Smith of Wootton Major in Middle Earth?

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Aiwendil

I am curious regarding other people's opinions of Smith vs. the Silmarillion. In particular, I wonder whether the divide between those who find Smith more moving and those who prefer the Silmarillion might roughly coincide with the divide between those who are interested in authorial intention and those who fall into the "reader's freedom" or "textual supremacy" camps. For it seems to me that in Smith the voice of the author is more clearly revealed; there is a stronger authorial presence. In the Silmarillion, the art and the artist seem to be more fully concealed.

Oh, now this is a challenge I cannot resist. Must go off and reread Smith and cogitate. *waves with gauntlet gently held*