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Summary: Wonderful insights. . .
Review: . . .into the life and writing of JRR Tolkien. These letters, edited by his official biographer, Humphrey Carpenter, provide glimpses into every area of Professor Tolkien's life. We see:* his early years in the war (where his mythology all began * his relationship with his wife (a true love story) * his early interaction with those who later became "The Inklings" * the development of his spirituality and theology * words of wisdom to his children on love, marriage, God, the Church, etc. * and, of course, the "behind the scenes" development of "The Hobbit", and "The Lord of the Rings" as well as numerous responses to reader's inquiries. A delightful book, and one which belongs on the shelf of every true devotee of JRR Tolkien. Well worth 5 stars.
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Summary: No hobbit can fail to be impressed. . .
Review: . . .with this collection of correspondence from the pen of the Master of Middle-Earth, Professor JRR Tolkien. Although, unfortunately, not all hobbits are lettered, those of us that are, write letters constantly to our friends and to a selection of our relations. The Professor's habits in this area definitely suggest that he is, as has long been suspected, himself a hobbit. (And, in fact, probably a Baggins!) From his wartime correspondence, to his letters of love (and sound advice) to members of his family, to the vast amount of commentary on his literary masterpieces, this volume sheds a great deal of light into the life and thought of the Professor. This book is a worthy companion to Mr. Carpenter's earlier biography. Both volumes should find a place on the shelf of every hobbit in the Shire.
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Summary: Invaluable book for understanding Tolkien and Middle-Earth.
Review: As a teenager in the early 60's, I slogged through The Lord of the Rings, realizing its worth but never fully understanding the background of the epic work. The recent success of the motion picture, The Two Towers, has reinvigorated my interest in all things Tolkien. I read the Simarillion and am now in the midst of this fascinating compilation of Tolkien's letters. I highly recommend this book to readers of The Lord of the Rings. It brings to light the background and philosophy behind Tolkien's writing. Thank God Tolkien was such a prodigious letter writer. We are all the beneficiaries of his correspondence with family, friends such as C.S. Lewis, fans, and critics alike.
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Summary: Must Read for Tolkien Fans.
Review: As a teenager in the early 60's, I slogged through The Lord of the Rings, realizing its worth but never fully understanding the background of the epic work. The recent success of the motion picture, The Two Towers, has reinvigorated my interest in all things Tolkien. I read the Simarillion and am now in the midst of this fascinating compilation of Tolkien's letters. I highly recommend this book to readers of The Lord of the Rings. It brings to light the background and philosophy behind Tolkien's writing. Thank God Tolkien was such a prodigious letter writer. We are all the beneficiaries of his correspondence with family, friends such as C.S. Lewis, fans, and critics alike.
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Summary: Man or myth?
Review: Being a long a fan of Tolkien and Middle-earth, I certainly enjoy reading all of his works. At least those that don't require a degree in Anglo-Saxon to read! Having such a high opinion of the man tends to raise him to an almost larger-than-life position. He's unapproachable. He's brilliant. Reading this book has helped to bring Tolkien from near-mythological status into a man. That is a good thing. One can enter the man's mind and begin to understand the thought process that occurs. I find this better to read than a biography, because a biography tends to be "formal", and these letters are simply the un-edited and unpolished person at their best or at their worst. I dearly love the man, and his work. These letters help me to pretend that I knew him when he was alive, which would have been a pleasure indeed.
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Summary: Letters from an Intelligent Man
Review: Certainly these letters provide a fascinating peek into roots and motivations behind the history of the Middle-Earth saga. This alone makes it worthy of Tolkien fans. However, the letters go beyond this...they give us a glimpse into the mind and life of an interesting and intelligent man. His wise musings, passion for truth and goodness, and his pure love for his family shine forth in both emotionally moving and cleverly comical language. Mr. Carpenter seems to have done a great job providing only relevant and interesting portions of J.R.R. Tolkien's letters. I recommend it for C.S. Lewis fans, as well.
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Summary: Indispensable
Review: Chugging through this book over the last few months has been a wonderful experience for me. What better way to get right inside the mind of Tolkien himself than through these fascinating letters? They make me feel as though I'm right there alongside him in his world; in the academia, the family life, and the inner workings of the brilliant mind that created (or simply "discovered," as he would put it, Middle-Earth). As an intimate composite sketch giving insights into all these areas, this book is absolutely indispensable for the hard-core Tolkien fan, even more so than the Humphrey Carpenter-penned Tolkien Biography. But those two volumes hand-in-hand are a delightful companion to anyone who, like me, is enraptured by _The Lord of the Rings_ and has an interest in the man who brought it into being. Can you _not wait_ until Christmas when the FOTR movie comes out??! Man alive, that's gonna be terrific...
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Summary: This man really knew people, from every era!
Review: Especially good reading is the letter he wrote to one of his sons about the purpose of marriage and the true natures of men and women. This letter alone is worth buying the book!
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Summary: This is a must-own book for any Tolkien researcher
Review: Ever wonder where those Tolkien know-it-alls get their information from? This is one of the secret treasures we harbor. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien reveals his inner thoughts concerning his own life, the world as he saw it, and the characters and events in his marvelous stories. Time and time again I've turned to the Letters for inspiration and information on what Tolkien had to say about everything concerning Middle-earth, from the family secrets and scandals of the Tooks to how Aragorn would have ruled Arnor and Gondor in the Fourth Age. Tolkien shared his private thoughts with a select group of fans who wrote to him in his lifetime, and with his friends and close relatives. These letters are a rare glimpse into his candor, wit, and values. Many of the questions that Tolkien readers form today when they first pick up his books were shared by their predecessors in the 1930s and 1950s when The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were first published. His answers to fan questions are as fresh and informative to the 100th-time reader as to the 1st time reader.
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Summary: Fantastic and comprehensible insight of Middle Earth!
Review: For anybody interested in the man or the Myth surrounding him, this is a comprehensive view by Tolkien to his publishers and fans through letters compiled by his son Christopher and the recipients of his letters themselves. Full of Interesting replies and answers of questions considering his adaptation of this earth and publishing problems J.R.R. Tolkien faced when publishing his Masterpeice and much more! This book also shows the relationship a sub-creator can have with his religious views. Anyone interested in how his mind worked and the direct relationship he felt with his books are revealed here. A must read for Tolkien fans and Oxford historians alike.
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