Poems and Stories [Hardcover]

J.R.R. Tolkien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 1994

A collection of shorter works by the bestselling author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillon. Enhanced throughout with charming black-and-white illustrations, this varied collection showcases Tolkien's vast talents and will delight his fans and memorabilia collectors.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

A collection of pieces, 1949-75, that barely touches upon the Middle-Earth scenario for which Tolkien (1829-1973) is justly famous; overall, however, it renders a much more complete account of this scholar, poet, critic, and storyteller's talents. The charming, deceptively light poems of ``The Adventures of Tom Bambadil'' contain intriguing sidelights on Middle-Earth lore, while the dramatic poem ``The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth'' (``unavailable in any other edition,'' according to the publisher), complete with scholarly introduction, describes the aftermath of the Battle of Maldon, which occurred in the year 991. The essay ``On Fairy-Stories'' has won critical acclaim, as have the tales ``Farmer Giles of Ham'' and ``Smith of Wootton Major,'' as well as the story that most closely reflects Tolkien's personal philosophy (``Leaf by Niggle''). Some of these may be familiar, or available individually; still, this collection is a splendid accompaniment for existing fans, or an excellent introduction for newcomers. -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

"A collection of pieces, 1949-75, that barely touches upon the Middle-Earth scenario for which Tolkien (1892-1973) is justly famous; overall, however, it renders a much more complete account of this scholar, poet, critic, and storyteller's talents. The charming, deceptively light poems of ``The Adventures of Tom Bambadil'' contain intriguing sidelights on Middle-Earth lore, while the dramatic poem ``The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth'' (``unavailable in any other edition,'' according to the publisher), complete with scholarly introduction, describes the aftermath of the Battle of Maldon, which occurred in the year 991. The essay ``On Fairy-Stories'' has won critical acclaim, as have the tales ``Farmer Giles of Ham'' and ``Smith of Wootton Major,'' as well as the story that most closely reflects Tolkien's personal philosophy (``Leaf by Niggle''). Some of these may be familiar, or available individually; still, this collection is a splendid accompaniment for existing fans, or an excellent introduction for newcomers." (Kirkus Reviews )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 342 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (March 16, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395689996
• ISBN-13: 978-0395689998
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,766,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892.1973), beloved throughout the world as the creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College until his retirement in 1959. His chief interest was the linguistic aspects of the early English written tradition, but even as he studied these classics he was creating a set of his own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A collection of short works by J.R.R. Tolkien, August 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Poems and Stories (Hardcover)

While this is apparently out of print, the same material is also collected in _A Tolkien Reader_, which is currently available. The short story "Leaf by Niggle" alone makes either of these collections worth buying. Tolkien referred to this story as his only real allegory. It looks at his fear that his _Lord of the Rings_ would never be completed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The shorter works of the master, May 21, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Poems and Stories (Hardcover)

Fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien is known best for the thrilling epic "The Lord of the Rings" and the works that accompany it. But "Poems and Stories" encompasses several shorter, less-well-known works, while giving a more rounded view of Tolkien's unique brand of genius.

"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" is a charming collection of poems, mostly linked to Middle-Earth. They range from dark to whimsical, with trolls, dragons, elves, and "shadow-brides." The poem "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth" dips into medieval dramas, followed by Tolkien's thoughtful, fantasy-based ponderings "On Fairy-Tales," a long essay on the nature of good fantasy.

Then Tolkien's short novels come into play. "Leaf By Niggle" is an odd, pleasant little story about an artist named Niggle, who has to make a journey; "Smith of Wootten Major" is a beautiful little tale about a lost fairy king and a young smith who ate a fay star. Finally there's "Farmer Giles of Ham," a tongue-in-cheek comic tale about a bumbling farmer who, because of a deaf, nearsighted giant, inadvertantly becomes a hero.

There's no flagging of quality in "Poems and Stories" -- all of the material Tolkien wrote that is included here is top-notch, whether comic, dramatic or poetic. Some readers may be put off by the classically-written "Homecoming of Beorhtnoth," but it is still an excellent piece of work. He can argue forcefully, charm with sweet poetry, or tell an amusing story about bumbling heroes and not-so-fierce dragons.

Tolkien's exceptional writing is put on display in "Poems and Stories," a beautiful collection full of the Master of Middle-Earth's art. Highly Recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little different from _The_Tolkien_Reader_, February 18, 2002

By 

"thegraypilgrim" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poems and Stories (Hardcover)

As a previous reviewer wrote, this hard-to-find book is much like _The_Tolkien_Reader_. The difference is that where that book contains Peter Beagle's introductory essay, "Tolkien's Magic Ring," this one contains the popular Tolkien short story, "Smith of Wootton Major."