The Tolkien Reader

The Tolkien Reader is a compilation of some of the works of the author and philologist JRR Tolkien that were first published in 1966.

Content

The Tolkien Reader begins with an introductory essay by Peter S. Beagle, entitled Tolkien 's Magic Ring. The first story, The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm 's Son is set up like a theater piece. This is followed by an essay entitled Tolkien On Fairy- Stories, the two short stories Leaf by Niggle and Farmer Giles of Ham, as well as a collection of sixteen poems which are summarized under the title The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.

Some of these works were previously published in printed form, but not in paperback format, exceptions are the essay by Beagle and the story of Beorhtnoth. This publication should show the other side of Tolkien's work that was not directly associated with Middle-earth. For example, the essay on fairy stories and the story Leaf by Niggle are already included in the 1964 book Tree and Leaf ( tree and leaf ). Farmer Giles of Ham came in 1949 in a limited edition and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil with illustrations by Pauline Baynes 1962 out for the first time.

Tolkien's The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm 's Son first appeared in print in Tolkien Reader, but it was not listed as a theater piece. It is based on the fragment of the Anglo-Saxon poem The Battle of Maldon and tells of a battle in 991 between the British ( led by Beorhtnoth, the Duke of Essex ) and the Danes, who invaded the country to occupy it. Due to the overestimation of Beorhtnoth, the Danes were finally able to win the battle and Beorhtnoth met his death.