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steph_demel 's review for:
Tales from the Perilous Realm
by J.R.R. Tolkien
This collection of Tolkien's short fiction and poetry is a mixed bag. "Roverandom" and "Farmer Giles of Ham" are enjoyable fairy-stories for children, but I, as an adult, didn't get very much out of them. Further, the "Tom Bombadil" poems are, with a few exceptions, of pretty average quality. By contrast, "Smith of Wooton Major" is a magical little tale that evokes Hope Mirlees's wonderful "Lud-in-the-Mist", and "Leaf by Niggle" is surprisingly poignant, bittersweet, and lovely.
My favourite part of this collection is, however, Tolkien's famous essay "On Fairy-Stories", which is included in the appendix of this collection. It is an important and intriguing piece of fairy-tale scholarship that I very much enjoyed re-visiting here.
In short, this collection of literary "deep cuts" is perfect for the die-hard Tolkien fan (which I certainly am) or for younger children. Others looking to read beyond "The Hobbit", "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Silmarillion" may do better to try "The Children of Hurin", "Beren and Luthien" or "Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth".
My favourite part of this collection is, however, Tolkien's famous essay "On Fairy-Stories", which is included in the appendix of this collection. It is an important and intriguing piece of fairy-tale scholarship that I very much enjoyed re-visiting here.
In short, this collection of literary "deep cuts" is perfect for the die-hard Tolkien fan (which I certainly am) or for younger children. Others looking to read beyond "The Hobbit", "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Silmarillion" may do better to try "The Children of Hurin", "Beren and Luthien" or "Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth".