From Publishers Weekly
Readers and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien have long been aware of the Christian underpinnings of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Still, Tolkien has not been without his religious critics, including those who have read a fascination with paganism into the pre-Christian world of Tolkien's creation. Wood, a professor of theology and literature at Baylor University, responds to those critics with an academically sound retort of "Nonsense!" Acknowledging straight off that Rings is devoid of any traces of "formal religion," Wood offers countless pieces of evidence that support his analysis of the full-fledged, deeply Christian theology of the mythological culture of Middle-earth. And he does so convincingly. Even longtime fans of Rings who have never questioned the books' Christian elements will undoubtedly discover new insights, so rich is Wood's analysis of Tolkien's gospel. But be forewarned: This is not a book for the casual reader. Rather, it is a somewhat scholarly endeavor for those who want a more thorough understanding of the underlying themes that have made The Lord of the Rings novels, as well as Tolkien's other writings, such enduring treasures. Wood teases out those themes-life and death, good and evil, courage and cowardice, mercy and justice and of course, faith, hope, and love-to reveal the faith-filled nature of Tolkien's theocentric and sacramental, albeit fictional, world.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
Like a perfectly popped kernel of corn, this production reveals the interior of what may be a dense text to some. Illuminating the hidden depths of the entire Tolkien universe, Wood has done both the reader of Tolkien's books and the curious a service, flawed only by a narrator who does not seem to have grasped the nuances of that universe. Nadia May gives incorrect pronunciations for Tolkien's fine-tuned languages, which rankles the listener and shows a lack of detail on the part of the director. But her voice carries the tone of the text effortlessly, and true fans should be forgiving when given such a rich indulgence. S.M.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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