I've been reading the Extended Edition of
Smith of Wootton Major, with comments and additional material, including a letter Tolkien wrote concerning a fairy tale by G. MacDonald. He did not appreciate the story much, though he did not say so publicly. What he said reminded me immediately of this discussion, and I would like to quote one sentence here:
Quote:
|
It is better anyway to preach by example than by criticism of others.
|
It seems to me that it would have been wise for Pullmann to take that advice to heart...
__________________
'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth..
.'