Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
23 used & new from £3.70

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays
 
See larger image
 

The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays (Paperback)

by J.R.R. Tolkien (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
Price: £6.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £2.00 (22%)
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 3 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, July 7? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
16 new from £3.82 7 used from £3.70
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 4 used & new from £181.95

Frequently Bought Together

The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays + The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien + The Road to Middle-Earth: How J. R. R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology
Price For All Three: £22.37

Show availability and shipping details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien

The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien

by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.0 out of 5 stars (4)  £7.69
Tree and Leaf: Including "Mythopoeia"

Tree and Leaf: Including "Mythopoeia"

by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.0 out of 5 stars (4)  £5.99
Finn and Hengest: The Fragment and the Episode

Finn and Hengest: The Fragment and the Episode

by J.R.R. Tolkien
4.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £5.99
The Road to Middle-Earth: How J. R. R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology

The Road to Middle-Earth: How J. R. R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology

by T.A. Shippey
5.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £7.69
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

by J R R Tolkien
3.5 out of 5 stars (6)  £9.49
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; New edition edition (6 Jan 1997)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 026110263X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0261102637
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 79,204 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #68 in  Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > Essays, Journals & Letters > 20th Century

Product Description

Product Description
This book presents a complete collection of Tolkien's essays, including two on Beowulf, which span three decades beginning six years before "The Hobbit" to five years after "The Lord of the Rings". The seven 'essays' by J.R.R. Tolkien assembled in this new paperback edition were with one exception delivered as general lectures on particular occasions; and while they mostly arose out of Tolkien's work in medieval literature, they are accessible to all. Two of them are concerned with Beowulf, including the well-known lecture whose title is taken for this book, and one with Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, given in the University of Glasgow in 1953. Also included in this volume is the lecture in English and Welsh; the Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford in 1959; and a paper on Invented Languages delivered in 1931, with exemplification from poems in the Elvish tongues. Most famous of all is On Fairy-Stories, a discussion of the nature of fairy-tales and fantasy, which gives insight into Tolkien's approach to the whole genre. The pieces in this collection cover a period of nearly thirty years, beginning six years before the publication of "The Hobbit", with a unique 'academic' lecture on his invention (calling it A Secret Vice) and concluding with his farewell to professorship, five years after the publication of "The Lord of the Rings".

About the Author
J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 30 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
tolkien
j r r tolkien
tolkien linguistics
tolkien criticism
tolkien - biographies and reference
middle-earth
magic carpet ride
lord of the rings
essays
epics
elvish

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays
72% buy the item featured on this page:
The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£6.99
The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien
11% buy
The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien 5.0 out of 5 stars (4)
£7.69
Tree and Leaf: Including "Mythopoeia"
7% buy
Tree and Leaf: Including "Mythopoeia" 5.0 out of 5 stars (4)
£5.99
Roverandom
6% buy
Roverandom 4.4 out of 5 stars (12)
£3.99

 

Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Tolkien Speaks!, 5 Oct 2001
By A Customer
This is a magnificent collection of speeches and essays from Tolkien's academic life. It can be a little difficult for those without a signifigant amount of linguistic training or familiarity with Old English vocabulary. However, it is still highly readable if you are interested in Old English literature, Welsh, or just love Tolkien. This collection provides a glimpse of his life outside of his novels, and will certainly strike a chord with those who are sentimental about the author.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars His love of language, 11 Jan 2008
I first chose to read this book in preparation for an interview in which I thought I would need all the information I could get on Beowulf. I understood the respect and intrigue Tolkien held with the Old English poem, and with this book named after his essay upon it, I was preparing myself for a solid induction into the hidden subtleties in the language and context of the poem. Though I received this with The Monsters and the Critics I was also deeply fascinated with the other essays in the collection. Written at various points in his life they all focussed upon a medium Tolkien devoted the greater part of his life to: language.

Within the essays could be detected the shrewd mind of their author as he contemplated the many aspects of language which entranced him. From syntax to the sound and measure of individual words, the thought process in some of Tolkien's works can be clearly discerned in his writings. His stark enthusiasm for language is infectious and I couldn't help but have deep admiration for the clear devotion and respect Tolkien has for language.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Look for similar items by subject


Feedback


Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

Discover Health & Beauty

 

More From J. R. R. Tolkien

The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien...

Although The Silmarillion takes place in the same imaginary world as... Read more
£7.99 £4.31

 

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates