Tolkien: A Cultural Phenomenon

by Brian Rosebury

This comprehensive and discriminating account of Tolkien's work has been revised and expanded, to take account both of recent developments in scholarship, and of the recent films directed by Peter Jackson. Tracing the development of Tolkien's creative technique over several decades, it explores the bewildering profusion of shorter works, as well as devoting an extended analysis to The Lord of the Rings . Chapters consider Tolkien's contribution to the history of ideas, and review the reception of the Lord of the Rings film adaptations and other popular adaptations of his work.

Genres: Nonfiction

255 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2003

Reviews

[Mythlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable analysis, with good examples. Loved the discussion of the LotR films in the final chapter (though only the first two PJ films were out at the time of publication), as well as the analytical framework to discuss appearances of LotR in the culture: Relabelling, Assimilation, Imitation, and Adaptation.

I do have a few quibbles (e.g., I wouldn't say Middle-earth is an entirely different world from our own; it's more of an imagined pre-history of our world), but they did not detract from overall quality of the work.

[Paolo Nardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://speloncalibro.blogspot.it/2014...

[Titus Hjelm]

Most academic, but at the same time most balanced account of Tolkien's life and work.

[Bucko · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too academic for my tastes, but there were a few enlightening thoughts nonetheless. For die-hards only.

[Stephanie Fysh]

"Read" but unfinished ... until I find my copy again! Some good insight in what I have been able to finish, albeit somewhat dated now.