[The Saucepan Man]

Pardon me for being all grouchy again, but the Star Wars discussion is off topic on two grounds. First, it doesn't concern LotR. And secondly, the purpose of the Big Read, as I have already pointed out, is to find Britain's favourite book, not the best book ever written. Relative popularity can be determined on an objective basis with reasonable ease. Relative quality cannot. There is no truly objective answer to the question: "Is Star Wars the best film ever made?", as it is a matter of opinion.

So let's get back to the discussion of LotR and the Big Read.

i hardly think that several Tolkien fans voting over and over again is going to affect the outcome of this poll.

I thoroughly agree, Failivrin.

we must not forget that it has constantly topped polls for over 40 years.

Good point, although there is no guarantee that it will continue to do so. Mind you, I would say that the longer it stays at the top of the poularity chart, the more we can, I think, begin legitimately to draw conclusions from this as to its quality.