Book Review
The Lord of the Rings By J.R.R. Tolkien
The Millenium Edition published in seven hardback volumes in special slipcase
with accompanying CD of Tolkien reading excerpts.
Harper Collins ISBN 0 261 10393 8
Purchase from:
Amazon
UK
Arguably the book of the 20th century, The Lord of the Rings
is now being filmed so here is a chance for all those who have read it and
loved it - particularly all those undergraduates of the 1950s and 1960s,
who regarded it as compulsory cult reading – and so many new readers,
to reacquaint or acquaint themselves with this glorious epic story.
Chance to meet the Hobbits, Frodo, Bilbo Baggins, Merry Brandybuck and Pippin;
to meet Gandalf the wizard, slimy Golum, the heroes Strider and Boromir;
and Legolas, Aragorn, the Ents, Treebeard, the Riders of Rohan and all the
epic’s other unforgettable characters.
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie,
One Ring to Rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
The CD has great historical and literary interest for it comprises readings
from The Lord of the Rings by its author J.R.R. Tolkien in
1952 before he had found a publisher to accept his masterpiece.
Understandably then he does sound a little dispirited as he reads these excerpts
- mainly verses. Without seeming to be uncharitable, because this is an immensely
valuable recording, Tolkien does tend to gabble at times and his diction
is not always clear, proving once again that authors are not always the best
readers of their own works – that’s why the job is traditionally
left to actors.
Harper Collins tell me that another edition of The Lord of the Rings is imminent
in the Autumn, we will bring you news of that when it is published.
A rating for this well-loved work would be as insolent as it would be superfluous
Reviewer
Ian Lace
