Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More from the master of Middle-Earth, May 12, 2002
A collection of material about and by J.R.R. Tolkien, this is a must-have for any fan of Lord of the Rings. It combines several previous publications into one longer book, including "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" and "Father Giles of Ham."It begins with an essay by noted fantasy writer Peter Beagle, who also wrote the screenplay for the animated LOTR movie eons and eons ago. "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son" is radically different from Tolkien's more popular works, in that it is more of a play and less of a short story. It will probably appeal to fewer, given its obscure historical context. "Farmer Giles" is about a rather unusual farmer called on to deal with a rather unusual dragon; this is definitely a light, fluffy, funny story. "Leaf by Niggle" and "On Fairy Stories" are more for the analytical thinkers among Tolkien's fans. "Leaf" is something of a glimpse into Tolkien's own soul, concerning his work and his own mortality. "Fairy Stories," on the other hand, is one of the best-known essays on fantasy works and should be shoved in the face of anyone who denies fantasy's literary worth. We then lapse into entirely different material. There is a long poem called "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil," written in the style and meter of his songs about himself in LOTR, when he meets the hobbits. It explains a little more about the hearty Maia and his wife Goldberry, as does the second of the poems, "Bombadil Goes Boating." I didn't understand the beautifully written "Errantry" very well; but I did think that the catchy "Princess Mee" was cute, about a little elf princess dancing with her reflection. "The Man in the Moon Came Down Too Soon" is written in a very different style from the similarly titled "Stayed Up," and definitely in a less merry style. There is also the entertaining "Perry the Winkle" and the utterly creepy "Mewlips," and the amusingly jerky "Cat." Also the eerie, beautiful "Sea Bell," which seems almost like a dream. LOTR fans will recognize some of these poems: "The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late," which fans of LOTR will recognize as the song that Frodo sings in an inn. "Stone Troll", which Sam sang to entertain the others. "Oliphaunt," an old rhyme about certain enormous pachyderms. Others are reminiscent of Middle-Earth: "Fastitocalon," a poem about a creature in the sea; "Shadow Bride," which is reminiscent of Beren and Luthien; "The Hoard," about a massive amount of gold that brings no joy to its owners; and finally "The Last Ship," a tale about a beautiful human girl who is invited by Elves to follow them over the sea. For unsurpassable prose, nonfiction and poetry, this is where to find the lesser-known gems by J.R.R. Tolkien.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tolkien's Poetry and Other Worlds, November 16, 2001
This is the book one should read after they have finished "Lord of the Rings" and just before they are about start "The Silmarillion" or "Unfinished Tales". With the film of "Fellowship..." to come out in December 2001, it is clear that there will be an increased interest in the canon of Tolkien's works.Peter S. Beagle introduces the book with an essay in which he gives a good analysis of Gollum's character; notice how the creature always spoke in first-person plural. "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son" is so far Tolkien's only attempt at a play (brief though it is) and at writing something of his own that has the feeling of Beowulf. It is an addendum to what happened after the historical Battle of Maldon when the Danes invaded England. Tolkien was the type who would have felt at home in medieval northern Europe, and probably would have been a scribe like Snorri Sturluson. The collection called "Tree and Leaf" is another side of Tolkien. "Farmer Giles..." is a non-Middle-earth tale about a medieval knight off to fight a dragon, and "Leaf By Niggle" is a Borges-type of magical realism about a painter trying to create reality out of his art. It is the closest piece, I believe, that Tolkien came to writing what snobs consider "literary".
It stands on its own, as does the classic essay "On Fairy Stories", in which he shows that fairy and/or faery tales are worth the attention of adults. To quote, he believes that fantasy is a higher form of Art, the most pure form and the most potent. He shows that fantasy works very well when it presents themes on recovery, escape, and consolation. Now for the poetry. Ever wonder who Tom Bombadil really was? He's a bit Falstaffian for a Maia, and I doubt he will be in the film, but somehow Tolkien believed it necessary to include him as part of Frodo's journey to Rivendell. "The Adventures of TB" include Goldberry and Old Man Willow and quite a helping of Hey Come derry-do, merry-dol my darling! These poems begin what is known as The Red Book of Westmarch, originally written by Bilbo Baggins and Sam Gamgee (Tolkien only compiled them). Most of the songs which are about animals, trolls, and the Man-in-the-Moon, seem suited to the ears of children. The poems which stand out, however, are the narratives like "Errantry", "The Hoard", and "The Sea-Bell". Tolkien's poetry is in the classic traditional style of rhyme and meter. There's is nothing "modern" about it, and that is its quality. One who is inclined to reading T.S. Eliot or Wallace Stevens may not enjoy
Tolkien's old-fashioned style. But to readers of Kipling, Masefield, Graves, Sassoon, and Houseman, Tolkien's poetry is a delight, refreshing, and a fine conclusion to a collection of works by one of the best writers of the 20th century.
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Essential Anthology of Tolkien's Shorter Works, May 15, 2000
This book contain's Tolkien's shorter fiction and works, including a play and Leaf by Niggle. There are four works in total:1. The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son: a play dealing with two men after the Battle of Maldon. Interesting, and shows more of the scholarly side of Tolkien. 2. Tree and Leaf: This is a book consisting of two things: his essay on faerie tales, and Leaf By Niggle. Tolkien's essay is now considered one of the main centerpieces of literature defending and validating fantasy and faerie tale (as if THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT weren't enough). Leaf By Niggle is a very deep work, and basically it deals with his despair of mortality and not being able to finish his mythology, his great work. However, in the end Tolkien shows his glorious hope. 3. Farmer Giles of Ham: a mock medieval story. Everything that THE LORD OF THE RINGS represents, this story pokes fun at and parodies. Very funny story, and shows Tolkien's sense of humour. This was written originally for his children (as much of his stuff was). 4. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: This is a very misleading title. It is a collection of poetry, and only the first two poems have anything to do with Bombadil. The rest of the poetry deals with Middle-earth, or set therein. It is a nice selection of his verse. Overall, a well put together anthology. However, it would have been better had it included SMITH OF WOOTTON MAJOR. That, along with the two works constituting TREE AND LEAF, is the closest thing to autobiography he ever wrote, and all three are vitally important in any serious study of Tolkien.
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