The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún: Pre- and Reviews - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 01-06-2009, 06:52 AM

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/73781-page.html

HarperCollins is to publish a new book by the late Lord of the Rings author J R R Tolkien. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, edited and introduced by Tolkien’s son Christopher, will be published in hardback in May 2009.

The previously unpublished work was written while Tolkien was professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University during the 1920s and '30s, before he wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The publication will make available for the first time Tolkien’s extensive retelling in English narrative verse of the epic Norse tales of Sigurd the Völsung and the Fall of the Niflungs.

Christopher Tolkien edited Tolkien's most recent title The Children of Húrin in 2007.

Further details about the contents of the book will be revealed closer to publication.

Leyrana Silumiel · 01-06-2009, 08:47 AM

Oh my goodness me indeed!

Beregond · 01-06-2009, 09:11 AM

Assuming it's true (forgive the skepticism, but there are a lot of false rumours), you beat TheOneRing.net to the story!

Hookbill the Goomba · 01-06-2009, 09:45 AM

Given some of the similarities in the stories, it doesn't surprise me that this is coming out now, with Children of Hurin still fresh in our minds. Wasn't this one of Tolkien's favourite stories as a child? I seem to recall reading that, but it's been a while since I read a proper biography...

Estelyn Telcontar · 01-06-2009, 11:01 AM

But - but it's not even close to April 1st yet!

davem · 01-06-2009, 11:04 AM

Don't know if anyone recalls William Cloud Hicklin mentioning on another thread that CT was working on a volume of his father's verse - looks like this is it. I've been wanting to read Tolkien's 'New Volsungasaga' since it was mentioned in Carpenter's biography.

Morthoron · 05-07-2009, 07:51 PM

Below find the complete review by Shippey of Tolkien's 'THE LEGEND OF SIGURD AND GUDRÚN' in the Times Literary Supplement Online. It carries the heavy-handed (almost Wagnerian) title "Tolkien out-Wagners Wagner":

http://entertainment.timesonline.co....MC-Bltn=PMUFMA

Very intriguing and deep. Not for the faint of heart, but quite interesting to this English Major. I'm sure not everyone will find the implications of the use of parataxis and asyndeton fascinating, I do.

Morthoron · 05-12-2009, 11:14 PM

And a negative review, citation courtesy of our friends over on TheOneRing.net:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/b...en-review.html

It would seem someone peed in this guy's Cheerios. "Flogging a dead Norse", although somewhat witty in an LOL, internet-chat sense, is quite inane in a critique of a serious work, and his continued reliance on name-dropping Peter Jackson and the fans of the movie is rather missing the point. Everyone knows the fans of the movie can't read.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 05-13-2009, 02:42 AM

That is a quite outrageously irrelevant review by this Sanderson guy. No critical worth whatsoever.

Shippey's review was highly enjoyable to read; a man who knows and enjoys the subject, so clearly he can tell the reader a little something.

Bêthberry · 05-13-2009, 11:23 AM

There's already been a fair bit of discussion of these reviews on the thread which announced the publication of S & G: Oh My Goodness Me!!!. You might want to check it out.

Lalaith · 05-13-2009, 11:25 AM

That Shippey review is brilliant. In fact, I think I'm in love.
Two highlights:

Quote:

Where Norse clashes, English tends to patter

Oh yes.
And:

Quote:

But if you need everything spelt out, Eddic poetry is not for you, and nor is Icelandic saga: read Trollope instead. You must listen also for slight but significant changes in repeated wording, sometimes made more significant in meaning by the slightness of the verbal change.

yes, yes, yes. Not terribly fair on Trollope: 'watch Peter Jackson instead' might have been more appropriate...

Meanwhile, my computer is refusing to load the Telegraph review. Judging by what you guys have said about it, my computer clearly has taste...

Lalaith · 05-13-2009, 11:43 AM

Ok, I've just read the Telegraph review. How embarrassing. ...."based on the Norse saga, the Elder Edda". About as well-informed as saying "based on the epic poem, Oliver Twist."

Anyway, back to the much more interesting Shippey review.

Quote:

Why should Gudrún wish to protect the brothers who murdered her husband? Is that just because kinship is stronger than love?

This is a very interesting point and, IMO, the answer is yes. The vengeful sister is a recurring theme in early North Europe, and brother/sister links in royal families were very strong - look at the Picts, and at Arthur's ties to his sister's sons, Gawain and co....

And this:

Quote:

Once they have been captured, why does Gunnar refuse to speak until he has seen his brother Högni’s heart

Shippey answers this himself.

Quote:

a touchstone for the true heroic temper: proud, mean, contemptuous, ending in silence.

This is spot on, and Tolkien got it....Jackson didn't, with all his silly angsty stuff around Aragorn in the films. In heroic epic, less is more, emotions-wise. It was THE huge flaw of the films.

Mithalwen · 05-13-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalaith

Not terribly fair on Trollope: 'watch Peter Jackson instead' might have been more appropriate...

Depends if he means Anthony or Joanna.... if Anthony I will growl and it is an odd choice since he is another author, like Tolkien, whom the literati like to sneer at...
*retreats imagining a face off between Dr Theophilus Grantly and Gandalf...*

01-06-2009, 06:52 AM	#1
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Oh My Goodness Me!!! http://www.thebookseller.com/news/73781-page.html HarperCollins is to publish a new book by the late Lord of the Rings author J R R Tolkien. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, edited and introduced by Tolkien’s son Christopher, will be published in hardback in May 2009. The previously unpublished work was written while Tolkien was professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University during the 1920s and '30s, before he wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The publication will make available for the first time Tolkien’s extensive retelling in English narrative verse of the epic Norse tales of Sigurd the Völsung and the Fall of the Niflungs. Christopher Tolkien edited Tolkien's most recent title The Children of Húrin in 2007. Further details about the contents of the book will be revealed closer to publication. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

01-06-2009, 09:11 AM	#3
Beregond Playful Ghoul Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,251	Assuming it's true (forgive the skepticism, but there are a lot of false rumours), you beat TheOneRing.net to the story! __________________ "Hope and memory shall live still in some hidden valley where the grass is green."

01-06-2009, 09:45 AM	#4
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	Given some of the similarities in the stories, it doesn't surprise me that this is coming out now, with Children of Hurin still fresh in our minds. Wasn't this one of Tolkien's favourite stories as a child? I seem to recall reading that, but it's been a while since I read a proper biography... __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

01-06-2009, 11:01 AM	#5
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	But - but it's not even close to April 1st yet! __________________ '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...'

01-06-2009, 11:04 AM	#6
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Don't know if anyone recalls William Cloud Hicklin mentioning on another thread that CT was working on a volume of his father's verse - looks like this is it. I've been wanting to read Tolkien's 'New Volsungasaga' since it was mentioned in Carpenter's biography. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

01-06-2009, 08:47 AM	#2
Leyrana Silumiel Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Alabama, USA Posts: 58	Oh my goodness me indeed!

05-07-2009, 07:51 PM	#7
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,515	The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún: Pre- and Reviews Below find the complete review by Shippey of Tolkien's 'THE LEGEND OF SIGURD AND GUDRÚN' in the Times Literary Supplement Online. It carries the heavy-handed (almost Wagnerian) title "Tolkien out-Wagners Wagner": http://entertainment.timesonline.co....MC-Bltn=PMUFMA Very intriguing and deep. Not for the faint of heart, but quite interesting to this English Major. I'm sure not everyone will find the implications of the use of parataxis and asyndeton fascinating, I do. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

05-12-2009, 11:14 PM	#8
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,515	And a negative review, citation courtesy of our friends over on TheOneRing.net: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/b...en-review.html It would seem someone peed in this guy's Cheerios. "Flogging a dead Norse", although somewhat witty in an LOL, internet-chat sense, is quite inane in a critique of a serious work, and his continued reliance on name-dropping Peter Jackson and the fans of the movie is rather missing the point. Everyone knows the fans of the movie can't read. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

05-13-2009, 02:42 AM	#9
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	That is a quite outrageously irrelevant review by this Sanderson guy. No critical worth whatsoever. Shippey's review was highly enjoyable to read; a man who knows and enjoys the subject, so clearly he can tell the reader a little something. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

05-13-2009, 11:23 AM	#10
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	There's already been a fair bit of discussion of these reviews on the thread which announced the publication of S & G: Oh My Goodness Me!!!. You might want to check it out. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.