J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth, Morality, and Religion

Ahh this was a fantastic book! (And I'm probably far too proud of myself for reading/finishing it, lol. I wanted to be an English major in high school/college, and decided it wasn't for me--I'm sure it had nothing to do with the C+ I got in my first college-level English class, even if I was taking the sophomore-level course as a first-quarter freshman. Ha. Unknowing mortal. :D)

So given that, it's been _really_ interesting lately to read--and _understand_!!!--books like this one with a more literary-analysis bent, discussion of themes, and so on, all things I shunned after that course.

Purtill does a great job at analyzing myth, morality, and religion within Tolkien's works. I appreciated the read even more now that I've read _The show more Silmarillion_ in addition to Hobbit/LOTR, and found my appreciation for them all deepened accordingly.

Looking forward to checking out some of Purtill's other Tolkien-themed (see what I did there? :D) works! show less

An in-depth analysis of Tolkien's writings, not restricted to LoTR. The author first sets out to define what is myth, fantasy and science fiction and their relation to religion, then summarizes parts of The Hobbitt, LoTR and The Silmarillion to show how the books fit that definition. It also uses letters from Tolkien to readers and friends to describe his feelings about his 'sub-creation', which is how he referred to the world he created in his books. Fascinating and insightful, though very scholarly at times.