|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IdrilLalaith
Rivendell
Apr 27 2014, 10:43pm
Post #1 of 13
(306 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Books About Tolkien
|
Can't Post
|
|
How many of you read books about Tolkien and Middle-earth? Which ones are you favorites?
I'm quite partial to Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth. The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter Kreeft was also good, if I remember correctly, but it's been a long time.
Do you prefer biographical or literary criticism?
TolkienBlog.com
|
|
|
Elizabeth
Half-elven
Apr 28 2014, 7:51am
Post #2 of 13
(199 views)
Shortcut
|
Shippey's "Author of the Century" (of which I have 2 copies... want one?) and his previous book, "The Road to Middle Earth". Humphrey Carpenter's authorized bio is a must-read, if you haven't already.
This past year I enjoyed "Tolkien and the Study of His Sources" by Jason Fisher, who posts here as visualweasel.
|
|
|
demnation
Rohan
Apr 28 2014, 8:13am
Post #3 of 13
(196 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Tolkien and the Great War is probably my favorite
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I like Tom Shippey's work as well, though I generally find literary criticism to be dreadfully dull. Reading hundreds of pages of what is basically one persons perspective on a work is never fun. But that's the problem with fiction: it's inherently not factual, so everyone's thoughts just go in circles with no real answer in sight. Still, I force myself to read it to try and gain new insight into works I love. I was reading your blog (Great Stuff there, BTW. I'll keep visiting it, to be sure.) and I very much agree with your view (even though you didn't elaborate) of Carpenter's bio of Tolkie n. But I love biography, and I especially love learning about people (especially people I admire as much as Tolkien.) As much about their lives, quirks and (yes) flaws and you could feasibly put into a book. Sadly for us, there are whole sections of Tolkien's life that we cannot see. His marriage, for example, is largely a closed door to us, and what few glimpses we have of it are scattershot, sometimes beautiful and sometimes not so pleasant (but what marriage isn't like that!) Carpenter even excluded a swathe of letters between Tolkien and his wife due to their highly personal nature. Still, it's largely none of our business anyway! (Sorry for the tangents, but this topic opened new lines of thought for me!)
"It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule." Gandalf, "The Last Debate."
|
|
|
noWizardme
Half-elven
Apr 28 2014, 4:54pm
Post #4 of 13
(189 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I second Shippey, & also highjly recommend Verlyn Flieger
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
For example...Green Suns and Faërie: Essays on J.R.R. Tolkien. Verlyn Flieger. Kent State University Press, 2012. Here's a review: http://www.mythsoc.org/...een-suns-and-faerie/
~~~~~~
"… ever let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never shall be at a loss in losing the argument, and gaining a new discovery.”
Arthur Martine
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
|
|
|
noWizardme
Half-elven
Apr 28 2014, 5:38pm
Post #5 of 13
(178 views)
Shortcut
|
Paul Kocher's 'Master of Middle-earth': It was published as a mass market paperback in 1972. Out of print now, but when Squire mentioned it approvingly I didn't find it hard to locate a second hand copy (ah, the wonders of the Internet). Or, let's not forget the public library system...
Kocher's book pre-dates the publication of the Silmarillion, so there is much we know now that the author didn't at the time of writing. But I don't remember thinking that proved much of a fault. The chapter on Aragorn alone is worth what you're likely to pay for a copy.
If you like the philosophical issues Tolkien brings up, you might like
The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy (reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/...Rings_and_Philosophy and The Hobbit and Philosophy , both sets of essays using the books as practical examples of philosophical problems (this works better for me than most popular philosophy treatments)
~~~~~~
"… ever let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never shall be at a loss in losing the argument, and gaining a new discovery.”
Arthur Martine
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
|
|
|
Voronwë_the_Faithful
Valinor
Apr 28 2014, 6:51pm
Post #6 of 13
(180 views)
Shortcut
|
'But very bright were the stars upon the margin of the world, when at times the clouds about the West were drawn aside.'
The Hall of Fire
|
|
|
noWizardme
Half-elven
Apr 28 2014, 7:59pm
Post #7 of 13
(157 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Indeed! I got the ok on your recommendation, and have been glad I did//
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
~~~~~~
"… ever let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never shall be at a loss in losing the argument, and gaining a new discovery.”
Arthur Martine
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
|
|
|
Rembrethil
Tol Eressea
Apr 28 2014, 9:10pm
Post #8 of 13
(161 views)
Shortcut
|
|
My dad had a copy of Master of M-E
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Oh the benefits of a former-Tolkien fan in the family!! I still have his 4 Ballantines. It was an interesting read, as I recall, and definitely a rare resource. I might have to go and re-read it. Thanks for the reminder!
Call me Rem, and remember, not all who ramble are lost...Uh...where was I?
|
|
|
Na Vedui
Rohan
Apr 28 2014, 9:43pm
Post #9 of 13
(157 views)
Shortcut
|
is "JRR Tolkien : Artist and Illustrator" - Wayne G. Hammond & Christina Scull. Lots of his pictures - Middle Earth ones and others too - with a commentary putting them in context.
I'd agree with Elizabeth in recommending Carpenter's biography & Shippey's books.
|
|
|
IdrilLalaith
Rivendell
Apr 29 2014, 5:06am
Post #10 of 13
(140 views)
Shortcut
|
Lord of the Rings and Philosophy. There's definitely some good stuff in there. I'm actually enjoying it a lot more now than I did when I first tried to read it in high school. I took a few philosophy classes in college, so I actually have some familiarity with Aristotle and Nietzsche, who are both referenced pretty frequently.
I have read Carpenter's bio, but it's been quite a few years. While I know that it is the authorized bio, I think people tend to take Carpenter's word as law too much. He exaggerated a few elements (Tolkien's dislike of Shakespeare is the first thing that comes to mind) but so few people question him. That was one of the things that I appreciated about Tolkien and the Great War--he actually challenges Carpenter on a few things.
Has anyone read the Tolkien Compass? It's a collection of essays that I believe was published before the Silmarillion--possibly even before Tolkien's death. I picked up a reprint years ago. I remember starting to read it and then stopping, but I can't recall why. I need to dig it out and try again.
Oh, and Atlas of Middle-earth (http://www.rakuten.com/prod/atlas-of-middle-earth/30715993.html?listingId=331504555&scid=pla_google_SynergyDataInc&adid=17260&gclid=CLPu-oH2hL4CFY0-Mgodg0YAJw) is awesome. It's so thorough. It's really helpful for someone like me who struggles to visual geography! (I'm a native Californian, I know nothing about geography. :P)
TolkienBlog.com
|
|
|
Theodora
The Shire
Apr 29 2014, 6:55pm
Post #11 of 13
(118 views)
Shortcut
|
And great to have a list of books about Tolkien worth reading. I'm going to try and find a few of them. Internet will no doubt help, I'm not sure about our local library but who knows.
|
|
|
EomundDaughter
Lorien
May 2 2014, 8:00pm
Post #12 of 13
(99 views)
Shortcut
|
truly love Humphrey Carpenter's
'The Letters of J R R Tolkien" .....cant get enough of seeing what he has to say in his real letters to friends, family, publishers.....
|
|
|
elostirion74
Rohan
May 6 2014, 2:30pm
Post #13 of 13
(98 views)
Shortcut
|
I prefer literary criticism to biographical criticism by far. Literary criticism gives you an opportunity to see Tolkien's ideas and his writing style compared to or in context with other writers or philosophical ideas.
My favourites are Brian Rosebury: Tolkien, a cultural phenomenon and Tom Shippey: A road to Middle-Earth
Tolkien's letters interest me more than biographical criticism, but I admit that I haven't read "Tolkien and the great war" yet, so I may be surprised.
|
|
|
|
|
