LotR - Germany's favorite book! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Child of the 7th Age · 10-05-2004, 11:59 AM

Esty, Mithalwen,

What actually suprised me was the reponse in the British press to the news. See this article from the Guardian on the popularity of LotR in Germany.

Hmm....sounds like the same old saw: that people turn to Tolkien as a way to escape in times of trouble. I don't know enough about the appeal of the book in Germany or the current economic conditions in the country to know if there is a grain of truth in the Guardian article, but it sounds a bit fishy to me.

If anything, I think Tolkien's popularity underlines how very international our culture has become: how a book from one country can attract so many people from so many different backgrounds and diverse locations, despite the lanuage barriers.

Interestingly, I just got a paperback German copy of The Hobbit the other day. If things ever settle down here, I thought I would use it to brush up on my very rusty language skills. (I can read some German because of my background in grad school, but unfortunately can not speak it.)

10-05-2004, 11:59 AM	#4
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Esty, Mithalwen, What actually suprised me was the reponse in the British press to the news. See this article from the Guardian on the popularity of LotR in Germany. Hmm....sounds like the same old saw: that people turn to Tolkien as a way to escape in times of trouble. I don't know enough about the appeal of the book in Germany or the current economic conditions in the country to know if there is a grain of truth in the Guardian article, but it sounds a bit fishy to me. If anything, I think Tolkien's popularity underlines how very international our culture has become: how a book from one country can attract so many people from so many different backgrounds and diverse locations, despite the lanuage barriers. Interestingly, I just got a paperback German copy of The Hobbit the other day. If things ever settle down here, I thought I would use it to brush up on my very rusty language skills. (I can read some German because of my background in grad school, but unfortunately can not speak it.) __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote. Last edited by Child of the 7th Age; 10-05-2004 at 12:03 PM.