Tolkien in the twenty-first century The meaning of Middle-Earth today

Nick Groom, 1966-

Book - 2023

"An original and thought-provoking journey into J. R. R. Tolkien's world, revealing how his visionary creation of Middle-Earth is more relevant now than ever before. What is it about Middle-Earth and its inhabitants that has captured the imagination of millions of people around the world? And why does Tolkien's visionary creation continue to fascinate and inspire us eighty-five years after its first publication? Beginning with Tolkien's earliest influences--and drawing on key moments from his life--Tolkien in the Twenty-First Century is an engaging and vibrant reinterpretation of the beloved author's work. Not only does it trace the genesis and inspiration for the original books, but the narrative also explores the ...later film and literary adaptations that have cemented his reputation as a cultural phenomenon. Delving deep into topics such as friendship, failure, the environment, diversity, and Tolkien's place in a post-Covid age, Nick Groom takes us on an unexpected journey through Tolkien's world, revealing how it is more relevant now than perhaps Tolkien himself ever envisioned"--Jacket.

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Subjects
Genres
Criticism, interpretation, etc
Literary criticism
Published
New York : Pegasus Books 2023.
Language
English
Main Author
Nick Groom, 1966- (author)
Edition
First Pegasus Books cloth edition
Physical Description
xxiii, 454 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 355-428) and index.
ISBN
9781639365036
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes on the Text
  • Foreword
  • 1. Myriad Middle-Earths
  • 2. Uncertainty
  • 3. The Ambiguity of Evil
  • 4. The Hesitancy of Good
  • 5. Lucid Moments
  • 6. Just War
  • 7. Conclusion: Weird Things
  • Afterword: Power
  • Notes
  • Works Cited and Selected Reading
  • Index
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

University of Macau English professor Groom (The Vampire) delivers a loving ode to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. Groom contends that one of the greatest apparent shortcomings of Tolkien's work--the worlds he builds are full of "loose ends... ambiguities, contradictions, undeveloped details" that don't add up--is also its greatest strength: "Tolkien has a capacity to describe different understandings simultaneously without insisting on the ultimate primacy of one version of events." For example, The Hobbit's "completely straightforward account" of how Bilbo Baggins acquired the One Ring is revealed in The Lord of the Rings to be false. Elsewhere, Groom argues that Tolkien's fiction serves as a "panoramic celebration" of English literature, as when Bilbo wakes the dragon Smaug while stealing a gold cup, echoing a similar dragon scene in Beowulf. Groom also surveys the various adaptations of the books, suggesting that while many succeed on their own merits (he lauds Andy Serkis's performance as Gollum in Peter Jackson's films), they all streamline the unruliness of Tolkien's originals. The enthusiastic meditations on the power of Tolkien's oeuvre will please Lord of the Rings aficionados, though Groom's assumption that readers will bring a high degree of familiarity with even bit players from the original books may leave casual fans in the cold. Still, it's an adventure worth taking. (Sept.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review

British "Prof of Goth" Groom (English literature, Univ. of Macau; The Vampire: A New History) offers a contemporary look at J.R.R. Tolkien's works and their impact on multimedia, popular culture, and recent literary history. Groom cites how films, radio dramas, and online games based on Tolkien's books have created the "Tolkien industry." The author analyzes the Tolkien phenomenon to explain its significance in the post-pandemic environment, with the goal of encouraging fans of the movies, TV series, and games to read Tolkien's novels as well. This study begins with an overview of Tolkien's upbringing and the political and social context of the creation and publication of The Hobbit. Groom also offers readers an understanding of how Middle-Earth influenced the music of the Beatles and more recent musical artists. The book includes extensive notes and citations. VERDICT Groom, who first read The Lord of the Rings when he was 13, provides a fresh study of the impact Tolkien has on contemporary readers' and viewers' understanding of good, evil, war, and conflict.--Joyce Sparrow

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A modern journey through Tolkien's work, which has engendered a rich field of cultural activity. Tolkien devoted his life to the creation of the vast, imaginary world of Middle-Earth, and books such as The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series have been popular since they were first published. However, notes Groom, a professor of English literature, the story did not end there. Tolkien's novels have become the source code for films, music, games, spinoffs, and any number of imitators. In the first half of the book, Groom deals with how Tolkien created the books, drawing on a wide range of literary influences and personal experiences. He did not have a detailed plan for the Lord of the Rings but largely allowed the characters and the narrative to evolve within the Middle-Earth framework he had developed in earlier works. The combination of sweeping scope and personal journeys gives the books their resonance, but it also makes them challenging to understand. LOTR is much more than a story of good versus evil, and the author peels back the layers to prove his point. The second half of the book examines the numerous attempts of filmmakers to come to terms with the sprawling text; for most, it was simply too difficult. Groom applauds Peter Jackson's films, accepting that parts of Tolkien's stories had to be cut or amended to suit the screen. He ponders the reasons for the films' huge success, arguing that many of the crises of our times are reflected in Tolkien's books. He is on less firm ground here, and sometimes he struggles to make connections. But his point that Tolkien's work will continue to have an enduring appeal is valid, and this book offers a thought-provoking examination as to why. With the authority of extensive research, Groom unpacks the reasons for the appeal of Tolkien to a new generation. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.