A brand new edition of the long unavailable children's story, written and illustrated by the author of The Hobbit and Letters from Father Christmas, with newly scanned manuscript pages and redesigned text. Professor J.R.R. Tolkien invented and illustrated the book of Mr Bliss's adventures for his own children when they were very young. The story is reproduced here exactly as he created it -- handwritten with lots of detailed and uproarious colour pictures. This is a complete and highly imaginative tale of eccentricity. Mr Bliss, a man notable for his immensely tall hats and for the girabbit in his garden, takes the whimsical decision to buy a motor car. But his first drive to visit friends quickly becomes a catalogue of disasters. Some of these could be blamed on Mr Bliss's style of driving, but even he could not anticipate being hijacked by three bears. As for what happened next -- the readers, whether young or old, will want to discover for themselves. Thankfully all ended well, and even the yellow motor car with red wheels (to which Mr Bliss has taken an understandable and great dislike), came in useful at the end!
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'Owes a little to Beatrix Potter in its ironical humour and to Edward Lear in the style of its drawings, though Tolkien's approach is less grotesque and more delicate than Lear's.' Humphrey Carpenter 'A celebration, in the spirit of The Wind in the Willows, of a vanished, vulgar England where everybody did -- and spoke -- exactly as he pleased, and life was consequently a series of amiable abrupt collisions, feebly refereed by the police in the shape of Sergeant Boffin. Although the book ought to feel dated, ! dating has done little harm to Tom Kitten or Mr Badger, and there seems no reason why it should here.' T.A. Shippey, TLS
About the Author
J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Children of Hurin, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 50 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By WhiteWitch
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is fantastic. not only is it a wonderful addition to any Tolkein collection but it is one that smaller children can read!
By Mike London
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
[NOTE: I am reissuing my Amazon.com reviews on Amazon.co.uk. This review was originally published on Amazon.com May 16, 2000]
A very eccentric, very British children's story written by Professor Tolkien for his children. Imagine a children's picture book illustrated by the guy who did those two fantasy classics (THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT), involving a man with tall hats and a bad driving record, and a very British feel, and you have MR BLISS It largely shows his distrust turned hatred of things mechanical that destroy the environment. But make no mistake: this is no propaganda track written to slam pollution, it is first and foremost a story for children, his children. It is basically a humourous exploration, beautifully illustrated, of what could go wrong with an unexperienced driver (namely Mr Bliss). Easily the strangest character is a Girabbit, a type of animal invention that must be particular to British society, or even more localised to Tolkien's imagination, for I have never encountered him anywhere else; it has that feel of Britain, so it would not surprise me if it was British and not Tolkien's own invention. However, all of his children's fiction, save THE HOBBIT, has the particular feel. It is a rabbit with a very long neck (hence the name Girabbit, combining Giraffe and Rabbit).
The story is that a man named Mr Bliss goes and buys a Motor Car. Thru the course of the story, he has several interactions with his neighbours and three bears. His acquisition of a motor car is quite disastrous, and momentarily devastating, and in the end Mr Bliss finds the motor-car unnecessarily troublesome, and has "taken a great dislike to it". This attitude he expressed in the unpublished TALES AND SONGS OF BIMBLE BAY. According to Carpenter, his official biographer, Tolkien took a "charge `em and they scatter" method of driving, and was much more daring than was skillful. But here, it is expressed humourously. If any moral can be drawn from it, it is that motor cars are trouble. Afterward, Tolkien takes this attitude and develops it in a much more sophisticated and mature form in THE LORD OF THE RINGS. But this story delights in being for children, and one notable word play is two characters, of which Mr Bliss had an accident with involving his motor car, go into business together, and they call it after their names, which is Day and Knight. It is this type of word play that makes Tolkien's children's fiction notable.
An interesting note about this story is that it was to be originally published back in 1937 or 1938, when THE HOBBIT had been accepted for publication. On the strength of it, Tolkien had submitted several other shorter works, including Farmer Giles, Roverandom, this, and the Quenta Silmarillion proper. Because of the illustrations it proved uneconomical to publish, and was set aside for years and years, a fate Roverandom would also share (sadly).
The edition I have is nicely down, with a facsimile of the original manuscript on the right hand side (while reading it, on the right) and then text on the left side. His illustrations are nicely done, showing Tolkien's skill as a (physically) visionary and not just a literary artist. His style is definitely all his own. Overall, a nicely down story for Children, written by the master of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien.
As a side note, the reason I feel this merits five stars is because of the quality of the material; a conventional reason. But also because of who wrote it: a truly top shelf mind. A man of his level helping to entertain children . . . if I am going to read a picture book to my child or children, I'd rather it be Tolkien than anyone else.
A very eccentric, very British children's story written by Professor Tolkien for his children. Imagine a children's picture book illustrated by the guy who did those two fantasy classics (THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT), involving a man with tall hats and a bad driving record, and a very British feel, and you have MR BLISS It largely shows his distrust turned hatred of things mechanical that destroy the environment. But make no mistake: this is no propaganda track written to slam pollution, it is first and foremost a story for children, his children. It is basically a humourous exploration, beautifully illustrated, of what could go wrong with an unexperienced driver (namely Mr Bliss). Easily the strangest character is a Girabbit, a type of animal invention that must be particular to British society, or even more localised to Tolkien's imagination, for I have never encountered him anywhere else; it has that feel of Britain, so it would not surprise me if it was British and not Tolkien's own invention. However, all of his children's fiction, save THE HOBBIT, has the particular feel. It is a rabbit with a very long neck (hence the name Girabbit, combining Giraffe and Rabbit).
The story is that a man named Mr Bliss goes and buys a Motor Car. Thru the course of the story, he has several interactions with his neighbours and three bears. His acquisition of a motor car is quite disastrous, and momentarily devastating, and in the end Mr Bliss finds the motor-car unnecessarily troublesome, and has "taken a great dislike to it". This attitude he expressed in the unpublished TALES AND SONGS OF BIMBLE BAY. According to Carpenter, his official biographer, Tolkien took a "charge `em and they scatter" method of driving, and was much more daring than was skillful. But here, it is expressed humourously. If any moral can be drawn from it, it is that motor cars are trouble. Afterward, Tolkien takes this attitude and develops it in a much more sophisticated and mature form in THE LORD OF THE RINGS. But this story delights in being for children, and one notable word play is two characters, of which Mr Bliss had an accident with involving his motor car, go into business together, and they call it after their names, which is Day and Knight. It is this type of word play that makes Tolkien's children's fiction notable.
An interesting note about this story is that it was to be originally published back in 1937 or 1938, when THE HOBBIT had been accepted for publication. On the strength of it, Tolkien had submitted several other shorter works, including Farmer Giles, Roverandom, this, and the Quenta Silmarillion proper. Because of the illustrations it proved uneconomical to publish, and was set aside for years and years, a fate Roverandom would also share (sadly).
The edition I have is nicely down, with a facsimile of the original manuscript on the right hand side (while reading it, on the right) and then text on the left side. His illustrations are nicely done, showing Tolkien's skill as a (physically) visionary and not just a literary artist. His style is definitely all his own. Overall, a nicely down story for Children, written by the master of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien.
As a side note, the reason I feel this merits five stars is because of the quality of the material; a conventional reason. But also because of who wrote it: a truly top shelf mind. A man of his level helping to entertain children . . . if I am going to read a picture book to my child or children, I'd rather it be Tolkien than anyone else.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Picture Book by Tolkien
May 16 2000
By Mike London
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
A very eccentric, very British children's story written by Professor Tolkien for his children. Imagine a children's picture book illustrated by the guy who did those two fantasy classics (THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT), involving a man with tall hats and a bad driving record, and a very British feel, and you have MR BLISS It largely shows his distrust turned hatred of things mechanical that destroy the environment. But make no mistake: this is no propaganda track written to slam pollution, it is first and foremost a story for children, his children. It is basically a humourous exploration, beautifully illustrated, of what could go wrong with an unexperienced driver (namely Mr Bliss). Easily the strangest character is a Girabbit, a type of animal invention that must be particular to British society, or even more localised to Tolkien's imagination, for I have never encountered him anywhere else; it has that feel of Britain, so it would not surprise me if it was British and not Tolkien's own invention. However, all of his children's fiction, save THE HOBBIT, has the particular feel. It is a rabbit with a very long neck (hence the name Girabbit, combining Giraffe and Rabbit).
The story is that a man named Mr Bliss goes and buys a Motor Car. Thru the course of the story, he has several interactions with his neighbours and three bears. His acquisition of a motor car is quite disastrous, and momentarily devastating, and in the end Mr Bliss finds the motor-car unnecessarily troublesome, and has "taken a great dislike to it". This attitude he expressed in the unpublished TALES AND SONGS OF BIMBLE BAY. According to Carpenter, his official biographer, Tolkien took a "charge `em and they scatter" method of driving, and was much more daring than was skillful. But here, it is expressed humourously. If any moral can be drawn from it, it is that motor cars are trouble. Afterward, Tolkien takes this attitude and develops it in a much more sophisticated and mature form in THE LORD OF THE RINGS. But this story delights in being for children, and one notable word play is two characters, of which Mr Bliss had an accident with involving his motor car, go into business together, and they call it after their names, which is Day and Knight. It is this type of word play that makes Tolkien's children's fiction notable.
An interesting note about this story is that it was to be originally published back in 1937 or 1938, when THE HOBBIT had been accepted for publication. On the strength of it, Tolkien had submitted several other shorter works, including Farmer Giles, Roverandom, this, and the Quenta Silmarillion proper. Because of the illustrations it proved uneconomical to publish, and was set aside for years and years, a fate Roverandom would also share (sadly).
The edition I have is nicely down, with a facsimile of the original manuscript on the right hand side (while reading it, on the right) and then text on the left side. His illustrations are nicely done, showing Tolkien's skill as a (physically) visionary and not just a literary artist. His style is definitely all his own. Overall, a nicely down story for Children, written by the master of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien.
As a side note, the reason I feel this merits five stars is because of the quality of the material; a conventional reason. But also because of who wrote it: a truly top shelf mind. A man of his level helping to entertain children . . . if I am going to read a picture book to my child or children, I'd rather it be Tolkien than anyone else.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
State of "Bliss"
Nov 27 2004
By E. A Solinas
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
J.R.R. Tolkien's best-known children's story is obviously "The Hobbit," but that wasn't the only book that he penned for kids. One of them was "Mr. Bliss," a charming little picture book with a simple comic plot. Not quite the stuff of classics, but a cute little read with charming illustrations.
Mr. Bliss is a man with a love of tall hats, and a Girabbit (sort of a long-necked rabbit with spots) in his garden. One day Mr. Bliss decides (for no apparent reason) to buy a car. He heads off to visit some friends afterwards, only to collide with a wagon of cabbages, end up with several passengers, and be hijacked by three bears named Archie, Bruno and Teddy.
Like "The Hobbit," this little tale was originally written to entertain Tolkien's children. And though it has an air of whimsy, it was actually based on a real incident: Tolkien's purchase of a car, although presumably he didn't end up being hijacked by teddy bears or any of the other disasters Mr. Bliss has to deal with.
Tolkien's little story never really goes much of anywhere -- he's just creating an eventful day for Mr. Bliss because of his new car. His writing here has a sort of warm puckish quality, much like the earlier parts of "The Hobbit," though obviously much less realistic and without much detail. As picture book prose goes, it's pretty good.
The book also has Tolkien's cute watercolor drawings, which lean heavily on trees and landscapes. What is especially striking is that Tolkien's handwritten writing appears on one side of the page, but it's a bit small and spiky to read easily. So the same words are clearly printed on the opposite pages, in case you can't read Tolkien's handwriting.
"Mr. Bliss" is one of those charming little books that Tolkien wrote for his biggest fans -- his kids. It's no "Hobbit" or "Roverandum," but it is a cute picture book.
Mr. Bliss is a man with a love of tall hats, and a Girabbit (sort of a long-necked rabbit with spots) in his garden. One day Mr. Bliss decides (for no apparent reason) to buy a car. He heads off to visit some friends afterwards, only to collide with a wagon of cabbages, end up with several passengers, and be hijacked by three bears named Archie, Bruno and Teddy.
Like "The Hobbit," this little tale was originally written to entertain Tolkien's children. And though it has an air of whimsy, it was actually based on a real incident: Tolkien's purchase of a car, although presumably he didn't end up being hijacked by teddy bears or any of the other disasters Mr. Bliss has to deal with.
Tolkien's little story never really goes much of anywhere -- he's just creating an eventful day for Mr. Bliss because of his new car. His writing here has a sort of warm puckish quality, much like the earlier parts of "The Hobbit," though obviously much less realistic and without much detail. As picture book prose goes, it's pretty good.
The book also has Tolkien's cute watercolor drawings, which lean heavily on trees and landscapes. What is especially striking is that Tolkien's handwritten writing appears on one side of the page, but it's a bit small and spiky to read easily. So the same words are clearly printed on the opposite pages, in case you can't read Tolkien's handwriting.
"Mr. Bliss" is one of those charming little books that Tolkien wrote for his biggest fans -- his kids. It's no "Hobbit" or "Roverandum," but it is a cute picture book.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great children's book
Dec 20 1997
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Not many people know that Tolkien has written a book for children. I found it at a used bookstore a couple months ago, and it is fabulous. On a par with Curious George, Dr. Seuss, and the Berenstain Bears, I loved it! It's the perfect introduction for a youngster into the land of J.R.R. Tolkien.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 9 reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
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