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mark12_30 · 01-14-2004, 07:32 AM

Yé! utúvienyes! "I have found it!"

Okay, for the rest of you maybe it was never lost.

When I was in high school ('75-'79) I remember being puzzled and nonplussed by Ready's cold dismissal of Aragorn as overly noble and therefore uninteresting. Then I was absolutely elated when-- somebody, some critic, some wonderful good-guy-Tolkien-fan-- found Aragorn as interesting and admirable as I did. That critic proceeded to open up Aragorn's character in ways I had not begun to conceive. I've often wished to find that chapter again, and it's one reason I've been combing thru the old critics (not the only reason.)

Well, it was Paul H. Kocher. The book is called "Master of Middle-Earth", copyright 1972. It's fascinating reading, and Kocher is easy to warm up to; Kocher is willing to give Tolkien slack on numerous issues that he sees as probable contradictions-- when in fact, those who have read the Sil (LUCKY US!!) know that Tolkien had long ago figured all that stuff out. I think Kocher would have been tickled pink. (Maybe he is.)

A review will follow when I'm done enjoying this charming old book.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 11:41 AM January 14, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

01-14-2004, 07:32 AM	#28
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Yé! utúvienyes! "I have found it!" Okay, for the rest of you maybe it was never lost. When I was in high school ('75-'79) I remember being puzzled and nonplussed by Ready's cold dismissal of Aragorn as overly noble and therefore uninteresting. Then I was absolutely elated when-- somebody, some critic, some wonderful good-guy-Tolkien-fan-- found Aragorn as interesting and admirable as I did. That critic proceeded to open up Aragorn's character in ways I had not begun to conceive. I've often wished to find that chapter again, and it's one reason I've been combing thru the old critics (not the only reason.) Well, it was Paul H. Kocher. The book is called "Master of Middle-Earth", copyright 1972. It's fascinating reading, and Kocher is easy to warm up to; Kocher is willing to give Tolkien slack on numerous issues that he sees as probable contradictions-- when in fact, those who have read the Sil (LUCKY US!!) know that Tolkien had long ago figured all that stuff out. I think Kocher would have been tickled pink. (Maybe he is.) A review will follow when I'm done enjoying this charming old book. <font size=1 color=339966>[ 11:41 AM January 14, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.