[mark12_30]

• Title: Tolkien in the Land of Heroes: Discovering the Human Spirit
• Author: Anne C. Petty
• Date of Copyright: 2003.
• Edition: First.
• Summary description of the book's main themes
  Petty discusses the Fall From Virtue of the primary characters in Tolkien's legendarium and the pervasive effect that the fall has on Tolkien's world as a whole. She assumes a thorough working knowledge of the main works: The Hobbit and the Trilogy, but also the Silmarillion (upon which many of her arguments begin.)
  After the introduction, the book's four parts are:
  The Myth of the Fall in which Petty discusses the high crimes and misdemeanors of various Valar and Maiar. This is followed by the Fall as seen in specific Elves through the ages, Men in general, Numenor, Isildur, Denethor, and Boromir; and a shorter discussion of Dwarves and Hobbits.
  The Consequences of Power includes a discussion on various Agents of Evil (from Morgoth to Mumaks) and with regard to the use of power, the difference between creativity-art-enchantment and dominance-machinery-magic.
  Loss and Longing includes a treatment of nostalgia and history versus elven weariness contrasted with mannish aging and death. Then there is an in-depth examination of broken relationships, a treatment of doom and destiny, and a discussion of the physical Marrin of Arda.
  Of Heroes and Hope: Petty's eucatastrophe in which she rescues the reader from the grueling nature of the three preceeding sections. Finally we hear the horns of Rohan; the Eagles are coming; Turgon has emerged from Gondolin. Her treatment and analysis of Tolkien's heroes is a worthy and uplifting finale.
• Strengths and weaknesses of the book:
  Personally, I found no significant weakness in this book. However it does contain a real difficulty for the reader which the author points out herself: "The myth of The Fall, both in religious terms and in terms of society at large, is the grand canvas upon which Tolkien's entire legendarium has been painted, many layers deep. There is much darkness and dread in those layers before we can get to the light. Here be dragons and much, much more." She does not exaggerate. This book is heavy going and you may want to keep a Bugs Bunny video nearby for comic relief. But it is well worth the effort and perseverance. Her perspectives are deep, her grasp of Tolkien is thorough, and her sympathy for and understanding of his characters is profound.
• Whether you generally recommend this book and why
  Yes, highly recommended. "Tolkien in the Land of Heroes" is a superb treatment of The Fall, evil, and heroism.
• Whether you specifically recommend it for novices and why.
  It may not be a good first introduction into Tolkien analysis because of its tightly focused theme and the intensity of the analysis. It also requires a working understanding of The Silmarillion. Those looking for an introductory critical overview might prefer to start with a more general treatment such as Tom Shippey's "Road to Middle-Earth".

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 9:04 AM January 05, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]