Basil Bunting and J.R.R. Tolkien

by Denis Gueroult, Basil Bunting, J.R.R. Tolkien

On Side 1 is a rare interview, recorded in 1964, with J. R. R. Tolkien and Denis Gueroult about his imaginary world of "Middle Earth" and the languages he created for his characters in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Inventing languages was one of his childhood pastimes, while in his academic life at Oxford he was Professor of Anglo-Saxon and later of English Language and Literature. Tolkien's personality and his views on man, society and politics come across clearly in this illuminating conversation. Side 2 of the cassette contains an interview with Basil Bunting and Eric Mottram, in which Bunting recalls his early days, particularly his association with Ezra Pound and Louis Zokofsky. Bunting describes his role in the revival of public poetry readings, and how he persuaded Pound to change his method of delivery, and he discusses the work of several poets and assesses the state of British poetry.

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Liam Guilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess to not listening to the first side or caring about its contents. The version I had cut off Bunting and Mottram in mid sentence.