This isn't an academic book and isn't very well written but it is very informative. It makes sensible comparisons to pagan, mythical and historical sources Tolkien drew on while also placing everything in the context of the overall Augustinian conception of evil that the stories and characters are centred on. There are several timelines which help to make sense of the sprawling characters and events in the books. An easy read with interesting illustrations throughout.
User Profile
This link opens in a pop-up window
melangell's books
To Read (View all 212)
Currently Reading
User Activity
RSS feed Back
melangell rated The Orthodox Church: 4 stars
The Orthodox Church by Kallistos Ware
Since its first publication fifty years ago, Timothy Ware's book has become established throughout the English-speaking world as the standard …
melangell rated The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: 5 stars
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff
"Shoshana Zuboff, named "the true prophet of the information age" by the Financial Times, has always been ahead of her …
melangell rated The Gentle Art of Tramping: 5 stars
melangell rated The Heroes of Tolkien: 4 stars
melangell reviewed The Dark Powers of Tolkien by David Day
Review of 'The Dark Powers of Tolkien' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
This isn't an academic book and isn't very well written but it is very informative. It makes sensible comparisons to pagan, mythical and historical sources Tolkien drew on while also placing everything in the context of the overall Augustinian conception of evil that the stories and characters are centred on. There are several timelines which help to make sense of the sprawling characters and events in the books. An easy read with interesting illustrations throughout.
melangell rated The letters of Abelard and Heloise: 3 stars
The letters of Abelard and Heloise by Peter Abelard, Heloise., Michael Clanchy (Penguin classics)
One of the world’s most celebrated and tragic love affairs. Through the letters between Abelard and Heloise, we follow the …
melangell rated The Wild Places: 5 stars
melangell rated The Monocle Book of Gentle Living: 2 stars
The Monocle Book of Gentle Living by Tyler Brûlé, Andrew Tuck, Joe Pickard, and 1 other
melangell rated Yes Yes More More: 4 stars
melangell rated Essentialism: 3 stars
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Essentialism isn't about getting more done in less time. It's about getting only the right things done. Have you ever …
melangell rated Brothers Karamazov: 4 stars
Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Brothers Karamazov (Russian: Бра́тья Карама́зовы, Brat'ya Karamazovy, pronounced [ˈbratʲjə kərɐˈmazəvɨ]), also translated as The Karamazov Brothers, is the last …
melangell rated Tales from the Perilous Realm: 5 stars
melangell reviewed Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues by Mark Eddy Smith
The Lord of the Rings offers us essential lessons in living. Here we discover ordinary …
Review of "Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues" on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
Not much here that hasn't been said before, but still enjoyable and no far-fetched notions.
Not much here that hasn't been said before, but still enjoyable and no far-fetched notions.