- Hardcover: 128 pages
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH); 50 Anv edition (15 Nov 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0618009361
- ISBN-13: 978-0618009367
- Product Dimensions: 22.5 x 14.2 x 1.9 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,279,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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19 reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Good for Adults, Better for Kids
31 Jan 2000
Format:Hardcover
As a longtime Tolkien fan, I was surprised that I had never read this one. My wife bought it for me for Christmas and I was very excited to start reading. There was a very informative introduction that talks about the origins of the plot and how the book came into being. For adults, this is perhaps the most entertaining part of the book. Though the main tale - unlikely hero bests dragon, earns respect and becomes king - has come before in other tales, this one is cuter than most. Also, it has a sly adult humor underneath that most Hobbit fans would recognize. Perhaps, the greatest value of this book, however, is that it will be an excellent book for me to read to my children someday.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
In the vulgar tongue: Cute
15 April 2003
Format:Hardcover
"Farmer Giles of Ham" (in the vulgar tongue) is an entertaining little tale, maybe the first real comic fantasy novel (actually, more like novella). It's certainly not on par with his tales of hobbits and elves, but it's still cute, funny and very well-written.
Aegidius de Hammo (or in the "vulgar tongue," as Tolkien archly tells us, Farmer Giles of Ham) is a pleasant, not-too-bright farmer (a bit like Barliman Butterbur) who leads a fairly happy life. Until the day his excitable dog Garm warns him that a giant (deaf and very near-sighted) is stomping through and causing mayhem. Giles takes out his blunderbuss and takes a shot at the giant, and inadverantly drive him off.
Naturally, Giles is hailed as a hero. Even the King is impressed, and sends him the sword Caudimordax (vulgar name: Tailbiter), which belonged to a dragonslaying hero. By chance, the not-so-fierce dragon Chrysophylax Dives has started pillaging, destroying and attacking the nearby areas. Can a not-so-heroic farmer drive off a not-so-frightening dragon?
It's a fast, fun little adventure story with blundering giants, greedy dragons and unlikely heroes (the last one is what Tolkien always does best). It's not epic and it's not deep, but it is entertaining, especially for people who enjoy comic fantasies. You'll like this if you enjoyed the cuter moments of "The Hobbit" and stories like "Roverandum."
Tolkien's writing always seems to be winking at the reader. There are a lot of in-jokes for people who know Latin (the "vulgar tongue" comments) and a lot of cute moments, like the young dragons exclaiming that they always knew "knights were mythical!" And the illustrations resemble old tapestries and paintings, but they usually have a funny sort of twist to them.
"Farmer Giles" is not the deepest or most riveting of Tolkien's works, but it's a straightforward, cute little adventure that kids, adults, fans and non-fans of Tolkien will enjoy.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Second only to The Hobbit!
30 Jun 2001
Format:Hardcover
Unlikely heroes, excellent characters, and timeless energy are all contained within the covers of this book. Children and adults will adore it. This is recommended for the Tolkein fans and non fans alike. Not being a Tolkein fan (yes, there are those of us who consider ourselves avid science fiction/fantasy fans who do not like him) I found this one of his best. There was no wordy (and seemingly useless) chapters to wade through - just simple fun. I first read this book when I was sixteen and have read it time and time again.
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