Middle-Earth is is where I go when I need to escape from reality and be somewhere better and more magical than the mundanity of normal existence.
I’ve Middle-Earth is is where I go when I need to escape from reality and be somewhere better and more magical than the mundanity of normal existence.
I’ve read The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit countless times. I’ve also read almost everything published under the name Tolkien (bar the history of middle earth) and I will continue to keep reading books published under his name. Why? Because I hope to get a glimpse at something new or a snippet of information that I did not know about.
Yes, some of the newer stuff is incomplete and some of it is very clearly cash-grabs. But I will keep buying them and reading them because that’s how much I love Tolkien and his words and ideas. He occupies a truly unique place among fantasy writers because there has never been a writer quite so great as him to try their hand at the genre. Nothing else really compares to him no matter how hard new writers attempt to emulate his works. Every fantasy writer since stands in his shadow.
The Nature of Middle Earth isn’t a straight narrative. It’s a book to dip in and out of, and one to add to your collection only if you’re a bit Tolkien obsessed. The book is a mixture of essays on language, elves and metaphysics. There a total random mix of topics that depth to an already very deep and rich world. I loved it!
I wonder how many more of these posthumously publish works are yet to come. There have been so many already.
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The Fall of Númenor is an absolute delight to read. It’s a history of an entire age of middle-earth put into a narrative that helps capture just how dThe Fall of Númenor is an absolute delight to read. It’s a history of an entire age of middle-earth put into a narrative that helps capture just how detailed Tolkien’s world is.
It focuses on the collapse of Númenor, the actions of Sauron and the forming of The Last Alliance. It establishes a strong image of what Númenor was and how significant its fall was.
The Fall of Númenor has been compiled from several of Tolkien’s other works. There are bits from The Silmarillion and there are bits from Unfinished Tales. There are also snippets of conversation lifted from The Lord of the Rings that describe Númenor. And it all comes together really well to capture a culture and a people that are of vital importance in the history of middle-earth.
Be warned though, there’s no new content here. There’s no new information or no new stories that are told. Instead, we have a timeline of events detailing the second age in all its tragic and eventful glory. It’s been put into order and crafted to capture the events that led up to Tolkien’s most famous novels. And it is a very good volume, one I'm proud to have on my shelf. But if you are looking for new content, you will be disappointed.
I'm really impressed with the layout of this book too. Indeed, the new artwork (Allan Lee never disappoints) and the quality of the editing are both very high. I enjoyed this book immensely, though I do think this one for the most dire hard Tolkien fans and collectors.
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"Farewell to Middle-earth at last. I see the Star above my mast!”"
This is a touching little poem written by Tolkien in the guise of Bilbo himself a"Farewell to Middle-earth at last. I see the Star above my mast!”"
This is a touching little poem written by Tolkien in the guise of Bilbo himself as he prepared to leave middle-earth via the Grey Havens into the west. It’s like a final goodbye, a drawing of the curtain, to Tolkien’s vast and beautiful fantasy world.
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It’s very short, and it’s very simple because it’s a song. It’s also available online for free and it’s not hard to find, but what makes this edition really special are the illustrations. I love having it on my bookshelf, though I think for many it will be a little superfluous....more
I was delighted when I heard about the release of this book because in Beren and Lúthien Christopher Tolkien erroneously stated that it was going to bI was delighted when I heard about the release of this book because in Beren and Lúthien Christopher Tolkien erroneously stated that it was going to be the last restoration of his father’s work he undertook. He changed his mind. And I thank him for it because this is a glorious tale, showcasing much of Tolkien’s brilliance.
Firstly though, many readers will have a pertinent question on their mind: is The Fall of Gondolin worth buying for those who have read The Silmarillion?It most definitely is.
There is a very brief section dedicated to this tale in The Silmarillion. In my edition, there’s only six pages of the story. And that’s it. It’s like a historical plot summary without the finer details of real storytelling involved as per the mythopoetic style Tolkien was using through the work. So, yes, this is absolutely worth reading because you will never have seen the full details of this story before. There is new material here, though it is largely unfinished and lacking the immersive powers his completed works possess.
So whether or not you decide to pick this up depends on your level of dedication to the author. I knew I couldn’t miss it because it sounded so compelling. The plot is similar to Beren and Lúthien and The Children of Hurin in the respect that a powerful romance strengthens it. The lovers are Tuor and Idril. Idril is the daughter of Turgon, king of Gondolin. Tuor had been sent to the kingdom by Ulmo, one of the Vala, to encourage Turgon to initiate a pre-emptive assault on his enemy Melko (Morgoth.) The king ignores the advice and ushers in his own doom.
The beautiful city of Gondolin is sacked years later by an army of Morogth’s, comprising of dragons, balrogs and orcs. Tuor fights to save Idril through the siege and fails to defend her father the king. He and the survivors are hopelessly outnumbered and are forced to flee. The battle is vivid as the language artfully captures the intensity and drama of such an epic moment in the First Age of middle-earth. Many heroes fall and many legends are made, several of which acute readers may remember brief mentions of in The Lord of the Rings.
As a huge Tolkien enthusiast, I know I speak for many other readers, when I extend my undying thanks to Christopher Tolkien for allowing his father’s unfinished work to be published. Although this work is far from a shinning jewel, I can imagine how fantastic this would have been as I read the segments (and various drafts) of the story: I can see what this would have been. And, as ever, the artwork of Alan Lee brings the words to life.
However, this is the very last we will see of it. Christopher Tolkien explicitly states that this is the final piece (and that he will not change his mind this time.) The destruction of a fine city is an appropriate last glimpse of such a vast world, as the walls of Gondolin crumble and the tower collapses, it marks the very end.
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To anyone reading this, I sincerely advise you not to buy this book. If you’re interested in the art of Tolkien then try The Art of the Hobbit.
That boTo anyone reading this, I sincerely advise you not to buy this book. If you’re interested in the art of Tolkien then try The Art of the Hobbit.
That book actually has artwork in it. Tolkien did many illustrations for The Hobbit, and whilst they’re not exactly masterpieces, they show how he pictured his world. At least, in a way that his limited abilities would allow him. Tolkien was wonderful with maps and letters, but he could not create environment or characters very well. He was a master of the word, not the image. The point is, the images of the Hobbit are not fantastic pieces, but Tolkien did actually intend for them to accompany his works.
Some of these bits, on the other hand, were never meant to be seen. The cover art images of the original three books are the only thing of remark in here. Most of the “art” in this book are simple lines on a page or some very vague, and I mean vague, sketches of maps and some scenery. It’s not artwork. If anything, it’s would be more appropriate to call this a sketchbook. These were more for Tolkien’s own point of reference rather than to be seen by his readers.
I don’t take one star reviews lightly, especially when they are of one of my favourite authors. This, however, really isn’t worth reading. It’s just a bunch of half-finished pieces that wouldn’t have been great to finish with. And also the spine and slip case don’t match up with the previous edition. They’re the wrong way round! (book nerd problems!)...more
This tale is magical and enchanting but for me it seemed incomplete. Well, a little unresolved. A young boy gets to enter the wonderful world of Fay; This tale is magical and enchanting but for me it seemed incomplete. Well, a little unresolved. A young boy gets to enter the wonderful world of Fay; he is chosen especially for it, but when he gets there he doesn’t do a great deal. I mean, talk about a wasted opportunity! I would have done so much more over there.
Every twenty-four years Wootton Major has a massive celebration feast. As per tradition, a giant cake is baked. In it is placed a star by an anonymous trickster. The star allows the person to enter the realm of Fay, a boon by all accounts. On entering the realm, and experiencing the power of it, the lucky person must then return home with the star for another child to be given the gift in another twenty-four years. To me it sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Imagine living in a dull boring world, not that hard to imagine really, and then you are given a little ticket to somewhere much better.
It’s a very simple story, one that avoids all dark themes. There are no cunning dragons or evil dark lords; instead we have the world of Fay. Sure there are some dangers involved in crossing the border, but I think all those that have the opportunity to cross it would overlook such peril in the face of such a chance. The story is written in Tolkien’s usual mastery of tone, but for me it needed something else. It needed a stronger sense of purpose and perhaps a greater point to it. This is far from Tolkien at his best. It's still worth a read though for enthusiasts of his writing.
For that he was grateful, for he soon became wise and understood that the marvels of Faery cannot be approached without danger, and that many of the Evils cannot be challenged without weapons of power too great for any mortal to wield. He remained a learner and explorer, not a warrior; and though in time he could have forged weapons that in his own world would have had power enough to become the matter of great tales and be worth a king's ransom, he knew that in Faery they would have been of small account. So among all the things that he made it is not remembered that he ever forged a sword or a spear or an arrow-head."
After my recent revisit of The Silmarillion I’ve developed the Tolkien bug once more. I recently picked up this along with The Battles of Tolkien. AesAfter my recent revisit of The Silmarillion I’ve developed the Tolkien bug once more. I recently picked up this along with The Battles of Tolkien. Aesthetically speaking, they both look great.
I’m a bit of a Tolkien collector. If a book has his name on it I tend to buy it. And this is what books like these rely on: the money of the diehard Tolkien enthusiasts like myself. The edition may seem a bit superfluous, but there’s some good information in here along with some glorious artwork. It's also nice to see some other illustrations besides that of Allan Lee. The book is well laid out too. I’m happy to add it to my shelf even if I’m unlikely to pick it up again in the future.
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So it's a good looking little guide to the locations of middle earth!
I’ve read most of Tolkien’s work, but I’ve reviewed very few of them. I really do need to start doing some proper Tolkien reviews. He is one of my favourite authors after all, and whilst books like this are good reminders of his genius, they could never capture the breadth of his imagination....more
Straight from the pages of The Silmarillion, this tale has been given new authority and the chance to stand on its own.
And such a story it is. It’s abStraight from the pages of The Silmarillion, this tale has been given new authority and the chance to stand on its own.
And such a story it is. It’s about a mortal man who fell in love with an immortal elf. Unlike the romance between Aragorn and Arwen in The Lord of the Rings this relationship foregrounds the narrative: it is the narrative. Given an absolutely impossible task to prove his devotion, no less than stealing a Silmaril from the crown of Melko (Morgoth- the first dark lord), Beren sets off on a seemingly hopeless quest. But he is not without allies. When a man displays such courage, conviction and fortitude other honour bound individuals feel compelled to assist him.
Indeed, such as Huan the mighty hound of Valinor. What follows is a tale as epic and fantastical as any you would expect from middle earth. Sauron also appears in several different forms as the loyal servant of Melkor, long before he took up the mantel his fallen master would eventually drop. What I also found interesting (I’ve been researching middle-earth family-trees) is that Aragorn and are Arwen are both distant descendants of Beren and Luthien. It’s a strange repeat of such a similar theme, one Aragorn actually recalls in The Lord of the Rings.
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Is it worth buying for those who have read The Silmarillion?
As I always say in my reviews of posthumously published Tolkien works, it really depends on how interested you are in Tolkien as a writer. For me, this edition was worth purchasing. Not only do we get more fantastic (and unrivalled) illustrations by Alan Lee, but we also get a thorough a succinct introduction to the text by Christopher Tolkien detailing how it came about and the reasoning behind his father’s writing. He also mentions that this is going to be his last restoration of his father’s writing, a true shame but he is now ninety-three years old. I digress, not many readers will go for a book on these reasons alone. So what of the actual work?
The version in The Silmarillion is very concise and straight to the point. It’s a compelling account, told with a certain degree of distance afforded by such writing. This, however, is closer to normal prose. It is the same story again, but it gets to the heart of the matter with more clarity. That being said, I did prefer the shorter version. What this edition does have, and something I have not seen before, is The Lay of Leithian. Now this is a verse version of the same story. Some fantasy readers may hate poetry and verse (or at least may find themselves out of their comfort zone) but for me it was the most enjoyable part of the book.
So for this reason I recommend this book to those that have read many of Tolkien’s works. If you enjoyed Tolkien’s poetry editions such as Beowulf a Translation and a Commentary and The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun along with the books set in middle-earth then this will be for you. Readers who are expecting to enjoy a prose story will, ultimately, be disappointed with the content here.
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Tolkien was a fantastic novelist, an incredible poet and an eminent scholar; however, this is far from his finest work.
The poem depicts a simple tricTolkien was a fantastic novelist, an incredible poet and an eminent scholar; however, this is far from his finest work.
The poem depicts a simple trick, a Bretton lord is duped into bargaining away more than he intended. When the realisation comes his pride prevents him from relenting; thus, he loses everything. It’s a sad tale, but it lacked any true emotional depth. Perhaps it’s because Aotrou could so easily have avoided the entire situation or perhaps it’s because of the general briefness of the work. Either way, I was left with a glimpse of something that could have been much better. I wonder if Tolkien himself was actually happy with the “finalised” version of this.
Aotrou was terrible stupid to bargain with a witch anyway. The setting clearly indicated her intent, as clearly as it indicated a change in the poem’s tone:
The sun was falling. In the dell deep in the forest silence fell. No sight nor slot of doe he found but roots of trees upon the ground and trees like shadows waiting stood for night to come upon the wood
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So he causes his own fate, a lamentable end, but one that ultimately failed to deliver dramatically. Suffice to say, this poem isn’t my favourite of Tolkien’s, though I did really enjoy the scholarship in this edition. There are extensive commentaries and manuscript images that go alongside the text. I always enjoy reading about the research involved in producing a work such as this, but that’s because I’m a literature nerd. For most casual readers such a thing would likely be painstakingly dull.
This poem has nothing to do with middle-earth, and I really don’t think that many will want anything to do with it themselves. I’d only recommend to this to those that have already ready read beyond Tolkien’s fantasy works, those that have enjoyed his version of Beowulf, The Legend of Sigrund and Gudren and The Fall of Arthur. Otherwise you’re better of saving your money. ...more
Let’s just face the facts people, Tolkien was a genius. He was the inventor of languages and mythology; he was the designer of races and cultures: he Let’s just face the facts people, Tolkien was a genius. He was the inventor of languages and mythology; he was the designer of races and cultures: he was the creator of worlds. He created modern fantasy. So here’s a book that gets right down to the nitty-gritty of Tolkien’s wonderful world; it explains the logic, and the success, behind his imagination: the language itself.
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Tolkien’s essay “A Secret Vice” is replicated in here. Certainly, the essay is available, along with many others, in editions that collect his writings. You may even be able to find it for free online. That’s great, but this edition goes into a great deal of detail. The scholarship of the editors is of the highest quality. The introduction, notes and explanatory sections are extensive and illuminating. In all honesty, I don’t think I would have appreciated the full importance of Tolkien’s arguments without the extensive efforts the editors have gone to. This really is good stuff.
Tolkien lays down his process of creating languages, a process the introduction explains perfectly. The original essay is high level academic work; Tolkien was a professor after all, so the introduction is rather vital before actually attempting the essay itself. Firstly, Tolkien wanted his words to sound aesthetically pleasing; he wanted them to be artistic and beautiful. Such can be seen with the elven language; it reflects the people themselves. They are a graceful race, powerful yet kind. This can be taken further. The language of the orc reflects their twisted beings. So, in a sense, Tolkien suggests that the words should reflect the speaker. And perhaps his actions.
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Secondly, Tolkien wanted a high degree of association between the written word’s form and its actual meaning. This is an extreme case of onomatopoeia that would only really make sense if you spoke the language itself. Thirdly, the language requires an original grammatical structure; it needs to be individual to each specific one. Thus, Tolkien displays his genius. How did he actually manage such a thing by himself? It’s rather mind-boggling.
The final aspect, and I’d argue the most important, Tolkien advocates a sense of history. He says that the language needs to have evolved over time, like real language, it needs to have changed as people have changed. This can be seen in his work. If you’ve read The Silmarillion, you’ll have seen how his peoples change over time. Hypothetically speaking, their language would have done the same. Isn’t Tolkien just great? His world of middle-earth is so rich and vibrant. This was a really interesting read, but perhaps only to those who have a strong, perhaps even keen, interest in the groundwork in which Tolkien built his world.
I though I'd leave you with another Elrond gif because he just looks so badass in that armor!
What do you imagine when you here the phrase “A Tolkien Treasury?” Well, I imagined a vast tome full of Tolkien anecdotes and wonderful illustrations;What do you imagine when you here the phrase “A Tolkien Treasury?” Well, I imagined a vast tome full of Tolkien anecdotes and wonderful illustrations; I imagined a book that was full of middle-earth lore and mythos; I imagined a book that was as lavishly adorned as the treasury of Erabor and as majestic as any book that would be found in Rivendell’s library. Granted, these are incredibly high hopes. But, in all fairness, what I didn’t expect was this:
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This is a tiny little book that I could fit into the palm of my hand, which is quite apt because when I clench my fist in anger, at the worthlessness of this book, it will feel the full brunt of my annoyance. This book is incredibly poor in every sense. By Tolkien Treasury the publishers actually mean a random assortment of quotes that have no order or significance. This is basically everything they could find that was Tolkien related and said by someone else who had written a book, so they shoved it in here. Also, they stuck in a few incredibly basic so called middle-earth recipes that, to be quite frank, look quite disgusting and pointlessly obvious.
This book is just ridiculous. I knew there was something off about the low price online. Had I actually seen this in a shop I wouldn’t have bought it. I may have picked it up, but only to glare at its terribleness. It’s almost insulting to add this to my Tolkien shelf because this is just so stupid! Take my advice: do not bother with this piece of kindling.
This was such a tragic thing to read, and not just because of the harrowing nature of the tale; it was also tragic because Tolkien never finished it. This was such a tragic thing to read, and not just because of the harrowing nature of the tale; it was also tragic because Tolkien never finished it. It is truly lamentable that he didn’t, as this would have been masterful in its final polished form; it would have been simply brilliant and a true pleasure to read. But, alas, he did not. Woe to Tolkien fans everywhere.
A true Tragedy
I’m deeply saddened by this, but I am glad that, at the very least, we have some of it. The story is complete, but not completely written. The ending is laid down in a series of notes and statements. The truly tragic nature of the tale can be seen, and appreciated somewhat, even if it is a very basic form of representation. The redeeming feature of this edition resides in the fact that it can clearly be seen as an inspiration for Tolkien’s later works; he used this as a platform to propel himself into his own original writings. For that reason alone, is this edition worth reading because it provides insight into his journey as a writer; it shows how this story led him down the road to Middle-Earth.
The introduction eluded me to the fact that this is a tragedy in the true nature of the word; it harbours the features of what Aristotle considered to be tragic. This is hard to actually spot when reading the story itself because of its incompleteness. Therefore, I strongly recommend reading the introduction before actually reading the story. I normally skip introductions myself but, in this case, I most ardently suggest reading it. It added to my understanding of the story, and without it I honestly think I would have enjoyed it less. So, I think it is a bit of a necessity with this work.
Not easily recommended
The quality of the editorial procedure of this book is very high but, overall, I think this is very expensive for what you get. There are only around forty pages of Tolkien’s actual writing in here. The commentaries are helpful, but not completely exhaustive. I think they mainly served to be page fillers, as did Tolkien’s lectures. The two lectures were very similar and almost identical in parts. I think if anything only one should have been included in here. Personally, I think all of Tolkien’s incomplete verse and prose should be published in one volume because editions like this simple are not worth the asking price.
This is not something I recommend to a casual Tolkien reader. The full force of the tale, and its impact on Tolkien as a writer, will only be felt by those that have read The Silmarillion; and, by a lesser extent, The Children of Hurin. This is because without having a prior knowledge of these previous works, it would be hard to comprehend how he drew on this tale to develop his own fantasy world, which is much more beyond the surface value of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Indeed, the tale in itself is not what one would constitute as light reading. It is the sort of thing that needs to be read a multitude of times before it can be fully grasped. This is not because it is complex, but because it feels fragmented and lacks the flow of a final draft. I think with this, the reader has to use their imagination, and see beyond the simple words on the page; they need to try and imagine what this could have looked like had it been finished. The editor, of course, did her best, but short of actually tampering with Tolkien’s writing, majorly, there was nothing else she could do.
Overall, I’m glad I got the chance to read this, the work that inspired Tolkien so greatly. But, I only recommend it to those that have read a lot of Tolkien’s work, and I do think it is very expensive overall. The publishers know that because this is Tolkien, his fans will buy it no matter the cost.
The design of this book is very appropriate for the middle earth universe; the pages are a crisp cream and the cover has a worn leather effect. DespitThe design of this book is very appropriate for the middle earth universe; the pages are a crisp cream and the cover has a worn leather effect. Despite its artificiality the book feels aged and worn; it looks like it could be a journal or a notebook of many an inhabitant of Tolkien’s marvellous world.
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The definitions are brief, descriptive and totally necessary. The only downside of this book is its limited value in terms of audience reach. There are very few who would benefit from this and truly appreciate its worth.
If you’re a collector of everything Tolkien: then this is the dictionary for you!
If you’re a keen interest in the lore in which the fantasy was built upon: then this is the dictionary for you!
If you want a reminder of that character or place that you can’t quite put into its place: then this is the dictionary for you!
I’m sure this is very few people. But, for those that this would appeal to would not go disappointed. I thought I'd include the definition of my favourite middle-earth character.
“Galadriel queen of Lothlorian. Galadriel was a Noldor princess who was born in Eldamar during the ages of starlight. Galadriel and her brother joined the Noldor who pursued Morgoth and the Silmarils to Middle-earth. Tall and beautiful, with the golden hair of her mother, she was called Altariel in Eldarmar. This was translated as Galadriel meaning “lady of light”.”
The story of Beowulf is a timeless tale full of blood, glory and passion. It’s a fantastic epic and I love reading it. The Seamus Heaney translation iThe story of Beowulf is a timeless tale full of blood, glory and passion. It’s a fantastic epic and I love reading it. The Seamus Heaney translation is right on the mark.
Tolkien’s version, however, is prose. And I find this a little odd because part of the beauty of an epic is the poetry in which it’s told through. Tolkien’s certainly has a strong rhythm, and it flows forward eloquently, but it’s not divided into lines and the words and sentences merge into paragraphs rather than stanzas.
For me, Beowulf needs to be a song, an ode to a hero and his legendry life, to be sung around mead halls with instruments echoing long into the night. I need to feel the grandness of the story. Prose just doesn’t do it. So right from the start this felt a little different. The story is here, of course, and Tolkien was ever faithful to it but the way in which he has told it is uncomfortable and unbefitting the nature of it.
Towards the end of the book, there are certain sections that Tolkien has translated into poetry, but these are only single scenes and are not told with the rest of the work. The Lay of Beowulf, a short poem depicting the battle between Beowulf and Grendel, is perhaps the best part of the book, but it’s told as an aside and added right at the end behind the extensive commentaries. It’s unimportant to the prose work, despite it being the best piece of writing in here.
Christopher Tolkien offers an explanation for the work: Tolkien translated this when he was only thirty-four years old; he had another twenty years of study ahead of him, so in a way it is a little juvenile when considered against the wealth of knowledge the author would one day gather through his professorship. Christopher believes his father meant to come back to this work one day, to finish it and make it better like he intended to do with so many of his works that were published long after his death.
So this was good, in its own right, I just wanted it to be a little more poetical to capture the grandness of the story.
Many of Tolkien’s writings are child friendly, and none more so than this. If anything, of all his works, this is the one aimed at the youngest readinMany of Tolkien’s writings are child friendly, and none more so than this. If anything, of all his works, this is the one aimed at the youngest reading audience. It is a very simple story full of humour and silly mishaps. It was certainly entertaining to read in parts, but as a child I know I would have liked it more.
It lacks that universal quality that some children’s literature possesses, an ability to speak to all readers of any age. We were all children once and we can all relate to the themes explored in such books, but for me this didn’t possess such strength. The tale follows Mr Bliss as he buys a motor car, crashes into several people, gets robbed by bears, crashes a soup garden party (yes a soup garden party) whist the victims and culprits turn up demanding payment for his misdeeds. Essentially, it’s a very brief book about a Mr Bean like character (without the ingenuity) who causes all manner of mayhem.
It relies on slapstick style comedy to get laughs, and Tolkien can do much better: he did do much better. Tolkien writes humour well when he explores the nuances of his world and such ironic moments that occur when some characters meet for the first time. In those cases it feels effortless, natural even. This, however, was forced and cheap. Granted, I’m much older than the target audience, but I have read a lot of children’s literature in the past and enjoyed it immensely. As much as it hurts me to say it, this is weak writing.
I bought this book because it was written by Tolkien (one of my favourite writers) but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Not everything he wrote was a dazzling jewel straight out of the depths of Erebor. I only recommend it for serious Tolkien fans or young children....more
This is an impressive book full of Tolkien’s original art. It’s extraordinary to see the paintings and drawings from the man who devised the Middle EaThis is an impressive book full of Tolkien’s original art. It’s extraordinary to see the paintings and drawings from the man who devised the Middle Earth universe himself, rather than another’s interpretation. Despite his apparent modesty toward his own work, some are quite developed such as the forests and mountains. Fangorn forest is drawn in a way that evokes the presence of mystery, of magic: it is all in the colour of the trees.
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Also included are very simple sketches that are Tolkien’s very first drawings of the Hobbit. It is delightful, in some cases, to see these grow from very rough outlines into the famous paintings that adorn the pages of The Hobbit in its original published copy.
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The annotations of the images are explanatory and definitive as they discuss the origins of each piece. Alan Lee is wonderful and everything, but his work will only ever be interpretations despite how grand it is. Seeing Tolkien’s own visual ideas, despite his limited artistic talent, was rather informative. So this is a welcome volume to my ever growing Tolkien bookshelf.
Following on from this though, I highly recommend avoiding The Art of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien because that doesn’t actually display any art, just a few lines and very vague sketches Tolkien never wanted published. This is the best collection of his art that I’ve come across.
Tolkien is often remembered for his vast fantasy worlds but he also wrote simple things, shorter works more in touch with the humorous themes of The HTolkien is often remembered for his vast fantasy worlds but he also wrote simple things, shorter works more in touch with the humorous themes of The Hobbit rather than the sense of darkness that permeates The Lord of the Rings. I’ve been reading through them again lately and they can all be found in this edition that collects the main ones together.
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
Tom Bombadil is such an enigma. I mean who exactly is he? Some Tolkien fans would argue that he is Eru, the creator of all life within Tolkien’s Middle Earth, though I think somewhat differently. He breaks any sense of definition with his odd existence: he simply is. We can’t say for a certainty either way, but we do know that Tolkien wanted him to remain somewhat mysterious and beyond the realms of categorisation. I don’t think Tolkien quite knew what he wanted him to be. So that’s how I treat him.
He appears briefly in The Lord of the Rings, saving Frodo from the barrow wight, and spends most of the time singing in odd verses about himself. In this book the Hobbit poet captures his image:
Old Tom Bombadil was a merry fellow; Bright blue his jacket was and his boots were yellow Green were his girdle and his breeches all of leather, He wore in his hat a swan-wing feather. He lived up under Hill, where the Withyywindle Ran from a grassy well down into the dingle.
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Bombadil leads an odd, somewhat quaint, existence. His behaviour is equated with the natural world; he wonders in fields and exists among the trees. Perhaps his character, at least on the surface, is a simple version of man: a man who remains untroubled by the problems of the world and is just happy to spend his days singing, frolicking and remaining a complete mystery.
However, I don’t feel like the title of this is overly appropriate. If anything, it is very misleading. Only two of the poems actually focus on Bombadil, the rest talk about all manner of random things Middle Earth related. So we have two Bombadil adventures, followed by twelve other poems that address things from Cats to Oliphaunts. Then there’s one that’s rumoured to have been written by Frodo himself, describing a vague dream he had about his experience with the ring.
I find it truly hilarious that Tolkien effectively has a counter for any criticisms of weak poems within this book. In the preface, he says that this book was written by Hobbits. Their rhyming structures and metre are a watered down version of Elvish poetry; thus, any remarks about the weakness of such writing can be aimed at the limitations of Hobbit verse. He side-steps the negative reactions with such a statement, and it’s incredibly ironic and self-preserving. It made me laugh. So this book is a construct of Hobbit writing, and, once again, Tolkien gives his world more foundation.
It's a fun collection of verses, but by no means anything remarkable in Tolkien’s world. The scholarship that has gone into my edition is of a very good standard, it tells the history of this book’s publication. And if you are interested in reading this book, I do recommend this edition edited by Scull and Hammond. Other than that, I’d say that this one is likely to appeal more to the serious Tolkien enthusiast rather than the casual fan.
Farmer Giles of Ham
This is a great little tale full of bravery, heroism and Tolkien’s ever so subtle humour.
Farmer Giles saves his farm and, as a consequence, the local village from a rampaging giant. This earns him a fierce reputation for heroism; thus, he is rewarded by the King with a rather glamourous sword. The King, believing this to be a mere ceremonial weapon, parts with the blade gladly. It turns out that the sword is actually Tailbiter, an ancient weapon that carries a powerful enchantment. Indeed, it cannot physically be sheathed when in close proximity to a dragon.
Can you guess what happens next?
A dragon appears! Bet you didn’t see that coming. He attacks the surrounding villages and there is little anyone can do to stop him. Naturally Farmer Giles is called upon for help, though he is very reluctant. He is old and who actually wants to fight dragons? His only act of heroism was defence of his own land, this is a different situation. He fears he may not be up to the task. But nonetheless due to the constant pestering of the villages, he resolves himself and hunts down the dragon. He opts to take a more tactical approach that the strutting knights of the realm:
“Well,” said Giles,” if it is you notion to go dragon hunting jingling and dinging like Canterbury Bells it ain’t mine. It don’t seem sense to me to let a dragon to let a dragon know that you are coming along the road sooner than need be.”
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Giles has an interesting way of dealing with his problems. Instead of taking the predicted direction, the hack and slash route, he chooses a more careful approach. This in its self is a much more logical solution and leaves the tale going into unexpected directions. Instead of slaying the dragon he makes a deal with him and after forcing the dragon to complete his end of the bargain, they become unlikely friends. The dragon is bound to his service out of a respect for Giles and a fear of his sword. Trouble strikes when the King of the realm hears of the treasure Giles has taken for himself. He wants it for the crown, but why should Giles give his hard earned treasure away? He’s now friends with a dragon. Not much the King can do.
So this was a fun tale; it’s definitely aimed at a younger audience, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The ending was great, I do wish Tolkien has picked a more orginal name though for his hero.
Smith of Wooten Major
This tale is magical and enchanting but for me it seemed incomplete. Well, a little unresolved. A young boy gets to enter the wonderful world of Fay; he is chosen especially for it, but when he gets there he doesn’t do a great deal. I mean, talk about a wasted opportunity! I would have done so much more over there.
Every twenty-four years Wootton Major has a massive celebration feast. As per tradition, a giant cake is baked. In it is placed a star by an anonymous trickster. The star allows the person to enter the realm of Fay, a boon by all accounts. On entering the realm, and experiencing the power of it, the lucky person must then return home with the star for another child to be given the gift in another twenty-four years. To me it sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Imagine living in a dull boring world, not that hard to imagine really, and then you are given a little ticket to somewhere much better.
It’s a very simple story, one that avoids all dark themes. There are no cunning dragons or evil dark lords; instead we have the world of Fay. Sure there are some dangers involved in crossing the border, but I think all those that have the opportunity to cross it would overlook such peril in the face of such a chance. The story is written in Tolkien’s usual mastery of tone, but for me it needed something else. It needed a stronger sense of purpose and perhaps a greater point to it. This is far from Tolkien at his best. It's still worth a read though for enthusiasts of his writing.
For that he was grateful, for he soon became wise and understood that the marvels of Faery cannot be approached without danger, and that many of the Evils cannot be challenged without weapons of power too great for any mortal to wield. He remained a learner and explorer, not a warrior; and though in time he could have forged weapons that in his own world would have had power enough to become the matter of great tales and be worth a king's ransom, he knew that in Faery they would have been of small account. So among all the things that he made it is not remembered that he ever forged a sword or a spear or an arrow-head."
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Roverandom
This is a fantastically childish book that is thoroughly charming; it really captures the essence of Tolkien’s softer themes and humour. Not everything has to be constantly dark and foreboding for his writing to be successful. This is simple, imaginative and a good little bit of fun.
The tale is quaint and fairly short in which a dog, initially named Rover, is turned into a toy as an act of revenge because he bit a mean old sand sorcerer. Some people really are that petty. This leads to a series of events in which the toy is washed up on a beach, learns to fly and finally ends up in the company of the Man in the Moon.
However, the Man in the Moon already has a dog named Rover; thus, he dubs the toy Roverandom. He temporarily grants him wings resulting in him and the other Rover being chased by a Dragon during one of their flights. A friendship blossoms between the two Rovers, though eventually Rover seeks to be a normal dog once more. He wants to go back to his normal life. And the only person who can reverse the magic is the one who cast it in the first place, but wizards are always tricky: he won’t simply do it for nothing.
The thing I enjoyed most about this story is learning about where it came from. Tolkien’s son lost his precious toy, so Tolkien wrote this story about what could have happened to it and where it might of gone after he lost it. Doesn’t he sound like a wonderful farther?
“I did nothing but run away from the time I was a puppy, and I kept on running and roving until one fine morning - a very fine morning, with the sun in my eyes - I fell over the world's edge chasing a butterfly.”
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun showcases two fantastic epic poems infused with tragedy and blood. They are both powerful and full of gut-wrenching soThe Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun showcases two fantastic epic poems infused with tragedy and blood. They are both powerful and full of gut-wrenching sorrow.
These are Tolkien’s versions of the legends written with his own masterful penmanship and attention to detail. He has translated ancient poetry into English, making it feel modern and slick; yet, he captures all the history and lore that come with such historical tales. It’s a real feat of writing. Of all of Tolkien’s poetical works, I think this is the most accomplished because of how polished it is. There are so many poems he started and never finished. This one is the real deal, grand and shining like the scales of Fáfnir.
I loved the way Tolkien described the battle between dragon and man, between hero and beast, as their rivalry dominated a large section of the poem:
"Black flowed the blood, belching drenched him; in the hollow hiding hard grew Sigurd. Swift now sprang he sword withdrawing there each saw each other with eyes of hate."
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The full section was so intense. It’s obvious how it was all going to end, but nevertheless the action was crafted expertly to capture the drama and the sheer epic nature of the situation. The last time I read poetry that glorified battle in such a way was when I read Beowulf last year. There’s just something magnificent about these kinds of conflicts, something grand and celebrated, and Tolkien exploits them perfectly for much dramatic effect.
After reading this, I can really see how much influence Tolkien took from ancient myths and legends when he wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He adapted such stories and twisted them to fit his own fantasy world. Dragons and men and ancient battles slotted perfectly into his vast world of middle-earth. He really was widely read, vastly widely read I should say, and all these elements he was working on came together to form something quite grand in his fiction. And it works so beautifully.
So, this is a fantastic bit of writing. The poetry just flows from line to line, stanza to stanza. It’s eloquently written and completely accessible. I really do recommend it to all Tolkien fans. I would not venture to say that you must have much experience with poetry to read and enjoy this. The two poems here are very plot driven and exciting, easy reading for sure....more
Sean Barrs
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