In Praise of Christopher Tolkien

[Thinlómien]

It has always amazed me how Christopher Tolkien has devoted his life to his father's work. Yes, we all know J.R.R. Tolkien's creations are awesome and unique. And yes, JRRT was CT's well-loved father. But it still baffles me - the kind of humility of it - that someone devotes his life to someone else's (rather unfinished) imaginary world. It is kind of admirable.

I also think CT has done well in editing his father's texts (in most cases) and he's been able to admit his own mistakes - I don't remember the details, but in one of the volumes of HoME he kind of corrects something he wrote in the Silmarillion.

It's sad CT has become such a "bad" name to so many Tolkien fans of late. I can definitely see where it's coming from but it's a shame nevertheless given how much of what we have of his father's work is thanks to him. Sometimes it's a shame good people act like jerks in some issues, I guess.