I've just discovered this thread, and cut myself on several sharp edges within it.
A number of people seem to suggest that LoTR should be the book of the century because it's the best book they have ever read. Others have suggested that LoTR exceeds all other 20th-century works in its impact (I guess this means sales, or a more vague kind of 'popularity'). And there are others who appear to suggest it is the best because it contains eternal and Biblical truths. And some who believe that it is a seminal work in terms of form and genre influence.
In addition, there is a subtext that 'modern' writers or critics (or society in general) are corrupted by moral relativism, and/or mired in Political Correctness. Related to this was the dismissing of the points about race, gender and politics raised in the Salon article.
In amongst this were a few suggestions for authors and works that might be considered The Book of the 20th Century, which seemed to then be passed over, either through not having been read, not being popular, or other reasons. In the end it appears that sales (as an indicator to popularity or accessibility) are the key.
I've summarised my reading of the thread in order to make a coherent response, and I do feel bound to respond (although I agree with Zoe and Mr Underhill on several points) ...
To the simple point - LoTR as the Book of the 20th Century - NO
Don't shoot me yet - look, I love Tolkien's work, I'm a fan - in the last 3 months I've read LoTR cover to cover 3 times (and watched the movie about 4 times) and I have enjoyed it more than most things I've read in years.
But I can't find any even vaguely objective criteria - apart from sales - that would make it the book of the century.
If you are talking about form or style, there are many books that have gone on to affect our language and culture beyond LoTR. Ulysses, The Naked Lunch, anything by Runyon, Crash, The Grapes of Wrath, The Old Man and The Sea, to name but a few ... you can see the echoes and effects of these books all around you in our culture.
If you are talking about being a catalyst for cultural change, or starting new genres - Eva Luna, or anything by Gabriel Garcia Marques, that started the whole magic realism and re-birth of South American literature ; Brave New World, or 1984 ; Ways of Seeing by John Berger, that brought postmodernism into our awareness of Art, or The Female Eunuch for obvious reasons ; On The Road, which spawned 2-3 generations
of American voices, or Puzo's Godfather, which among others initiated such a consciousness, familiarity and fascination with organised crime ...
If you want social impact, try Cry, The Beloved Country, or Roots, Revolutionary Suicide (Huey P Newton) or The Diary of Anne Frank ; or Ellison's Invisible Man, or Haley's Autobiography of Malcolm X, which is a stunning book. And negatively, you would have to say Mein Kampf or The Books of Chairman Mao have had more direct influence on people's lives. I don't think anyone's suggesting LoTR as the agenda-setting manifesto for our age.
There are so many other books I want to mention, from Sartre to Camus, from Lawrence to Fitzgerald, from Borges to Salinger ... too many. I just can't see, despite wanting to in many ways, how LoTR can be considered a more important member of the literary canon of the 20th Century.
But I still love it!
Peace
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