J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend

by Colin Duriez Narrated by Simon Vance

Overview

Long before the successful The Lord of the Rings films, J.R.R. Tolkien's creations, imagination, and characters had captured the attention of millions of readers. But who was the man who dreamt up the intricate languages and perfectly crafted world of Middle-earth? Tolkien had a difficult life, for many years: orphaned and poor, his guardian forbad him to communicate with the woman he had fallen in love with, and he went through the horrors of the First World War. An intensely private and brilliant scholar, he spent over fifty years working on the languages, history, peoples and geography of Middle-earth, with a consistent mythology and body of legends inspired by a formidable knowledge of early northern European history and culture. J.R.R. Tolkien became a legend by creating an imaginary world that has enthralled and delighted generations. This delightful and accessible biography brings him to life. Colin Duriez has appeared as a commentator on DVDs of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and BBC television's The Worlds of Fantasy. He is also the author of The Inklings Handbook (with the late David Porter), J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Story of Their Friendship, and Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, and has contributed to definitive reference works, The Tolkien Encyclopedia and a number of other tomes relating to Tolkien.

Editorial Reviews

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

Simon Vance offers an agreeably smooth and engaged performance of this revealing literary biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, the author and Oxford professor who made Bilbo, Frodo, Gollum, and Gandalf into household names. Born in 1892, Tolkien was a brilliant student of languages and inventor of fantastical tales from childhood on. An ardent Catholic in Anglican England, he was traumatized by the battlefield of WWI. Both of these experiences fed the imagination that created the world of Middle Earth. Vance’s expertise shows. He engages listeners by presenting narrative descriptions—whether of battle, debate society, or family life—with his trademark care for topic, rhythm, and punctuation. The result is an ideal listen for Tolkien geeks, read by one of the very best. A.C.S. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

Simon Vance offers an agreeably smooth and engaged performance of this revealing literary biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, the author and Oxford professor who made Bilbo, Frodo, Gollum, and Gandalf into household names. Born in 1892, Tolkien was a brilliant student of languages and inventor of fantastical tales from childhood on. An ardent Catholic in Anglican England, he was traumatized by the battlefield of WWI. Both of these experiences fed the imagination that created the world of Middle Earth. Vance’s expertise shows. He engages listeners by presenting narrative descriptions—whether of battle, debate society, or family life—with his trademark care for topic, rhythm, and punctuation. The result is an ideal listen for Tolkien geeks, read by one of the very best. A.C.S. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177235974
Publisher:	Oasis Audio
Publication date:	05/12/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged

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