A review by kellysmaust
Farmer Giles of Ham by J.R.R. Tolkien

5.0

I've been known to say that there are basically two kinds of British TV Shows. One (1) is the idyllic village setting with hidden darkness coming to light (Broadchurch, Happy Valley, Grantchester, everything based on Harlan Coben books). Two (2) is a bunch of gits sitting around (Red Dwarf, IT Crowd, Plebs, Cabin Pressure). Farmer Giles of Ham is an excellent example of the Type Two plotline. It's basically a St. George & the Dragon story but if all the characters, from the village folk to the king & his knights to the dragon himself, were petty, self-centered, lazy, vain, and cowardly. It's a very funny little tale brimming with the humor, wit, and wry social commentary that people forget Tolkien can excel at. If you aren't in the mood for noble deeds of valour performed by fearless heroes, pick up this quick read about Giles, an everyman who stumbles/is reluctantly dragged into heroism when a dragon is ravaging the land and the knights' knowledge of it is "unofficial."