J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography
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Review
‘One of the most interesting and readable biographies of a literary figure’ Times
‘Rich and beautifully told’ Sunday Times
‘Absolutely fascinating’ Daily Mail
Product Description
The only authorised biography, and the only one written by an author who actually met J.R.R. Tolkien, with a redesigned cover to match the distinctive paperback editions of The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.
In the 25 years since Tolkien’s death in September 1973, millions have read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and become fascinated about the very private man behind the books.
Born in Bloemfontein in January 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was orphaned in childhood, brought up in near-poverty and almost thwarted in adolescent romance. He served in the First World War, surviving the Battle of the Somme, where he lost some of his closest friends, and returned to academic life, achieving high repute as a scholar and university teacher, eventually becoming Merton Professor of English at Oxford.
Then suddenly his life changed dramatically. One day while marking essay papers he found himself writing ‘In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit’ – and worldwide renown awaited him.
Humphrey Carpenter was given unrestricted access to all Tolkien’s papers, and interviewed his friends and family. From these sources he follows the long and painful process of creation that produced The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and offers a wealth of information about the life and work of the twentieth century’s most cherished author.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you've loved Tolkien's books all your life, and wondered what kind of person it takes to come up with works of genius like The Lord Of The Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, this book will be just what you wanted.
Carpenter makes illuminating connections, linking Tolkien's early fascination with languages to the fact that the author first studied languages with his mother (who died while he was quite young). That nostalgic attachment to language led him to a lifetime of study of all sorts of Scandinavian and Germanic myths and epics, which ultimately inspired him to create his own mythology.
Carpenter also mentions that Leaf By Niggle, one of Tolkien's short stories, expressed his own bittersweet feelings about having spent most of his life writing the Silmarillion and Lord Of The Rings; especially given that advancing age made it increasingly unlikely that they would be finished in his lifetime. This was news to me, so I tracked down the story in a secondhand copy of The Tolkien Reader... it was really quite touching.
I'm planning to read The Letters Of J.R.R. Tolkien by Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien next. I'm pretty sure I won't be disappointed.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I haven't read all Tolkien byographies out there, but I have read some, and I think this is the best by far. Not only is it precise and somewhat more 'unbiased' than others (it's clear that the author deeply appreciates Tolkien and his works, but unlike others, he didn't turn the biography into a giant praise to JRRT's genius), but it's also entertaining and easy to read, something which can't be said of many biographies. If you want to know more about JRRT as a person and a scholar, and not just as the LotR author, you really should read this.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you're into Tolkien, or any of his works and want to know a little more about the man, his life, and how he worked then this is the book to buy. It was written by someone who met Tolkien and spent a great deal of time with his family - so its not an account written by someone years after the events. There are insights into Tolkien's daily life, his inspirations, his professional life, in fact Humphrey Carpenter reveals snippets from every aspect of Tolkiens life.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Surely: the definitive Tolkien biography
One of the features of Tolkien's life which makes a biography of him so engaging is that he only became famous towards the very end of his life (although at that point he became... Read more
Published 4 months ago by thejollypilgrim
Honest and enlightening
If I was interesting enough to have my own Biography, Humphrey Carpenter would be my choice to write it. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Pavlov's Dog
Tolkien Biography
A privileged insight into a creative mind that will continue to astound millions for generations to come.
Published on 25 Mar 2009 by L. Baker
A Biography of the best AUTHOR IN THE WORLD!
Do you like Tolkien's books? Do you want to know about the life of this brilliant author? If yes than you must read this biography. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2005 by Luca Caruana
Utterly fantastic...
This is one heck of a good read. The perfect formula-
this book + a comfy chair/sofa + the LOTR movie soundtrack + an hour or so to yourself= a very enjoyable hour! Read more
this book + a comfy chair/sofa + the LOTR movie soundtrack + an hour or so to yourself= a very enjoyable hour! Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2004
The Real Biography
I have finished reading this book yesterday at night. Today I am going to begin reading all Tolkien book in my library once again! Read more
Published on 25 April 2003 by Mikayel Abazyan
Highly recommended
Fantastic insight detailing the highs and lows of the life of one of the greatest writers of all time.
Published on 27 Aug 2001
Very Interesting
This was the first biography I have ever read and if they are all this good I will be reading more. I am a bit biased because Tolkien is the greatest writer ever, but it is... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2000
A excellent book if you want to know more about the man.
A very interesting book, a must for all those you want to know more about Tolkien and his life.
Published on 1 Aug 1999
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