A fascinating insider's interview - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Rumil · 08-25-2008, 03:53 PM

My word,

what a find Lalaith! The psychologists would have a field day!

A few thoughts off the top of my head.

Social position in those days often brought insecurity with it, doubly so in a place such as Oxford I should imagine. Was Edith perhaps frightened in a way of 'letting down' her husband with his highly prestigious position as Professor? No doubt the dons were a difficult bunch to interact with socially, even for a respectable married woman. Seems very sad as Lalaith says, but 30s Britain was class-concious to an extreme, most intimidating no doubt.

Still there are worrying tones of Lobelia.

I love the Prof's colourful waistcoats! I hope he replaced the brass buttons with big gold ones like Bilbo's after the books became successful.

I wonder if Adda was stereotypically Icelandic - blonde hair, blue eyes etc, no wonder Edith kept a close eye! Was Adda proto-Eowyn perhaps??

08-25-2008, 03:53 PM	#10
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	Inspector Norse My word, what a find Lalaith! The psychologists would have a field day! A few thoughts off the top of my head. Social position in those days often brought insecurity with it, doubly so in a place such as Oxford I should imagine. Was Edith perhaps frightened in a way of 'letting down' her husband with his highly prestigious position as Professor? No doubt the dons were a difficult bunch to interact with socially, even for a respectable married woman. Seems very sad as Lalaith says, but 30s Britain was class-concious to an extreme, most intimidating no doubt. Still there are worrying tones of Lobelia. I love the Prof's colourful waistcoats! I hope he replaced the brass buttons with big gold ones like Bilbo's after the books became successful. I wonder if Adda was stereotypically Icelandic - blonde hair, blue eyes etc, no wonder Edith kept a close eye! Was Adda proto-Eowyn perhaps?? __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion