Category Archives: J R R Tolkien

Life, Death and Tolkien

Posted on 17 November 2024 by Henry Gee

My recent post on Tolkien got me thinking about some more current issues. There are others who are better guides to Tolkien’s moral philosophy than I. However, the person who finally convinced me, many years ago, that capital punishment was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Tolkien and Loss

Posted on 16 November 2024 by Henry Gee

I’ve argued elsewhere that one of the most important themes in Tolkien’s work is loss. Loss of technological ability, loss of lifespan, loss of population, loss of — well, let’s not put too fine a point on it — grace, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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What I Read In September

Posted on 1 October 2022 by Henry Gee

Edward Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume 4 (Folio Society Edition). We arrive at last at the Fifth Century and the agonising collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Assailed by barbarians on all sides (The century … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in accordion crimes, Annie Proulx, Barkskins, Belisarius, Brokeback Mountain, David hereby, edward gibbon, interstellar, J R R Tolkien, Justinian, Lost Realms, mark twain, Max Adams, Procopius, sleepers of Ephesus, the decline and fall of the roman empire, The First Kingdom, the Shipping News, the time machine, Theodora, Thomas Williams, Us and Them, woody Allen, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on What I Read In September

Queuowulf

Posted on 18 September 2022 by Henry Gee

As I expect you both have, I’ve been wondering why I have felt so moved at the passing of the Queen, someone I never knew or even met. It is a feeling that many people seem to share, so much … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Apparitions, Beowulf, J R R Tolkien, Jorgmungandr, Maria Dahvana Headley, Politicrox, Queen Elizabeth II, queues, Seamus Heaney, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Queuowulf

From McDonalds to Mordor

Posted on 10 March 2022 by Henry Gee

When The Lord Of The Rings was published in 1954, some readers suggested that its story echoed that of the Second World War, then still fresh in the minds of many. The onslaught on the ill-prepared Allies by an evil … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in allegory, applicability, aragorn, Denethor, J R R Tolkien, mcdonalds, mordor, Politicrox, Putin, Sauron, the lord of the rings, Tolkien and the Great War, Ukraine, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on From McDonalds to Mordor

Januaread

Posted on 31 January 2022 by Henry Gee

This year’s pile of books got off to a promising start, and the ones I’ve read this month will set a high standard for the year. So, here they are, in order of reading. J. R. R. Tolkien (ed. Carl … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Hostetter, Christopher Tolkien, Ehsan Masood, Francesca Stavrakopoulou, God An Anatomy, J R R Tolkien, Richard Osman, The Great Invention, The Man Who Died Twice, The Nature Of Middle Earth, the silmarillion, The Thursday Night Murder Club, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Januaread