Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil

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I was so sad to see that this book was out of print. I really wanted to read it! But, I think I've found it! It's in a book called "The Tolkien Reader". (here on Amazon they also call it "A Tolkien Reader") The book includes "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil", "Farmer Giles of Ham" and "On Fairy Stories". Enjoy! : )

Not to many people regard Tolkien as a serious poet: No doubt this is largely the result of the fact that our culture is still gestating the enormous influence his work has had upon it. Another (obvious) reason is that critics, such as Edmund Wilson, simply don't like Tolkien and would like him permanently relegated to the realm of childhood literature.-This thin book of verse,in its spare sixteen poems, is evidence to the contrary. They owe a great deal to Shelley (whom many would also like to relegate to some not quite Literary with a capital "L" realm.) -In fact, parts of "The Sea Bell," by far the best poem in the book, can almost be transliterated line-by-line from a stanza in Shelley's "The Revolt of Islam." -To give an idea of the piquancy of the book's best poems, the last poem in this little book (not inappropriately titled "The Last Ship") concerns a fair maiden wishing to escape the bonds of mortality in an Elven boat passing in the early morning: "A sudden music came to her came, as she stood there gleaming." But, alas, of course,though she dares one step, her mortality bars her from such an escape, "...then deep in clay her feet sank and she halted staring."-Exquisite. Aside from the sheer beauty of such poems, there are obviously deeper themes here than those to be found in nursery rhymes. And, for Heaven's sake, compare it to the grating, nonsensical ranting that has come to pass for sophisticated poetry nowadays!-Why is this book not in print?!?

No, you won't get to find out much more about Tom Bombadil from this book; who the heck he is and where he comes from... but that's part of what makes him one of the best Tolkien characters (MY favorite, anyway.) You will be left with the same chill and wonder that the rest of his work leaves you with, though. The illustrations capture the feel perfectly, too. This is the kind of thing that I spend the rest of my life quoting from in quiet moments.

the adventures of tom bombadil is a great book, and is a verry fast read. I read the book in about 2 hours. If you like the hobbit or the lord of the rings, you will definetly like this book.

I actually read these works in The Tolkien Reader, but I might as well share my opinions on this, since it's sold separately. The first two poems are about Tom Bombadil, but to tell the truth, they don't exactly give what a lot of Tolkien fans wish for: a history of Tom. Where he came from, and who he is. He remains a weird old man with yellow boots, I guess.

The other poems are a treat to read. Any readers of the Rings trilogy know that Tolkien favored many poems, and many of them were very good. A few of them will be recognized by Rings fans, because some of them are used, such as the Man in the Moon (which bears striking resemblance to the nursery rhyme about the Cow Jumping Over the Moon).

For Tolkien fans, this is a great book to read, but since this edition is not widely available, you should check out the Tolkien Reader.

Tolkien is one of the best Authors of all time. I have not read this book, but am greatly anticipating it upon it's arrival. I have been searching book stores for quite some time, and give kudos to amazon for having it on thier server. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I'm going to!

A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, sí nef aearon!

When I first read about Tom Bombadil, sitting in a small apartment in Valcea, Romania, it occured to me that TB is a psychopath who sings about himself in the third person. I found this quite rum. What is yellow cream? What price Goldberry? Still, a light-hearted romp through the pumpkin patch.