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Beren
Nevrast
May 9 2008, 10:12am
Post #1 of 14
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Interview with Andrew H. Morton on Tolkien's Gedling
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It was my honor to do an interview with Andrew H. Moreton on Tolkien's Gedling, 1914: The Birth Of A Legend, a book about Jane Neave and Phoenix Farm.
Most people interested in Tolkien will have heard about Gedling, but not to much was know about Tolkien's aunt Jane Neave and Tolkien's connection with Gedling.
We all know she was Tolkien's aunt and that Tolkien must have had a special bond with her.
But one man went some steps further and did get a special interest in Jane Neave and Phoenix Farm.
He, and his research partner John Hayes, found out plenty about Jane Neave, who ran the farm and was said to be highly influential on her nephew, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Their findings are now published in Tolkien's Gedling 1914: The Birth of a Legend and I thought it interesting to ask the author, Andrew H. Morton, some questions.
Here is the transcript of the interview with Andrew H. Moreton.
'It is fulfilled. Even now a Silmaril is in my hand.' - tolkienlibrary.com
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diedye
Hithlum
May 9 2008, 12:30pm
Post #2 of 14
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They don't sell it here, only in the UK. 
Want  back for a 2nd season? Then Join the Campaign 
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burrahobbit
Nargothrond
May 9 2008, 2:34pm
Post #4 of 14
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Another great interview thanks!
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Sounds like Tolkien's aunt was quite a character. The theory that she had some influence on Gandalf is really charming and quite plausible.
View my Hobbit Film Adaptation Discussion
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
May 9 2008, 3:30pm
Post #5 of 14
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Fascinating - just fascinating! Thank you for that; I'm glad you were able to do that interview.
But the farm is gone? Such a loss...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
"It struck me last night that you might write a fearfully good romantic drama, with as much of the 'supernatural' as you cared to introduce. Have you ever thought of it?"
-Geoffrey B. Smith, letter to JRR Tolkien, 1915
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weaver
Gondolin
May 9 2008, 3:44pm
Post #6 of 14
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Jane N. is mentioned a lot in Tolkien scholarship, but there's rarely a lot of detail. I did not realize someone had taken up some research in this area and found out so much. Very interesting interview and the book looks like a good read. Thank you!
Weaver
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
May 9 2008, 4:36pm
Post #7 of 14
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when I'm reading about Jane Neave's personality, impact on others, and her influence on J.R.R. I think of the Brandybuck's and/or Took's influence on young Baggins?
How fortunate that Tolkien had such a wonderful relative to connect with at just the moment when someone like her helped shape his talent for expression and writing. How many people have we each had enter (and leave) our lives that impacted who we are (and are yet to be)?
What a wonderful interview. Thank you so much!
 
Trust him... The Hobbit is coming!
"Barney Snow was here." ~Hug like a hobbit!~ "In my heaven..."
TORn's Observations Lists
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Beren
Nevrast
May 9 2008, 9:24pm
Post #8 of 14
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Thanks for the nice comments...
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It was my pleasure! I had actually heard about the book and then some month ago i wrote an article about it, because it was close to publication. Then the author himself contacted me (in surprise) that I had found the cover before he had even seen it... I then immediatly arranged to do the interview and this is the result.
I think studies like this are very interesting, since they tell us something 'new' about Tolkien and this book about Jane Neave tells us about Tolkien when he was still very young... a time when a lot of 'character shaping' is still going on and so a person like Jane Neave must have had a huge impact on Tolkien.
'It is fulfilled. Even now a Silmaril is in my hand.' - tolkienlibrary.com
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Kimi
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
May 10 2008, 12:21am
Post #9 of 14
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Thanks for this great interview!
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What a fascinating account! I love the idea of Aunt Jane contributing to the figure of Gandalf :-)
Thanks, Beren.
My writing (including The Passing of Mistress Rose)
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
May 10 2008, 1:20am
Post #10 of 14
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and you heard :) *bows deeply*
Trust him... The Hobbit is coming!
"Barney Snow was here." ~Hug like a hobbit!~ "In my heaven..."
TORn's Observations Lists
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mae govannen
Dor-Lomin
May 11 2008, 12:41pm
Post #11 of 14
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Wow! THAT's great research work,
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and of the kind I love most: shedding some extra light on Tolkien as a person, and on the very special other persons he loved and who had a formative influence on him, his ideals and his imagination...
I think you are quite right: Jane must have been a substitute mother for him to some extent, after the poor boy lost his real mother. And Gandalf does have that 'motherly' side to him too, under his grumpy appearance... Think of Pippin, and of the Hobbits in general!
Like Gandalf too, this remarkable lady was both very intelligent and learned on the one hand, and on the other hand loved the charming countryside of 'The Shire', not feeling herself too important and too high to live there, farming...
Thank you for this, dear Beren!...
'Is everything sad going to come untrue?'
(Sam, 'The Field of Cormallen', in 'The Return of the King'.)
(This post was edited by mae govannen on May 11 2008, 12:42pm)
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Elven
Doriath
May 12 2008, 12:07pm
Post #12 of 14
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This was a wonderful interview! Thankyou so much beren.
After reading it I went searching over the internet reading here and there about Jane (2 hours later  ) ... it certainly sparked my interest, and I look forward to reading more.
Could you tell me, do you know what her birthdate was?
I couldnt find it anywhere .. just the years 1872-1963 ..
Cant wait to read further!
Cheers
Elven
Were off to Hobbiton finally!
Tolkien was a Capricorn!!
Russell Crowe for Beorn!!
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Elven
Doriath
May 14 2008, 1:24am
Post #14 of 14
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Were off to Hobbiton finally!
Tolkien was a Capricorn!!
Russell Crowe for Beorn!!
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