Man behind the Mythology - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-10-2004, 06:27 AM

Who wrote this brief book report on The Hobbit and what happened as a result?

Quote:

Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who lived in his hobbit-hole and never went for adventures, at last Gandalf the wizard and his dwarves perswaded [sic] him to go. He had a very exciting time fighting goblins and wargs, at last they got to the lonley [sic] mountain; Smaug, the dragon who gawreds [sic] it is killed and after a terrific battle with the goblins he returned home - rich! This book, with the help of maps, does not need any illustrations it is good and should appeal to all children between the ages of 5 and 9.

(Bb, that is an interesting comparison - I'd never noticed it before!)

**The Saucepan Man** · 05-10-2004, 06:58 AM

At a guess, I'd say that the review was by Stanley Unwin's son Rayner, and that the Hobbit was published by Unwin in consequence of it.

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-10-2004, 07:02 AM

Great guess, Saucy! You're right, of course - as a matter of fact, he even got paid one shilling for that report. Wouldn't we like to get paid for reading good books!

You have the floor...

**The Saucepan Man** · 05-10-2004, 07:24 PM

Most kind, my Lady.

Which London publisher narrowly missed the opportunity of publishing Lord of the Rings, how did they come to have that opportunity, and why were they deprived of it?

Olorin_TLA · 05-10-2004, 07:30 PM

Collins, because Allen & Unwin couldn't publish the Silmarillion and LotR in one; Collins said they were interested in doing so, but it never happened, and so A&U published in the end.

**The Saucepan Man** · 05-11-2004, 02:41 AM

Yes, Allen & Unwin were reluctant to publish the Silm as well as LotR and Collins expressed an interest in publishing both. Then they had cold feet and Tolkien lost patience with them, returning to Allen & Unwin to have LotR published on the basis that one was better than none.

So, the thread is your Olorin_TLA.

Olorin_TLA · 05-13-2004, 11:41 AM

Kind of tragic one...

When CS Lewis passed away, how did Tolkien descibe it, compared to other misfortunes in his life?

05-10-2004, 06:58 AM	#2
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	At a guess, I'd say that the review was by Stanley Unwin's son Rayner, and that the Hobbit was published by Unwin in consequence of it. __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!

05-10-2004, 07:02 AM	#3
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Great guess, Saucy! You're right, of course - as a matter of fact, he even got paid one shilling for that report. Wouldn't we like to get paid for reading good books! You have the floor... __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

05-10-2004, 07:24 PM	#4
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	Most kind, my Lady. Which London publisher narrowly missed the opportunity of publishing Lord of the Rings, how did they come to have that opportunity, and why were they deprived of it? __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!

05-10-2004, 07:30 PM	#5
Olorin_TLA Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gardens of Lórien, Valinor. Posts: 420	Collins, because Allen & Unwin couldn't publish the Silmarillion and LotR in one; Collins said they were interested in doing so, but it never happened, and so A&U published in the end. __________________ "For I am Olórin! And Olórin means me!" ELENDIL! - Join "Forth Tolkiengas!"

05-11-2004, 02:41 AM	#6
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	Yes, Allen & Unwin were reluctant to publish the Silm as well as LotR and Collins expressed an interest in publishing both. Then they had cold feet and Tolkien lost patience with them, returning to Allen & Unwin to have LotR published on the basis that one was better than none. So, the thread is your Olorin_TLA. __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!

05-13-2004, 11:41 AM	#7
Olorin_TLA Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gardens of Lórien, Valinor. Posts: 420	Kind of tragic one... When CS Lewis passed away, how did Tolkien descibe it, compared to other misfortunes in his life? __________________ "For I am Olórin! And Olórin means me!" ELENDIL! - Join "Forth Tolkiengas!"