Synopses & Reviews
A Swedish linguist, Professor Arne Zettersten, worked and published within the same project as Tolkien to edit the various manuscripts of the Ancrene Wisse for the Early English Text Society, Oxford. The situation is unique in that Zettersten acquired first hand knowledge of how Tolkien related to languages, university studies and both scholarly and fictional writing. The book is a new comprehensive reading and analysis of Tolkien’s strongly visualizing fantasy fiction, here examined in relation to his scholarly research in its totality and his unusual life experience. Into this new reading Zettersten weaves his memories of the linguistic equilibrist who spoke, wrote and reconstructed living, dead and invented languages. Zettersten approaches Tolkien’s creative process through a review of his life within his near-simultaneous, different worlds. These were characterized by changes between his primary, real world, and his secondary, fictional world, between research and fantasy, between evil and humanity, in fiction as in real life.
Review
“This is a remarkable book—part memoir, part biography, part literary appreciation. It offers a fascinating perspective on Tolkiens life, scholarship, and fiction by someone uniquely placed to understand and connect them. As a philologist of international standing, Zettersten presents valuable insights into Tolkiens academic career; he reminds us of the immense contributions Tolkien made to the study of medieval language and literature, and how his scholarly life intertwined and interacted with his imaginative fiction. The whole exposition is grounded in Zetterstens vivid recollections of his friendship with the ageing Tolkien in Oxford, and what emerges is a deeply affectionate, personal portrait of a master storyteller and his work.”--Richard Dance, Senior Lecturer in Old English, University of Cambridge
“Zettersten's new biography of Tolkien is specially enlivened by the author's personal knowledge of him as a man and a scholar, through meetings in Oxford between 1959 and 1972; a common knowledge of the Scandinavian languages so important to Tolkien in his experiments with invented languages; and an extraordinary coincidence of interest in the same particular medieval text. This scholarly affinity gives to Zettersten an insider's view of the fruitful connection between philological research and myth-based, language-rich fiction. The writing is personal, and conveys a deep affection for Tolkien and a perhaps unusual insight into his absorption, in his later years, while ostensibly talking to his friend about philology, in his mythical, yet 'real' worlds.”—Derek Pearsall, Gurney Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
"A fascinating personal perspective on one of the most creative authors of the twentieth century. Zettersten draws on recollections of his Oxford encounters with the aged Tolkien to portray a man obsessed with an inner world of fantasy that, for him, was almost as tactile as daily life. Well-written and intellectually stimulating, especially in regard to Tolkiens 'code switching' between different languages and realities.”--John D. Niles, President, International Society of Anglo-Saxonists
“Many have written about the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien, but Zettersten's brilliant and enlightening book assesses Tolkien through the eyes of a fellow philologist. Both worked on the Middle English Ancrene Wisse, meeting frequently in the 60s and early 70s, Zettersten as a young scholar in his twenties and Tolkien after retirement. He calls their relationship 'some kind of father-son spirit or community of interests'. Zettersten brings to life the figure of Tolkien as a sympathetic colleague and congenial host, enthusiastic about ancient languages, gifted at creating private languages and an inspiring story-teller. Although it was historical philology which brought them together, Zettersten admirably demonstrates the close connection between Tolkien's philological research and his creative writing. Both are ardent 'word lovers' and what emerges as we read this book is that the words, or the invention of languages, create the vessel into which the fiction is poured -- indeed the etymology of every word is a story. Altogether a stimulating, exciting and perceptive assessment of Tolkien's academic and fictional writing, and, above all, the values of friendship and loyalty which Tolkien held so dear.”—Graham Caie, Vice Principal, University of Glasgow
Synopsis
A close colleague of J.R.R. Tolkien for many years during their editorial work on the various manuscripts of the Ancrene Wisse at Oxford University, Arne Zettersten offers here a personally-informed analysis of Tolkiens strongly visual fantasy fiction. In light of Tolkien's unusual life experience and enthusiasm for the study of languages, Zettersten locates the same animating passions in the well-known fictions that drove that great author as a youth, a soldier, a linguist, and an Oxford don.
Synopsis
A close colleague of Tolkein for many years, Zettersten offers here a personally informed analysis of his fiction. In light of his unusual life experience and enthusiasm for the study of languages, Zettersten finds in Tolkein's fiction the same animating passions that drove that great author as a youth, a soldier, a linguist, and an Oxford Don.
About the Author
Arne Zettersten has been Professor of English language and literature at the University of Copenhagen since 1975. From 1992 to 1995 he was the President of the International Association of University Professors of English and from 1980 to 1992 the President of the Nordic Association for English Studies. He is Acting President of the International Council of the English-Speaking Union.
Among his publications the following may be mentioned:
Studies in the Dialect and vocabulary of the Ancrene Riwle, 1965, The English of Tristan da Cunha, 1969, A Statistical Study of the Graphic System of Present-Day American English, 1969, East African Literature,. An Anthology, 1983, An English Grammar for Microcomputers, 1983. New Technologies in Language Learning, 1985, Different Places--Different Voices, 1996, Politikens Engelskn Dansk Ordbog, 1999.
Table of Contents
Foreword * Our First Meeting * Language * Like Lightning from a Clear Sky * Tolkiens Double Worlds * Middle-earth * From Bloemfontein to Birmingham * From Sarehole to Shire * An Orphan Drawn to Reading * Student Life in Oxford * Soldier at the Front * Experience of War in Tolkiens Fiction * Research as Motor * Interlude at Leeds * Interplay between Research and Fiction * A Don on a Sidetrack * The AB Language—A Unique Discovery * Fantasy for Children and Adults * The Final Years * Facts and Fiction * On the Truth of Myths * The Reception of The Lord of the Rings in the World * New Media * Epilogue