez focuses on Lewis and Tolkien's early lives, the differences in their religious progressions, their wartime experiences, their fantasy works and their involvement in Christian literary club The Inklings. In 1926, the quiet Tolkien ("Tollers") and ebullient Lewis met and became friends over a shared love of Christianity, language myth and imagination.
Duriez's main idea in "Gift of Friendship" is that this friendship created some of the most influential fantasy and science fiction ever, by mutual support. Religious beliefs and "the horns of elfland" were important for them both. For example, it was partly through Lewis's encouragement that Tolkien managed to finish his stories of Middle-Earth, and Tolkien in turn helped with Lewis's more serious works.
Duriez doesn't reveal anything new about the friendship or the men in it, and he focuses quite a bit on the Inklings at large at one point. (Since he wrote a book on them, it isn't surprising) However, he clearly is a big fan of both men and his enthusiasm is obvious. He briskly clears away some misconceptions (for example, Tolkien did not hate the Narnia books, he merely "disliked" them) and throws in some literary analysis of Middle-Earth, the Ransom books and Narnia that doesn't stray too far from the authors' intents.
"Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship" doesn't offer more than a few tidbits that are new, but it's a good focus on Tolkien and Lewis's friendship and how it affected their epic books.
Customer Reviews:
Description Deception.......2005-06-24
This book is NOT illustrated by the Brothers Hildebrandt (nor is it written by Daniel Grotta). I was looking for Hildebrandt artwork, so I was completely disappointed.
A fun little book.......2005-01-10
There is very little value in the information held in this book, but for Tolkien fans, there's still some interesting quotes and poems to pick through. The artistic work really is spectacular. It's a good gift, it's an attractive volume that is of a high quality. I haven't tried out any of the recipes, but they look interesting enough. If anything, it's a volume that you can give to the Tolkien fan that thinks they've got it all.
W.H. Auden is not the author of this book!.......2002-11-15
An essay of Auden's does appear in the book. It is, in fact, a hodgepodge of Tolkien related material, mostly essays (including a short biography) but also stories set in Middle Earth, songs, poems, word games, and even recipies written by other authors. It is an interseting look at Tolkien fandom. I found the black & white interior illustrations simply breathtaking the first time I saw this book. For me, it is the most important Tolkien related book not actually written by him, and the one that is most worth having. I found it at a library over ten years ago, and recently gave up hope of ever seeing it again, but here it is. Be sure to look at my "So You'd Like to Take a Trip There and Back Again through Tokien's World?" Guide.
It's Ok........2001-06-05
It's a nice little book, that's it. It has some poems about Tolkien and his world with no rhymes (mostly) and some quotes. Some older people or some professors :) might like it, but not me. The only reason I gave it three stars is because it had two funny poems in there.
Book Description
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings took first place in a recent nationwide British poll to find the greatest book of the century. He may be the most popular writer of our age, but Tolkien is often misunderstood. This major new study of his life, his character and his work reveals the facts and confronts the myths. It explores the background to the man and the culture in which he wrote.
Tolkien: Man and Myth observes the relationships that the master writer had with his closest literary colleagues. It reveals his unique relationship with C.S. Lewis, the writer of the Narnia books, and the roots of their estrangement. In this original book about a leading literary life, Joseph Pearce enters the world created by Tolkien in the seven books published during his lifetime. He explores the significance of Middle Earth and what it represented in Tolkien's thinking. Myth, to him, was not a leap from reality but a leap into reality.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book About the Author of The Lord of The Rings.......2006-02-12
I read this book not knowing what to expect. A great pick for Lord of the Rings fans because it gives a deep insight into the man and the beliefs of the man who wrote such a great trilogy. I recommend for anyone that is a fan of Tolkien and anyone who would like to learn more about the religious themes behind his writings.
The True Myths.......2004-06-21
Joseph Pearce's biography on J.R.R. Tolkien is a short, yet fully engrossing and insightful read about one of the greatest literary minds of anytime. For those who disagree with my statement, imagine a man who not only rights a fantasy, but creates a new world even to the extent in creatng a language, and yet, thoroughly entertaining and teaching his readership. Pearce's book delves into the reasons why Tolkien developed the art he did while avoiding teh overly Freuden' psychological pitfalls of reading too much into the subject.
There are no deep secrets here, just good common sense by listening to Tolkien's life, letters and writing. One gets to pierce Tolkien's Middle Earth and his Roman Catholic life and how is religious faith ineteracted with everything he did, from his marriage to his friendships. This is not a re-hash of facts and show-and-tale sensasonalism, but instead, a look into the man and the true nature of myths. An outstanding read!
The Man With the Myth.......2004-03-12
If you have never read a biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, purchase this one. Biographies often tend toward the overly factual without great attention to the question of "Why?" What motivates the subject of the biography?
Here we find that J.R.R. Tolkien was motivated in life and in his work by his Catholic faith. He used the power of creative myth to demonstrate his truths. These two concepts are Pearce's theses regarding Tolkien. This are not difficult theses. Tolkien wore his faith on his sleeve and he was very direct and forthright in stating that the Lord of the Rings is indeed a Catholic work.
What I found very refreshing about Pearce's biography is that it is colored throughout by the influence of Tolkien's friends. These men (Chesterton, C.S. Lewis etc.) had an immediate and lasting impact on Tolkien's work and his world view. Giving the details here would spoil the biography for you, however.
To that end, I recommend you pick this book up. It reads quite quickly and is far from difficult in its purposes and intent. You will not be disappointed if you are even the slightest bit interested in Tolkien, the man with the myth.
A Very Full & Readable Account.......2004-01-20
When choosing which biography to read on Tolkien, I chose this one because the author seemed to have great respect for Tolkien...so great that he was willing to take on the intelligentsia of England. As Pearce explains, in 1997 a poll was done in England to see what the best books of the century were. When "Lord of the Rings" turned up on top, the literary critics all over England (as well as the professors) were up-in-arms. They thought the craze for this work had come and gone. They thought that Tolkien only had a small, cult-like remnant left to his following (Tolkien's official biographer being among these scoffers). They condemned this work on many fronts.
And so another poll was taken...and another. But, no matter who did the poll and how, "Lord of the Rings" kept turning up on top. What horrified the "experts" even more was that Tolkien himself was voted as the best author of the century. What could possibly be contained in his works that led to such unanimous support from the people and such criticism from the experts?
That is what Pearce explores in this well-crafted biography. And, if you like Tolkien, you have to admire Pearce's approach from the beginning. He knew that Tolkien despised pop-psychology type biographies that tried to analyze an author's works based on his upbringing and life's events. Thus, while giving a sketch of Tolkien's life, Pearce respects Tolkien's wishes to not be dissected psychologically.
Rather, Pearce took on the rather large task of helping laymen understand how Tolkien's faith - a particularly Catholic faith - influenced his writings. When I first read "Lord of the Rings" myself, I wondered how one man (Tolkien) could come up with all the depth expressed in this work. (For instance, I was in awe of the depth of the idea that Sauron could never anticipate Frodo's journey to DESTROY the ring because Sauron was so evil that he couldn't anticipate selfless acts.) What Pearce helped me realize was that much of the depth came from Tolkien's reading the likes of St. Augustine and other church fathers. I believe that Tolkien himself would say that he stood on the shoulders of Giants in order to get anywhere near the understanding he portrays.
In addition to such fascinating accounts of how Tolkien's faith manifests in his work, Pearce has a particular knack for addressing subjects that a reader would be curious about...without ever going too far. In this book, he writes about such things as Tolkien's marriage, his work, his experience in WWI, his friendship with C.S. Lewis, his critics, and his advice to his son when his son was getting disillusioned with the church. In all these things, Pearce gives you a full picture while retaining a delicacy for the the people involved.
As someone who wanted an overview of Tolkien and an understanding of how his faith intersected with his life and work, I felt I had found the perfect source in Pearce's book.
An Insightful Look Into A Rich Life.......2003-07-15
The further I delved into Tolkien: Man and Myth, the more I realized that calling it a "biography" is a misnomer. I came to this conclusion because only a minor portion of the book presents biographical information. Instead, the book could better be described as a work of "apologetics". Apologetics, in its most classic sense, uses writings and examples to both clarify a philosophy and refute critical comments about that philosophy. This method is exactly what Pierce employed to near perfection in Tolkien: Man and Myth. Pierce uses the writings of Tolkien and others to refute the criticisms of Tolkien's works. In the process, he provides the reader with a thorough understanding of the philosophy that shaped Tolkien's writings, how Tolkien arrived at this philosophy, and how it influenced his interactions with others. The result is a deeper appreciation for Tolkien's efforts.
Pierce deserves much credit for using the writings of the "man" to dispel many of the "myths" surrounding Tolkien and his books. By taking an apologetics approach to Tolkien's life and works, Pierce provides the reader with a better understanding of his subject than any standard biography could provide. Consequently, Tolkien: Man and Myth is an essential work for anyone studying the life of this literary giant.
Customer Reviews:
Biography of a literary "club".......2004-05-23
Despite its title, this book focuses a great deal of attention on one man, C. S. Lewis. This is no shortcoming from the point of view of interest as the book suffers nothing for being so centred on him. The two other prominent members of the group are not ignored, though one might expect Tolkien to be more present; readers who are looking for more on him, though, can read Carpenter's full-length biography. The book also devotes a good deal of space to Charles Williams about whom I knew little before reading it. That these three men are named explicitly in the title gives full notice as to whom the reader can expect to find out the most about. Their friends are given relatively little space; the only other person discussed in any detail is Lewis's brother Warnie.
While it may sound like I found the book more lacking than informative, the opposite is true. I found myself compulsively drawn forward. In spite of its seemingly narrow focus, the amount of information was satisfying as much as it could be (i.e. there are probably always questions one could ask for which there are no sources to answer them). Readers who are looking for information on Lewis will find it; those looking for Tolkien will find more about his world than about the man but they will not, I think, be disappointed.
Great collective biography of a remarkable group.......2003-08-05
For years, a small number of Oxford dons and fellows, as well as some of their friends, met in a local pub on Tuesdays to drink beer, hold discussions on such matters as mythology, morality, and literature, and read aloud the things they had been writing. Perhaps more important than these meetings were the Thursday night gatherings in the rooms of CS Lewis at Magdalen college. This group, which included such intellectual giants as Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and Charles Williams, was known as "The Inklings."
Much of "The Hobbit," "The Lord of the Rings," and Lewis's Space Trilogy were read in these meetings. Lewis also read much of his apologetic work to the group. The Inklings have had an enormous effect on the world of fantasy and Christian apology, and this biography by Humphrey Carpenter attempts to examine, in detail, just what occurred at these meetings, and what the effect was on those who participated.
Actually, this book is more of a biography on CS Lewis than on the rest of the members. Carpenter, who wrote a separate biography on Tolkien, does not elaborate much on the creator of "The Lord of the Rings", but rather spends most of his time on Lewis, who was, after all, the life of the group. Despite the focus on Lewis, however, there is a large section devoted to the life and times of Charles Williams, another principal member of the group. By using Lewis's life as a narrative, Carpenter is able to explore the composition and disposition of the Inklings as a group, as well as discuss their collective impact on the world of literature, fantasy, and criticism.
This biography is well-written, and covers its subject well. The Inklings were a fascinating group of men, and this book provides much information and detail about the group as a whole that is difficult to glean from a biography which focuses on just one of the members. Unfortunately, this volume is not currently available in the US, and must be obtained either from Amazon.uk or from a used bookseller. Despite the difficulty in obtaining the book, however, this is a fascinating and worthwhile look at the Inklings.
Buy it from the UK Amazon site.......2002-11-24
This is a great book but don't be sucked into buying it for 150 dollers goto the UK site and get it for 8 bucks. Ships just as fast.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0261103474/ref=sr_aps_books_1_2/026-5367973-8334817
Excellently Perceptive.......2002-06-26
This is one of the best biographical books I've ever read. Carpenter captures the character of some of the most interesting British writers of the WWII/post-WWII era: C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Charles Williams. He manages to tread that careful balance between criticism and adoration. He accomplishes this, I think, out of true sympathy for each of the writers involved. He helped me understand the nature and complexity of the different relationships surrounding C.S. Lewis without resorting to vulgar fault-finding or "taking sides". At one point, Mr. Carpenter recreates an Inkling meeting. The intellectual vigor and personalities of the participants rises off the page and helps to explain why the Inklings generated (and still generate) such interest.
The Fellowship of the Ring.......2001-12-18
Several recent events have renewed an international interest in the writings of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein: the 50th anniversary of the publication of "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" (1950), and the screenplay release of J.R.R. Tolkein's classic "The Fellowship of the Ring" on movie screens around the world in 2001.
Both of these world famous novels were first introduced "publically" at the regular gathering of a few British writers and friends, who informally called their literary club "the Inklings". Even the name "inkling" was a playful self-parody, referring both to the fact that they displayed their imaginations in ink and they often only had an "inkling" of what the other was really talking about.
Carpenter, also the authorized biographer of J.R.R. Tolkein, helps readers enter into the private lives and late-night meetings of these writers. You can smell the cigarette smoke, hear the whistling of the teapot and sense the tension of Oxford intellectuals wrestling with the outbreak of World War II. Thanks to Carpenter's careful retelling of these gatherings, you sit back in the evening, sip your tea and imagine yourself among these writers as another member of the fellowship.
For books on the fellowship of the family, look into these two titles: "The Family Cloister" and "The Christian Family Toolbox" both by David Robinson (New York: Crossroad, 2000 & 2001).
Average customer rating:
- Flawed and tainted
- One of the brighter spots in recent beginners' Tolkien lit
- Disappointing in many ways
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I Am in Fact a Hobbit: An Introduction to the Life and Works of J.R.R. Tolkien
Perry C. Bramlett , and
Joe R. Christopher
Manufacturer: Mercer University Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 086554851X |
Customer Reviews:
Flawed and tainted.......2004-06-14
If you're looking for insightful, intriguing books about J.R.R. Tolkien, even as an introduction... look elsewhere. "I Am In Fact A Hobbit: An Introduction To the Life and Works of J.R.R. Tolkien" isn't up to the task, with flawed information and a very unpleasant aftertaste.
Author Perry C. Bramlett starts off with a by-the-numbers biography of Tolkien's entire life. He then tosses off some condescending information about Tolkien's children's books, before going on to the real meat of the storytelling: "Lord of the Rings," "Silmarillion," and many other major and minor works that he created. Finally -- apparently to make the book thicker -- he includes a timeline, website guide, and audio recordings guide.
There is some worthwhile material in this book, like the examples of how character names came about, and possible influences on Tolkien's work. And at the end of the book, Joe R. Christopher writes a wonderfully personal essay, which has all the life that Bramlett's boring prose lacks.
But Bramlett makes quite a few basic errors that should have been caught, including ones that are grammatical, misspelled and in his story retellings (the fay star in "Smith of Wootten Major" was IN the cake, not ON it). And, despite the aura of giving "just the facts, ma'am," he throws in quite a few interpretations of his own, including a very strained idea of what Edith Tolkien's conversion to Catholicism inspired -- a loss of immortality? Surely he jests.
What's more, you get the idea from this book that Bramlett really doesn't like Tolkien as a person very much. He presents him as a bit of a Neanderthal towards women, very pushy and negative, and presents none of the vibrant genius that Tolkien clearly possessed. The Tolkien Bramlett lets you see here is like a stained paper doll.
Written in a dull style, with lots of misleading information, Perry C. Bramlett's "I Am In Fact A Hobbit" is not the place to start if you're just getting into Tolkien's works. It adds nothing, and takes out a lot.
One of the brighter spots in recent beginners' Tolkien lit.......2003-12-21
Ignore the potted biography at the start unless you're a rank beginner in Tolkien, and enjoy Bramlett's interesting approach to describing Tolkien's major and some arbitrarily selected minor works. These minimize literary interpretations in favor of mixing plot summaries with quotes from early reviews and (rather overly) detailed accounts of publication histories. I suspect most of the facts in these last come, without specific credit, from Wayne G. Hammond's bibliography. Bramlett is elsewhere prone to omitting references, e.g. in discussing the origin of Ancrene Wisse, a Middle English text Tolkien studied extensively. I don't consider this a plagiarism issue, but an omission of an opportunity to send interested readers off for more information. This is not a scholarly book by any means, but it doesn't claim to be one. Bramlett's selective and annotated bibliography of works on Tolkien is nice to have, and an attached discography is even nicer. There's also a chapter of ruminative personal reflections by Joe R. Christopher. A few factual errors are regrettable: Bramlett gets the LotR copyright issue completely wrong, and writes that Ancrene Wisse came from Hertfordshire where he means Herefordshire, not the same place at all.
Disappointing in many ways.......2003-12-18
In his introduction, Mr. Bramlett describes this book as a basic introduction for the general reader of Tolkien. He says he wishes to inspire this hypothetical reader to seek out Tolkien's other writings and enjoy them as well. Oddly, what Mr. Bramlett proceeds to do is to describe even the briefest and most apocryphal works connected in any way with Tolkien as something the general reader might well be able to seek out in his local library. Bramlett appears to draw heavily on Wayne Hammond and Douglas Anderson's J.R.R. Tolkien: A Desciptive Bibliography, and the Tolkien completist would be well advised to rely on this excellent source for informative essays about every work Tolkien wrote, edited, translated, or contributed to, no matter how obscure. The general reader, however, will not find references to unpublished juvenile poems and Anglo-Saxon translations all that helpful as a guide to "what Tolkien work to read next."
Bramlett's writing style has its awkward moments, and his plot summaries in particular are larded with parenthetical asides. A surer editorial hand could have prevented some lapses; for example, "ostracize" is used incorrectly (Mabel Tolkien didn't ostracize her family after her conversion to Catholicism, they ostracized her [p.4]), and a ludicrous picture of Tolkien's mother as a transsexual is implied by the sentence "As a young man, his mother introduced him to Latin" (p.71). There are errors of fact as well; for example, the fairy star is baked into the cake in Smith of Wootton Major, not placed on top and accidentally eaten (p. 45). Bramlett makes some unusual assertions. That Edith Tolkien's conversion to Catholicism for Tolkien's sake equates to Luthien's and Arwen's sacrifices of their immortality for their lovers, for example, is quite an allegorical stretch (p.6), as is his statement that Denethor committed suicide in part because of his wife's death (p.70). The non-chronological sequence of Bramlett's analyses is confusing, particularly in the section on children's literature, as the reader leaps from late to early works and back again. But the lack of sufficient editing shows most clearly in the typographical errors: "Wilder land" for "Wilderland", "Roverandum" occurring intermixed with "Roverandom", and most inexplicable of all, "Marched" for every use of "Mirkwood" (and it took me half the book to figure that one out).
Joe Christopher's essay at the end of Bramlett's text is charming and personal. As I noted above, readers seeking a complete list of Tolkien's writings would be better advised to seek out Hammond and Anderson's bibliography than to rely on the appendix in this book, but the bibliography and list of Tolkien-related societies and journals are useful.
Not a recommended purchase for libraries or individual readers. Instead, buy Tom Shippey's J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century; it's the best critical introduction for the general reader.
Average customer rating:
- This hobbit feels incredible joy. . .
- Beautiful. Just Beautiful.
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The Tolkien Family Album
Priscilla Tolkien , and
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0395599385 |
Customer Reviews:
This hobbit feels incredible joy. . ........2002-03-23
. . .when paging through this delightful book. The Master, JRR Tolkien, obviously shared the hobbitish characteristic of great love for family. It appears that his children shared this love as well. In this wonderful book, family photos and stories are presented with text provided by the Master's youngest child (and only daughter) Priscilla.
Many thanks to Priscilla for allowing the rest of us to share in the joy of your family.
Beautiful. Just Beautiful........2001-02-06
Heartwarming and joyful, this book is a precious gift. It provides a loving look into the heart, the life, and the love of the Master -- JRR Tolkien.
Many thanks to the Tolkien children for the labor of love.
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