This is a most excellent, well researched and well written book; well worth buying and reading carefully. My only criticism is that Prof. Wood does not delve deeply enough into the specifics of the Roman Catholic mysticism which permeate all of Tolkien's truly brilliant works. Nevertheless, Professor Wood very eloquently and specifically demonstrates how Tolkien's works are indeed filled with Truth: Christian ideas and virtues. Furthermore, Prof. Wood looks into several key examples of lives in Tolkien who triumph through virtue and grace, to rise above the sin and death of Middle-earth (and thus of our world), as well as highlight those poor creatures, great and small, who succumb to the allure of pride, dominion, lust for power and greed. He likewise explores those characters who fall prey to great evil; who foolishly give up hope and sadly sink into despondency, with its resulting outcomes.
It helps a great deal if Wood's readers are already quite familiar with all the great works of Tolkien, not merely the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Yet, it could be said that this book might for some new readers, act as a springboard into the brilliance and extreme depth of Tolkien; those perhaps only familiar with the films and want a explore the vastly richer world of Tolkien's actual writings. Likewise, Prof. Wood's book can arm the new reader of Tolkien, or even experienced ones, with insights which will make reading (or deeply re-reading) Tolkien's great works a much more interesting, insightful and valuable experience.
Professor Wood gave an excellent lecture at Gordon College on Lord of the Rings specifically, and on Tolkien and his Roman Catholicism generally (it's only about an hour long). Below is the link to view this must-see lecture, on You Tube [...]
"Ralph Wood - On Tolkien--The Lord of the Rings--A Book for our Time"
[...]
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J. GAUNT
I have read and re read The Lord of the ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2015