J. R. R. Tolkien was born on this date, January 3, in 1892. He needs no introduction. I’ve written several tributes to him in the past. I’m not sure what I can say.
Last year I started rereading The Lord of the Rings and took it with me on a business trip to Costa Rica. My father-in-law passed away while I was there. I read as much as I could, or tried to, on the flight back. I managed to get somewhere in the first half of The Two Towers. I want to finish it this spring.
I also want to read some of the other works which deal with other Ages in MIddle Earth.
Tolkien’s world is so rich and detailed, I want to experience as much as I can. He casts a long shadow over the field of fantasy, longer than either Lovecraft or Howard. I think part of the reason his works have endured for so long is because he writes about universal virtues, such as courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. We need more of that these days.
So tonight, Professor Tolkien, I’ll raise a glass in your honor. The world is a better place because of your life and your writings. I am glad to work in your shadow.
Think I’ll smoke a bit of the Old Toby in his honor.
I don’t smoke, or I would join you. 🙂
I think you are right when you say that his work endures because he writes about universal virtues. This is also the thing that critics like Edmund Wilson and Michael Moorcock don’t get. They tend to think such virtues are old fashioned when in reality they are the foundation to life.
Agreed. And what you say is true about too many of the current crop of fantasy writers. Which probably has a lot to do with why I’m reading more and more older stuff.
I haven’t read much contemporary fantasy but I’ve heard that.
Agreed for the quality and virtues of his writings, Keith, but I do not believe JRRT would find publication today, while Howard and Lovecraft, if they rinsed the racism-isms, would be. JRRT would have to change too much of his storytelling style, while the other two would only have to change with society.
I’m inclined to agree with you. And I think this would be true about a lot of writers who wrote with a similar style, such as E. R. Eddison, Dunsany, etc.
JRRT came withing a hair of not finding a publisher then.
The story goes that the publisher offer him a ‘deal’ whereby he accepted a lower advance in return for a larger percentage royalty should the books pay-out. The publisher (obviously) did not expect the books to pay-out, and a imagine that JRRT did not either. Pay-out they did, and the rest, as they say, is history.
I wonder if JRRT would have tried any of the US small-press stfantasy publishers had that deal not been offered. Imagine an Arkham House edition of LOTR?!
Nowadays, of course, he could always go the independent route..
Outside of THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS, I have only read THE SILMARILLION.
As its subtitle states, it is “A History of the Elves.” It does read more like a history book than a narrative story.
But, if you’re someone who enjoys re-reading LORD OF THE RINGS, it’s worth reading THE SILMARILLION, I think. Suddenly little things in LORD OF THE RINGS seem larger and/or make more sense.
That is what I’ve understood. My problem with reading long books, at least during an academic tern, is that I get distracted by other things before I finished. Thgis problem has only grown worse in recent years.
We listened to full audio versions of The Hobbit and LOTR last year. It wasn’t that I had forgotten how powerful and downright moving the they are, but I always sort of skim the poems and songs (so, shoot me). Heard aloud set to decent-enough tunes brought the to a different level and I really dug it.
So, yeah, if I was drinking, I’d hoist a glass to JRRT, too.