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mark12_30 · 01-04-2004, 06:10 PM

Title: Understanding Tolkien and The Lord Of The RIngs (Original Title: The Tolkien Relation)
Author: William Ready
Date of Copyright: 1968
Edition: first
Summary description of the book's main themes
Ready provides some biographical material on Tolkien, and then connects The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with that biographical material. (Tolkien was alive at the time of Ready's writing; the Silmarillion was not yet published.) He comes to some of the same conclusions that later critics do (such as Tolkien's grim view of the Long Defeat). There were several stirring sentences toward the end. I have the feeling that there were themes in the book that were meant to be pervasive and summary, and connected to the title. But honestly, they are not clear in my mind, and I feel that has to do with his presentation of the material.
Strengths and weaknesses of the book
This book has several readily apparent weaknesses.
If Tolkien was a rambling, mumbling lecturer, Ready is a rambling, mumbling writer. After finishing his book, little stands out in my mind, except his overall acidic tone. Perhaps it makes his compliments stand out, but it does grow tiring.
Ready is himself one of the highbrowed critics who looked down on Tolkien for allowing colloquialisms into his grand work. While he states his fondness for the Don, he winks condescendingly at Tolkien's affection for hobbits and Smeagol's hissing, and admits with an air of reluctance that it is all part of the package, and we must tolerate it. He would lose many devoted Tolkien fans right there.
Another weakness incomplete sentences.
In addition, he displays another fault, for which I am, also, most certainly, found guilty as often as not, and can sympathize, that being, terminal comma addiction.
These faults hardly inspire the academic trust on which his sweeping statements presume.
Whether you recommend this in general and why.
I don't recommend this book in general. I read it because historically it was one of the first critical works generally available. I'm glad it wasn't the last.
Whether you recommend this book for novices and why.
Definitely not. This book would not encourage an emerging Tolkien scholar to further pursue in-depth analysis.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 9:07 AM January 05, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

01-04-2004, 06:10 PM	#7
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Title: Understanding Tolkien and The Lord Of The RIngs (Original Title: The Tolkien Relation) Author: William Ready Date of Copyright: 1968 Edition: first Summary description of the book's main themes Ready provides some biographical material on Tolkien, and then connects The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with that biographical material. (Tolkien was alive at the time of Ready's writing; the Silmarillion was not yet published.) He comes to some of the same conclusions that later critics do (such as Tolkien's grim view of the Long Defeat). There were several stirring sentences toward the end. I have the feeling that there were themes in the book that were meant to be pervasive and summary, and connected to the title. But honestly, they are not clear in my mind, and I feel that has to do with his presentation of the material. Strengths and weaknesses of the book This book has several readily apparent weaknesses. If Tolkien was a rambling, mumbling lecturer, Ready is a rambling, mumbling writer. After finishing his book, little stands out in my mind, except his overall acidic tone. Perhaps it makes his compliments stand out, but it does grow tiring. Ready is himself one of the highbrowed critics who looked down on Tolkien for allowing colloquialisms into his grand work. While he states his fondness for the Don, he winks condescendingly at Tolkien's affection for hobbits and Smeagol's hissing, and admits with an air of reluctance that it is all part of the package, and we must tolerate it. He would lose many devoted Tolkien fans right there. Another weakness incomplete sentences. In addition, he displays another fault, for which I am, also, most certainly, found guilty as often as not, and can sympathize, that being, terminal comma addiction. These faults hardly inspire the academic trust on which his sweeping statements presume. Whether you recommend this in general and why. I don't recommend this book in general. I read it because historically it was one of the first critical works generally available. I'm glad it wasn't the last. Whether you recommend this book for novices and why. Definitely not. This book would not encourage an emerging Tolkien scholar to further pursue in-depth analysis. <font size=1 color=339966>[ 9:07 AM January 05, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.