England and Always: Tolkien's World of the Rings

. . .that I've ever read -- and I've read quite a few.Professor Jared Lobdell, the editor of "A Tolkien Compass" (see my review) has, in this volume, contributed several original critical essays on Tolkien and his creation. In emphasizing his Edwardian English background and his academic life as a philolgist, Lobdell covers important ground. But it is in his third essay "The Timeless Momement" where Lobdell demonstrates his insightfulness and creativity. It is in this essay that the Catholic Christianity of Tolkien is analyzed in light of his created world of Middle-Earth. It is one of very few essays to ever address the theological or philosophical background in Tolkien's work -- and one of the very best.If the reader truly wishes to understand the man behind Middle-Earth, this book is a "must-read".

. . .amid all the "hyperfandom" surrounding the Professor and his work, comes a collection of essays written by Professor Jared Lobdell which are clear, coherent, well-reasoned -- and, in the opinion of this hobbit, right on target. Through the pages of this book, the REAL JRR Tolkien comes to life in a new way.If hobbits reading this review own only one book of Tolkien criticism, this should be the one. I hope that it returns to print.

Jared Lobdell argues that Tolkien's influences are: 1) his Edwardian upbringing 2) his expertise in philology and 3) his Catholicism. He supports these contentions eloquently. I am very tempted to offer an excerpt in support, but the book is so tightly integrated, such a cohesive whole, that to excise any part of it is to do an injustice to the thought expressed. But I will quote from the backcover: "Lobell's explanations for the appeal of the Lord of the Rings are original and convincing...The reader soon discovers this is not the ordinary scholarly mongraph, but an essay, written with charm and quiet authority, in which bigger game than literary criticism is being stalked." The author of the quote is Charles A. Huttar, then a Professor of English at Hope College. Can't say it any better than that.

Professor Lobdell has done an outstanding job in presenting the writings of JRR Tolkien in light of his background, his professional scholarship, and his Catholicism. The essays show insight without "overreading" the works. The best essay is "The Timeless Moment", which describes in detail how Tolkien's Christianity pervades his works without becoming "preachy". A good set of essays. I'm sorry that it has gone out of print.