"The Downsters And The Critics"

[Bêthberry]

Let me second Pio's request for a review from Child of Jane Chance's Tolkien the Medievalist.

Here is an online review by David Bratman of J R R Tolkien and his Literary Resonances. This is a book I would be particularly interested in reading so I will try to find it here, Child.

Also, I can do a review of Pearce's Tolkien: A Celebration since I have a copy.

Helen, I think this thread is a wonderful idea, but I'm a bit confused about why you say you want it for novices.

Novices, to my mind, would be reading the primary sources--Tolkien's major texts (TH, LOTR, TS, then BOLT, UT, HOME, the essays also)--while the resources here are secondary. (This is the traditional distinction in literary studies.)

I would think these secondary resources would be of interest to people who regularly read the Books forum and after reading Tolkien's own work.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I would think that reviews would be directed to a Books audience rather than a N & N audience--not that there is any question of age or intelligence, just one of familiarity with the sources. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Bethberry