The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún: Pre- and Reviews - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 05-03-2009, 09:47 AM

I suspect that Mark Sanderson of The Telegraph was simply doing his darnedest to work up to a line he couldn't resist.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanderson review

there is no disguising the fact that everyone involved is simply flogging a dead Norse.

That's a line that would make some Downers proud. However, his premise is rather wrong. Christopher Tolkien was editing and publishing his father's works long before Jackson's film came out, so I doubt that the popularity of the film is what solely motivated this publication. Chances are it would have come out anyway, just likely in a different form, published in a scholarly journal perhaps or a festschrift to the arcane things medieval scholars do (did) rather than in a HarperCollins book.

John Garth's review in The Times is the one for those who know the most about Tolkien the writer and the one which most persuades me that the reviewer knows a bit about what he writes--there's actually a point of view in there that one could have a decent discussion over. But then, I'm not movie-inspired, and Sanderson and Harrison are writing to that crowd.

William Cloud Hicklin · 05-03-2009, 10:46 AM

Sanderson's scurrilous point is rather undermined by the fact that Sigurd and Gudrun were originally prepared for publication in the mid-1980's- years and years before the Jackson movies.

Truth be told, CT is bringing them out now because some of us asked him to.

(Sanderson also betrays his ignorance by calling Gudrun Sigurd's "sister"- she is of course Gunnar's sister and Sigurd's widow.)

William Cloud Hicklin · 05-03-2009, 10:58 AM

Here's another, from a source predisposed to be favorable:

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/...and_Gudrun.php

davem · 05-05-2009, 05:37 AM

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009...rd-gudrun-poem

William Cloud Hicklin · 05-05-2009, 08:39 AM

More reviews-

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...050403462.html

CanWest News: http://www.canada.com/Beyond+Middle+...346/story.html

Library Journal: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6655942.html

William Cloud Hicklin · 05-05-2009, 10:33 AM

New Sigurd & Gudrun section at the official Estate website!

http://www.tolkienestate.com/sigurd-and-gudrun/

Aiwendil · 05-05-2009, 04:28 PM

Just bought it! Though I won't have a chance to start on it in earnest until tomorrow, I have read Christopher Tolkien's Foreword. First impressions: The lays themselves are shorter than I expected; each 'half-line' is actually printed as a separate line, and there are only 24 per page. I for one am very glad that the book is filled out with Christopher's commentary and with material from Tolkien's lectures on Old Norse. The book has a very nice look and feel, and the wood-carving-style drawings preceding each section are a nice touch.

05-03-2009, 10:46 AM	#2
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Sanderson's scurrilous point is rather undermined by the fact that Sigurd and Gudrun were originally prepared for publication in the mid-1980's- years and years before the Jackson movies. Truth be told, CT is bringing them out now because some of us asked him to. (Sanderson also betrays his ignorance by calling Gudrun Sigurd's "sister"- she is of course Gunnar's sister and Sigurd's widow.) __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

05-03-2009, 10:58 AM	#3
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Here's another, from a source predisposed to be favorable: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/...and_Gudrun.php __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

05-05-2009, 05:37 AM	#4
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	Christopher Tolkien Q&A http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009...rd-gudrun-poem __________________ “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."

05-05-2009, 08:39 AM	#5
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	More reviews- Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...050403462.html CanWest News: http://www.canada.com/Beyond+Middle+...346/story.html Library Journal: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6655942.html __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

05-05-2009, 10:33 AM	#6
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	New Sigurd & Gudrun section at the official Estate website! http://www.tolkienestate.com/sigurd-and-gudrun/ __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

05-05-2009, 04:28 PM	#7
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	Just bought it! Though I won't have a chance to start on it in earnest until tomorrow, I have read Christopher Tolkien's Foreword. First impressions: The lays themselves are shorter than I expected; each 'half-line' is actually printed as a separate line, and there are only 24 per page. I for one am very glad that the book is filled out with Christopher's commentary and with material from Tolkien's lectures on Old Norse. The book has a very nice look and feel, and the wood-carving-style drawings preceding each section are a nice touch.