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From the title, I'd thought this book would be a biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, so I was little disappointed when I sat down to read it and realized that it was more of a literary analysis of Tolkien's works.
Still, after I accepted it for what it was, I found it to be quite an enjoyable book. It reads rather like a series of seminar lectures - what you might hear from a (rather entertaining) professor if you signed up for a class on Tolkien. (The author was a professor, so this is not surprising).
As might be expected, some of the observations are rather obvious, but others are quite insightful, and indicative of well-done research. Kocher obviously loves and respects Tolkien's work, but not to the point of sounding 'fannish.'
The book was published in 1972, so some of Tokien's posthumously published works are not spoken of, but overall, I have to say this book is worthwhile for any Tolkien fan.
 
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AltheaAnn | 5 outras críticas | Feb 9, 2016 |
Paul Kocher's first book on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, Master of Middle-Earth: The Fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, is very highly regarded and brought genuine insights. Many people probably first learned of some of Tolkien's works, such as the forgotten masterpiece The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, from Master of Middle-Earth. So when I discovered that Kocher had written about The Silmarillion, I was intrigued.

Sadly, there is little evidence that Kocher brought that same level of critical acumen to this book. It's mostly an abridged retelling with some amplification and connections to Tolkien's other works, as well as some insight into the Catholic theology that influenced Tolkien. There might perhaps be a place for that, given that many people find it hard to read The Silmarillion. But those who struggle with The Silmarillion probably won't want to read this version either, so it's rather a waste.

And that ignores the errors. In the early pages, I kept saying to myself, "I don't remember that!" or "Is that from some alternate version of the book?" (After all, Tolkien wrote many, many versions of many of the tales in The Silmarillion, and Kocher might have seen those.) On page 55, I finally caught Kocher in a clear and undeniable error: "none of the seven [sons of Fëanor] ever married. By contrast, Fingolfin's two sons, Fingon and Turgon, and his daughter Aredhel the White all married and had chldren, as did also Finarfin's four sons and their sister, Galadriel."

But we know that Fëanor's son Curufin married and had at least one child -- Celebrimbor, who forged the Three Rings. And we have no reason to think that the other six sons of Fëanor did not marry; all we know is that they did not have children. (And, speaking as a scientist instead of a reader, there is a pretty good chance that Fëanor was genetically abnormal -- witness both his unique skills and the seeming "segregation distorter" gene that caused him to have all male children. If the rules of biology apply to Elves, there is a fair chance that Fëanor's sons were sterile; they might have married, but only Curufin managed to sire a son.) Also, of the four sons of Finarfin, only Orodreth is recorded as having offspring (his daughter Finduilas). Angrod and Aegnor may have married, but they have no children listed, and we are explicitly told that Finrod's beloved had not gone into exile, so he did not marry.

A person willing to really sit down with Kocher and with The Silmarillion could doubtless find many more instances of this problem. I can only say that anyone who truly wishes to understand The Silmarillion would do better to really read that book, and read the commentaries from other scholars such as Tom Shippey and Hammond and Scull.
3 vote
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waltzmn | 1 outra crítica | Feb 2, 2016 |
A competent, but not lively study of JRRT. Useful for the literary scholar, but as usual, there's not much exploration of why he chose the genre for the work he did. It remains unknown whether he felt betrayed by some circumstance in his own life, or whether he was simply so constrained by his class and familial structures that a world of pure make-believe was the way to proceed. Still we have the stories, after all.½
 
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DinadansFriend | 5 outras críticas | Aug 11, 2014 |
A short but solid account of the missions, broadly but not excessively sympathetic to the Franciscans
 
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antiquary | May 25, 2014 |
Actually just a somewhat streamlined retelling. Doesn't add anything, and certainly doesn't "guide". IMHO: a waste om money.
1 vote
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Nicole_VanK | 1 outra crítica | Aug 21, 2012 |
A review and background of Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings books. This isn't fantasy, its a book about Middle Earth.
 
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Karlstar | 5 outras críticas | May 14, 2011 |
As is the case with all great works of art, J. R. R. Tolkien’s masterpieces generously repay close attention and study. In this thoroughly entertaining and perceptive volume, winner of the prestigious Mythopoeic Society Scholarship Award, Professor Kocher examines the sources that Tolkien drew upon in fashioning Middle-earth and its inhabitants—and provides valuable insights into the author’s aims and methods. Ranging from The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings to The Silmarillion and beyond, Master of Middle-earth opens the door to a deeper and richer appreciation of Tolkien’s magnificent achievement. Inside you will discover

• Why Aragorn is the most misunderstood character in The Lord of the Rings . . . and its true hero.
• The origin of Sauron—and the nature of evil in Tolkien’s universe.
• The opposing forces of destiny and free will in Frodo’s quest.
• The Cosmology of Middle-earth—is it our world at an earlier time, or does it exist in a fantastic Elsewhere?
• How Tolkien’s ideas of morality, religion, and social order underlie every aspect of his life’s work.

Plus a fascinating look at such lesser-known works of Tolkien’s as “Leaf by Niggle,” “Smith of Wootton Major,” and many others!
 
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jan.fleming | 5 outras críticas | Dec 3, 2010 |
Nothing middle-earth-shattering here, but lots of fine insights into Tolkien's work. This little book is more a compendium of discrete essays than a sustained review; highlights include an excellent treatment of the character of Aragorn in the LOTR, and a review essay comprising readings of seven of Tolkien's lesser-known short works.
 
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mrtall | 5 outras críticas | Oct 12, 2007 |
Interesting review of the key themes so useful commentary but nothing about Tolkien's creative process and biographical context½
 
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ablueidol | 5 outras críticas | Nov 5, 2006 |
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