Christopher Tolkien to finish lost Middle Earth novel - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 04-17-2007, 04:40 AM

More:
http://www.centredaily.com/188/story/70971.html

&
http://www.courant.com/features/life...headlines-life

From which we get:

Quote:

In the 1950s, Smith created the first index for Lord of the Rings, a task that required sorting out the elaborate Middle-earth world.

She once had to deliver a talk to the Tolkien Society about the author's work. Having met him only a few times, Smith felt she needed more information. Tolkien, whom she describes as cheerful and chatty, hastily sent off three-and-a-half handwritten pages about his life and work.

"I think he was a little tipsy when he wrote it, but it was very good," she says. She simply read the letter to the society and the talk was a success.

davem · 04-17-2007, 05:20 AM

Michael Drout review of CoH
http://wormtalk.blogspot.com/2007/04...-contains.html

Lalwendë · 04-17-2007, 06:22 AM

And now it has made the BBC News website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6562757.stm

davem · 04-17-2007, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

And now it has made the BBC News website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6562757.stm

Might be worth keeping an eye on the BBC podcasts site too:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...4778.stm#daily - may become available for download soon

Also try 'Listen Again' for 'Front Row' right now - AS Byatt on CoH

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml

She doesn't like it (neither does Mark Lawson)

Lalwendë · 04-17-2007, 09:05 AM

Update to the BBC news site with words from Adam.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6562757.stm

It's interesting as he seems to be following in his father's footsteps regarding the 'official line' on the films and what they have done:

Quote:

Tolkien's grandson Adam, who worked as assistant editor on the book, was also at the launch.

He said he was "sad" at how some fans have forgotten about who his grandfather actually was.

"Everyone talks about the brand , the franchise and the films. People obviously forget there's a man behind it, that he wrote it for his reasons and the books are wonderful," he added.

"I'm certainly not unhappy about the success they've had, but it's a shame that it should become a brand. It's a work of art."

Strong words.

davem · 04-17-2007, 09:31 AM

I think AT's statement reflects the same feelings his father has expressed - its never seemed to me that they 'hate' the movies, but rather that they fear 'Tolkien' becoming a 'brand' & the books as 'First draft screenplays'. AT is right - Tolkien's work is Art, not merely a source for Hollywood to mine for their next blockbuster.

I think its clear from both AT & CT's comments that a movie of CoH is not on the cards 'for the forseeable future' as they put it on their site. Again, not because they necessarily hold any animus towards the LotR movies, but simply because they want to re-establish in the public consciousness the fact that JRR Tolkien was an author, not a comercial brand name.

Lalaith · 04-17-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

She doesn't like it (neither does Mark Lawson)

She at least criticises constructively, as a LotR fan....Lawson does the usual clever-clogs lazy urban sneery thing, which I could, quite frankly, have predicted.
"I just don't care about the difference between a dwarf and an elf."

I like the way she puts him down at that point.

"That's because you don't read Norse mythology."

Anyway, Lal and Dave, lucky possessors of the Precious, I'm still awaiting an answer to my question up there *points*

Child of the 7th Age · 04-17-2007, 09:50 AM

Lalwende,

Thanks for Adam's words on the BBC news site. That is a great link and a great quote, if only people will read it carefully. It is a beautiful answer to a lot of "garbage" that was floating around the internet in terms of the family's supposed reaction to the films.

The more I hear from Adam, the more I am impressed. I am wondering this. It seems as if Adam is featured more and more prominently in recent press releases, interviews, etc. from the Estate. As an assistant editor, he is also getting experience in working with the family's manuscripts. Can we assume that the family is planning on putting Adam in a position similar to that which Christopher presently occupies on the sad die that the older generation passes away? Is it possible that he will be given the blessing even to do limited releases of material or make decisions such as when and if the Beowulf papers will be made public?

One last word....thanks everyone for posting the news as I would never have time to search out these links. And a special thanks to you and davem for giving so much time and effort to this. It's been a joy.

Bêthberry · 04-17-2007, 09:54 AM

So what shall I do? Go buy the book and read it, or spend what time I have for leisure listening to all these nattering nabobs of negativism?

One thing that Byatt said was, I think, whistfully telling. In complaining that CoH doesn't give enough development or information about the characters--so that she doesn't care about them--she said that she was absolutely sure that Tolkien's head held that information, that he had fully imagined all the characters. And that she recognizes the wonderful aspect of his thoughts about language change, and that she really quite regretted that this fullness was not brought out in the text, despite the constant changing of sword names etc.

It's as if she recognizes that Tolkien had a genius and regrets that it doesn't come through in this text. So, is she more generous than most of the nay-sayers? I'm not sure. This could simply be that very British way of being backhandedly snarky. Yes, that's it, I think. Now I shall go snooping through her novels trying to decide what nasty sort of character actually speaks with her voice.

Oh, yes, and of course she claims her credentials about northern myths. I recognise the type.

Sauron the White · 04-17-2007, 10:28 AM

Please allow me to throw a little cold water on this. Given the statements of the last few days, it seems one very big reason for "new book" is the Estate and HC want to reclaim the spotlight that they feel was taken from them with the wild success of the three films. So in order to do that they take a bunch of previously published material and repackage it and call it the first new Tolkien book in thirty years.

Look folks, I am happy to have the story of Turin in one very pretty volume. Its worth the money. But some of the reaction here and on other sites is akin to The Emperors New Clothes. Why is it being ignored that this so-called "new" book is not new at all?

I thought the cynical Sellamillion criticism of the SILMARALLION was absurd. Readers were getting a very substantial book about new tales that they had not previously been privileged to read. But this time - COH - its nothing like that. The recent statements that a prime motivation was to regain the spotlight for the books away from the films just adds to that negative feeling for me.

THIS IS NOT A NEW BOOK. The marketting slogan slogan should be "new sales but no new tales".

04-17-2007, 05:20 AM	#2
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	Michael Drout review of CoH http://wormtalk.blogspot.com/2007/04...-contains.html __________________ “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."

04-17-2007, 06:22 AM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	And now it has made the BBC News website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6562757.stm __________________ Gordon's alive!

04-17-2007, 09:31 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	I think AT's statement reflects the same feelings his father has expressed - its never seemed to me that they 'hate' the movies, but rather that they fear 'Tolkien' becoming a 'brand' & the books as 'First draft screenplays'. AT is right - Tolkien's work is Art, not merely a source for Hollywood to mine for their next blockbuster. I think its clear from both AT & CT's comments that a movie of CoH is not on the cards 'for the forseeable future' as they put it on their site. Again, not because they necessarily hold any animus towards the LotR movies, but simply because they want to re-establish in the public consciousness the fact that JRR Tolkien was an author, not a comercial brand name. __________________ “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."

04-17-2007, 09:50 AM	#8
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Lalwende, Thanks for Adam's words on the BBC news site. That is a great link and a great quote, if only people will read it carefully. It is a beautiful answer to a lot of "garbage" that was floating around the internet in terms of the family's supposed reaction to the films. The more I hear from Adam, the more I am impressed. I am wondering this. It seems as if Adam is featured more and more prominently in recent press releases, interviews, etc. from the Estate. As an assistant editor, he is also getting experience in working with the family's manuscripts. Can we assume that the family is planning on putting Adam in a position similar to that which Christopher presently occupies on the sad die that the older generation passes away? Is it possible that he will be given the blessing even to do limited releases of material or make decisions such as when and if the Beowulf papers will be made public? One last word....thanks everyone for posting the news as I would never have time to search out these links. And a special thanks to you and davem for giving so much time and effort to this. It's been a joy. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

04-17-2007, 09:54 AM	#9
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	So what shall I do? Go buy the book and read it, or spend what time I have for leisure listening to all these nattering nabobs of negativism? One thing that Byatt said was, I think, whistfully telling. In complaining that CoH doesn't give enough development or information about the characters--so that she doesn't care about them--she said that she was absolutely sure that Tolkien's head held that information, that he had fully imagined all the characters. And that she recognizes the wonderful aspect of his thoughts about language change, and that she really quite regretted that this fullness was not brought out in the text, despite the constant changing of sword names etc. It's as if she recognizes that Tolkien had a genius and regrets that it doesn't come through in this text. So, is she more generous than most of the nay-sayers? I'm not sure. This could simply be that very British way of being backhandedly snarky. Yes, that's it, I think. Now I shall go snooping through her novels trying to decide what nasty sort of character actually speaks with her voice. Oh, yes, and of course she claims her credentials about northern myths. I recognise the type.

04-17-2007, 10:28 AM	#10
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Please allow me to throw a little cold water on this. Given the statements of the last few days, it seems one very big reason for "new book" is the Estate and HC want to reclaim the spotlight that they feel was taken from them with the wild success of the three films. So in order to do that they take a bunch of previously published material and repackage it and call it the first new Tolkien book in thirty years. Look folks, I am happy to have the story of Turin in one very pretty volume. Its worth the money. But some of the reaction here and on other sites is akin to The Emperors New Clothes. Why is it being ignored that this so-called "new" book is not new at all? I thought the cynical Sellamillion criticism of the SILMARALLION was absurd. Readers were getting a very substantial book about new tales that they had not previously been privileged to read. But this time - COH - its nothing like that. The recent statements that a prime motivation was to regain the spotlight for the books away from the films just adds to that negative feeling for me. THIS IS NOT A NEW BOOK. The marketting slogan slogan should be "new sales but no new tales".