Tolkien'a "Fall of Arthur" to be published: confirmed - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 10-08-2012, 03:40 AM

I've wanted to read this ever since seeing the few lines from it in Carpenter's biography back in '78. It will be really interesting to compare Tolkien's take on the Arthurian legend with Williams', which, apparently, Tolkien didn't much care for. Can't help wondering if Tolkien was in any way put off completing his version by the existence of Taliesin through Logres & Region of the Summer Stars. I've often thought of digging out my copy of Williams Arthurian poems again & this will be a good excuse. I doubt Tolkien's take will be anything like as (frankly) weird as CW's.

Its interesting that Tolkien would have approached the Arthurian legends at all, given his stated dislike of their use of Christianity (mingling the Primary & Secondary worlds too blatantly). It will be especially interesting to see if the Grail even appears - does Tolkien use the older legends as his source & avoid the Christian dimension at all?

(Wish I could lay my hands on Lewis' Arthurian Torso again - came across it in a local library many years ago & read it in one sitting - too quickly as I can't remember a thing about it now!)

10-08-2012, 03:40 AM	#3
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	I've wanted to read this ever since seeing the few lines from it in Carpenter's biography back in '78. It will be really interesting to compare Tolkien's take on the Arthurian legend with Williams', which, apparently, Tolkien didn't much care for. Can't help wondering if Tolkien was in any way put off completing his version by the existence of Taliesin through Logres & Region of the Summer Stars. I've often thought of digging out my copy of Williams Arthurian poems again & this will be a good excuse. I doubt Tolkien's take will be anything like as (frankly) weird as CW's. Its interesting that Tolkien would have approached the Arthurian legends at all, given his stated dislike of their use of Christianity (mingling the Primary & Secondary worlds too blatantly). It will be especially interesting to see if the Grail even appears - does Tolkien use the older legends as his source & avoid the Christian dimension at all? (Wish I could lay my hands on Lewis' Arthurian Torso again - came across it in a local library many years ago & read it in one sitting - too quickly as I can't remember a thing about it now!) __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."