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A review by carroq
J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by Tom Shippey
5.0
This book gave me a much better appreciation for the Lord of the Rings. While the majority of the book focuses on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Shippey does give attention to Tolkien's lesser known works as well, including the extensive mythology he created for Middle Earth. Tolkien has been voted as the best author of the 20th century many times. Shippey's analysis of his works show how justified that title is.
Tolkien is a master of language. He probably understood English and its roots better than anyone else. He even went so far as to create multiple languages for his stories. But The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are just the tip of the iceberg. The mythology he created fills a gap in the English literary tradition. He also put a lot of thought into the structure of the books, which seems to be one of the reasons that people like it. It provides realistic elements that one might not notice immediately. Yet these elements give it a sort of authenticity that can be missing from mainstream literature.
Shippey's book is excellent, but I could only take it in small amounts at a time. There is so much to digest related to the influences that Tolkien drew on, from languages and stories to his own experiences. This is a great place to start to develop an understanding of what Tolkien was doing with his works.
Tolkien is a master of language. He probably understood English and its roots better than anyone else. He even went so far as to create multiple languages for his stories. But The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are just the tip of the iceberg. The mythology he created fills a gap in the English literary tradition. He also put a lot of thought into the structure of the books, which seems to be one of the reasons that people like it. It provides realistic elements that one might not notice immediately. Yet these elements give it a sort of authenticity that can be missing from mainstream literature.
Shippey's book is excellent, but I could only take it in small amounts at a time. There is so much to digest related to the influences that Tolkien drew on, from languages and stories to his own experiences. This is a great place to start to develop an understanding of what Tolkien was doing with his works.