J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth, Morality and Religion

Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding and Engaging
Review: It probably doesn't get better than this: the insights of an informed and engaging professor on an endlessly fascinating subject, delivered by a compelling performer. Having said that, audio books take some getting used to, particularly if you're used to reading at your own speed. The risk is greater with fiction readings, which can sound so disastrously different than the book, but the potential is also greater. With a non-fiction reading like this one, it's pretty much just about someone reading a book. That said, what would matter greatly is the book and the someone reading it. This book, reprinted from an earlier edition, is a bestseller for Ignatius Press, and Matthew Arnold's reading is subtle and nuanced. He reads the book's ten chapters on five CDs. At first it seemed he was reading very fast, but by the second chapter my brain had adjusted and settled in. It was like hearing a lecture where for some reason you could hear the professor without the distractions of a lecture hall, and more remarkably, he spoke distinctly and didn't drop his notes. The CDs revealed to me what reading the book did not: this could be a college telecourse (except it's not on TV) because you learn so much listening to it. The production is very clean and sparse except for brief instrumental snippets of Celtic tunes like "Be Thou My Vision" at the open and close of chapters. Matthew Arnold has also read other audio books for St. Joseph Communications (saintjoe.com), which seems to specialize in Catholic books. This audio book is also available on cassette, and these first editions may be collector's items because Purtill's name is misspelled "Purthill," which makes it hard to find in search engines. Although this is my first audio book, if others are as good as this one, it won't be my last.