War and the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy) (Hardcover)

~ Janet B. Croft (Author) "J.R.R. Tolkien was part of a generation of Englishmen "caught in youth" during World War I..." (more)
Key Phrases: signaling officer, other hobbits, pastoral oasis, World War, The Lord of the Rings, Minas Tirith (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[C]roft demonstrates that to lodge Tolkien's writings squarely in the genre of war literature is to overlook the complexity and ambiguity in his depictions of the epic struggle between good and evil....Croft makes a convincing case for Tolkien's complex and highly inconsistent perspectives on war. Close readings, a comparison with Jackson's films, biographical background, and studies of working drafts bolster Croft's conclusions....Clearly written and extensively researched, this informative book makes an important contribution to Tolkien studies. Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.”–Choice

“[C]roft's book is a welcome addition to the debate on the interface between Tolkien's art and the modern world, enlarging our view of the influence of his war experiences, and reminding us that therein lies a major factor in his contemporary appeal.”–Tolkien Studies

“War and the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien presents a comprehensive and successful attempt by Janet Croft to investigate the influence of the two World Wars on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien as well as his attitudes to war.”–Inklings

“[S]cholarly and perceptive.”–Times Literary Supplement

Book Description

Examines the role of war in Tolkien's life and works

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Praeger (June 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313325928
• ISBN-13: 978-0313325922
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,203,535 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars War and the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien by Janet Brennan Croft, September 16, 2004

By	B. -. Russell "Beth Russell" (Shreveport, LA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first book to examine war as a central theme in all of Tolkien's works, and is essential reading for Tolkien scholars. Croft brings together Tolkien's experience of both World Wars and his expertise in ancient heroic literature and shows how they influenced what he wrote. She also details how readers and critics have responded to the role and depictions of war in his writings. Some have disparaged Tolkien as a war-monger and others have praised him as a pacifist. Early Tolkien criticism tended to force The Lord of the Rings into a pattern of allegory for World War II, with the Ruling Ring cast as the atom bomb. More recently commentators have seen Tolkien as one of many authors deeply influenced by their experiences in World War I. This book brings these contradictory strands together to demonstrate Tolkien's "well-thought-out, comprehensive, and realistic philosophy of war."

The seven chapters lead us through Tolkien's life, showing how he developed the beliefs about of war that are fundamental to all his works.
1. Introduction
2. The Great War and Tolkien's Memory
3. World War I Themes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
4. World War II: "The Young Perish and the Old Linger, Withering"
5. Military Leaders and Leadership
6. "The Dull Backwaters of the Art of Killing": Training, Tactics, Strategy, and Battlefield Communication
7. "War Must Be, While We Defend Our Lives": Philosophy, Pathology and Conclusions

Now every one of us is in the front line of a new war. Croft shows how Tolkien's complex attitude to war is applicable to our present lives: some wars are just wars; true leaders lead from the front; dogged endurance must replace heroic action; and an attitude of mercy can lead to unexpectedly good results.

A number of recent books about Tolkien appear to have been rushed to the marketplace. This one is refreshingly free of typographical errors, and even more important, it has no mistakes about Tolkien's texts.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent study, September 15, 2004

By	another reader "anonymous" - See all my reviews

of Tolkien's use of material from especially the Great War and his adaptation of it in his works. Croft does make one fairly common mistake: she seems to think that "casualties" means "killed." Thus she avers that on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the British Army lost 58,000 men killed. Those killed numbered about 19,000. Total casualties (killed, wounded, and missing) totaled about 58,000.