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A review by julicke95
Tree and Leaf; Smith of Wootton Major; The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth by J.R.R. Tolkien
inspiring
reflective
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
A wonderful short collection that showcases many different sides of Tolkien's work.
Firstly, the essay 'On fairy stories' remains one of the best defenses of fantasy ever put to paper and I get something new out of it every time. 'Leaf by Niggle' felt very personal to Tolkien, as it was an allegory (no, really) of Catholic purgatory and the afterlife that reflected much of Tolkien's own insecurities. 'Smith of Wootton Major' starts as a charming fairytale, but the fairies in question embody a sort of enchantment and gravitas that is unique to Tolkien. I hate to say it though, but I'm not a big fan of Pauline Baynes illustrations though. As charming as they are, I feel like they take away from the enchanting magic of the story. Lastly, 'The Homecoming of Beorthnoth' is a short play based on a fragment of poetry detailing a Viking invasion and feels like both an exercise in historical writing and a reflection on heroism and chivalry.
So yeah, there's a lot of variety in a short page count. Highly recommend for anyone interested in Tolkien's work!
Firstly, the essay 'On fairy stories' remains one of the best defenses of fantasy ever put to paper and I get something new out of it every time. 'Leaf by Niggle' felt very personal to Tolkien, as it was an allegory (no, really) of Catholic purgatory and the afterlife that reflected much of Tolkien's own insecurities. 'Smith of Wootton Major' starts as a charming fairytale, but the fairies in question embody a sort of enchantment and gravitas that is unique to Tolkien. I hate to say it though, but I'm not a big fan of Pauline Baynes illustrations though. As charming as they are, I feel like they take away from the enchanting magic of the story. Lastly, 'The Homecoming of Beorthnoth' is a short play based on a fragment of poetry detailing a Viking invasion and feels like both an exercise in historical writing and a reflection on heroism and chivalry.
So yeah, there's a lot of variety in a short page count. Highly recommend for anyone interested in Tolkien's work!