Poems and Stories

Rating:
Summary: A little different from _The_Tolkien_Reader_
Review: As a previous reviewer wrote, this hard-to-find book is much like _The_Tolkien_Reader_. The difference is that where that book contains Peter Beagle's introductory essay, "Tolkien's Magic Ring," this one contains the popular Tolkien short story, "Smith of Wootton Major."

Rating:
Summary: A little different from _The_Tolkien_Reader_
Review: As a previous reviewer wrote, this hard-to-find book is much like _The_Tolkien_Reader_. The difference is that where that book contains Peter Beagle's introductory essay, "Tolkien's Magic Ring," this one contains the popular Tolkien short story, "Smith of Wootton Major."

Rating:
Summary: The shorter works of the master
Review: Fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien is known best for the thrilling epic "The Lord of the Rings" and the works that accompany it. But "Poems and Stories" encompasses several shorter, less-well-known works, while giving a more rounded view of Tolkien's unique brand of genius.

"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" is a charming collection of poems, mostly linked to Middle-Earth. They range from dark to whimsical, with trolls, dragons, elves, and "shadow-brides." The poem "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth" dips into medieval dramas, followed by Tolkien's thoughtful, fantasy-based ponderings "On Fairy-Tales," a long essay on the nature of good fantasy.

Then Tolkien's short novels come into play. "Leaf By Niggle" is an odd, pleasant little story about an artist named Niggle, who has to make a journey; "Smith of Wootten Major" is a beautiful little tale about a lost fairy king and a young smith who ate a fay star. Finally there's "Farmer Giles of Ham," a tongue-in-cheek comic tale about a bumbling farmer who, because of a deaf, nearsighted giant, inadvertantly becomes a hero.

There's no flagging of quality in "Poems and Stories" -- all of the material Tolkien wrote that is included here is top-notch, whether comic, dramatic or poetic. Some readers may be put off by the classically-written "Homecoming of Beorhtnoth," but it is still an excellent piece of work. He can argue forcefully, charm with sweet poetry, or tell an amusing story about bumbling heroes and not-so-fierce dragons.

Tolkien's exceptional writing is put on display in "Poems and Stories," a beautiful collection full of the Master of Middle-Earth's art. Highly Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: The shorter works of the master
Review: Fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien is known best for the thrilling epic "The Lord of the Rings" and the works that accompany it. But "Poems and Stories" encompasses several shorter, less-well-known works, while giving a more rounded view of Tolkien's unique brand of genius.

"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" is a charming collection of poems, mostly linked to Middle-Earth. They range from dark to whimsical, with trolls, dragons, elves, and "shadow-brides." The poem "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth" dips into medieval dramas, followed by Tolkien's thoughtful, fantasy-based ponderings "On Fairy-Tales," a long essay on the nature of good fantasy.

Then Tolkien's short novels come into play. "Leaf By Niggle" is an odd, pleasant little story about an artist named Niggle, who has to make a journey; "Smith of Wootten Major" is a beautiful little tale about a lost fairy king and a young smith who ate a fay star. Finally there's "Farmer Giles of Ham," a tongue-in-cheek comic tale about a bumbling farmer who, because of a deaf, nearsighted giant, inadvertantly becomes a hero.

There's no flagging of quality in "Poems and Stories" -- all of the material Tolkien wrote that is included here is top-notch, whether comic, dramatic or poetic. Some readers may be put off by the classically-written "Homecoming of Beorhtnoth," but it is still an excellent piece of work. He can argue forcefully, charm with sweet poetry, or tell an amusing story about bumbling heroes and not-so-fierce dragons.

Tolkien's exceptional writing is put on display in "Poems and Stories," a beautiful collection full of the Master of Middle-Earth's art. Highly Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A collection of short works by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review: While this is apparently out of print, the same material is also collected in _A Tolkien Reader_, which is currently available. The short story "Leaf by Niggle" alone makes either of these collections worth buying. Tolkien referred to this story as his only real allegory. It looks at his fear that his _Lord of the Rings_ would never be completed.