J. R. R. Tolkien, Scholar and Storyteller

A moving and thoughtful tribute, this book, originally published in 1979, offers fourteen essays dedicated to the memory of J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973). The contributors, a distinguished group of his friends, colleagues, and former students, address a wide and diverse range of subjects.The first part of the book contains material on Tolkien the man and the scholar. It includes his obituary notices from The Times of London and his valedictory address at Oxford in which he points out, eloquently and purposefully, the artificiality of the split between language and literary study. The second part consists of critical essays representing Tolkien's major scholarly interests—Old Norse, Old English, and Middle English literatures. The last part includes three pieces on Tolkien's popular writings, particularly The Lord of the Rings, and a bibliography of his published writings.Contributors: J. A. W. Bennett, A. J. Bliss, Derek S. Brewer, Humphrey Carpenter, S. T. R. O. d'Ardenne, William Dowie, Ursula Dronke, Robert T. Farrell, P. J. Frankis, Douglas Gray, Fred C. Robinson, Geoffrey T. Shepherd, T. A. Shippey, E. G. Stanley, J. R. R. Tolkien, Rosemary Woolf

This handsome volume is not only in memory of a distinguished scholar and storyteller but in honor of him, also, and merits a prominent place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in medieval studies or in Tolkien's fiction—if indeed his readership can be so nearly divided into two groups., "This is a book to read and savor many times. Tolkien emerges as a Christian; a learned linguist of Old Celtic, Old Welsh, Old Norse, Old French, Greek, Latin, et al; an artist and storyteller; a humanitarian and family man; and 'the best and worst talker in Oxford—worst for the rapidity and indistinctness of his speech, and best for the penetration, learning, humor, and "race" of what he said.'"—Birmingham News

Mary Salu retired as Principal Lecturer in English, St. Mary’s College, Newcastle upon Tyne. The late Robert T. Farrell was Professor of English, Medieval Studies, and Archaeology at Cornell University.