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Title: Tolkien: A Biography by Michael White ISBN: 0-451-21242-8 Publisher: New American Library Pub. Date: November, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 (4 reviews)
Rating: 1
Summary: Michael White's misunderstandings
Comment: White frequently attempts to make vivid and interesting things he knows nothing about. Thus, he describes Tolkien's gruelling introductory training in the British army and the intense preparatory training for trench warfare at Etaples as "idle time." He also writes that at Etaples, soldiers had little to worry about aside from mines and snipers. In fact, Etaples was so far from the front that neither of these endangered the troops there. White, moreover, describes soldiers greasing their bayonets as they moved in trains toward the fighting. In fact, the bayonets were oiled. Some reading of the standard British Great War memoirs by Sassoon and Graves, who served in the trenches, would have kept White from his egregious mistakes.
Rating: 5
Summary: Quick down and dirty on Tolkien
Comment: Have you read and re-read LOTR over the years, purchased all of the movies but don't know much about JRR Tolkien's background and personal life? If so, then this book may be the ticket. It's not a big biography and can actually be read in a day or two.
But what a wealth of info and personal tidbits!
1) Tolkien was a devoted father of four. But he had some personal baggage. For example he had a somewhat rocky relationship with his wife. After teaching all day and grading papers, he hung out at the local pub with C.S. Lewis and crew to drink brewskis after work. Tolkien did however spend a lot of time with his kids and he was a doting father of four..one wonders where he found the time to write. Apparently, he would work after everyone was asleep (10 pm) and then delve into his writing until around 2 am! An increadible schedule which seems to be a typical success pattern for achievers. They always seem to find the time.
2) His relationship with C.S. Lewis was strained after 20 years which by then they scarcely aknowledged one another. Tolkien was both jealous and resentful of CS Lewis. For example, Tolkien hated "the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". But the Inklings in the 50's was where he got his muse.
3) Tolkien was a strict Roman Catholic...he hated the Church of England and didn't exactly have a lot of tolerance for non-catholics. He was a man of his times..very conservative and opinionated.
4) The section on his war experience is pretty good too. Many people are not aware that Tolkien served in WWI trenches.
Overall, this biography is a wealth of info on J.R.R. Tolkien and a real eye-opener. I highly recommend it to Tolkien lovers.
Rating: 4
Summary: Short and concise
Comment: I read this book in just one day, wanting to know more about Tolkien. The chapters are all interestig. The author spent a great time going about his most famous book, The Lord Of The Rings. Altough White clearly loves Tolkien's writing, he does not worship him, and manages to produce well balanced commentaries.
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Title: J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter ISBN: 0618057021 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Pub. Date: June, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship by Colin Duriez ISBN: 1587680262 Publisher: Paulist Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Unfinished Tales: The Lost Lore of Middle-earth by J. R. R. Tolkien ISBN: 0345357116 Publisher: Del Rey Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 1988 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator by Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull ISBN: 0618083618 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Pub. Date: October, 2000 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by Tom Shippey ISBN: 0618257594 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Pub. Date: 08 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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