Tolkien in the Land of Heroes: Discovering the Human Spirit (Paperback)

by Anne C. Petty (Author), J. Stein (Editor)

5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Cold Spring Press; illustrated edition edition (Aug 26 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1892975998
ISBN-13: 978-1892975997
Product Dimensions: 21.7 x 14 x 2.4 cm
Shipping Weight: 404 g

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #500,084 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Nearly 50 years after publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings", you might think there would be nothing left to write about him. But you'd be wrong. This book explores why Tolkien's books continue to resonate with each new generation of readers and what that fact reveals about us. Tolkien's fiction is infused with the elemental themes that drive humanity itself. Abuse of power, blinding evil, unconditional love, redemption through sacrifice, endurance in the face of impossible adversity - it's all there as if taken from the latest news release. Readers who immerse themselves in the characters' storylines want to know, "What do these lives mean in terms of universal values?" The answers reside in the great themes that flow through Tolkien's great masterpiece of fantasy literature. Experiencing the world of Middle-earth, with its bittersweet tales of loss and reunion, sorrows and joys, elevates the spirit and gives us new perspective on our own human condition. The larger issues of Tolkien's fantasy remain our issues, today and forever.

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

5.0 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting, Jul 8 2004

By	Kevin Dunn (Australia) - See all my reviews

This is a very interesting book. It throws yet more light on the richness of Tolkien's mind and learning, and of the world he created. Plainly this is a mine from which much treasure is yet to be dug!

To compliment it I would recommend Hal GP Colebatch's "Return of the Heroes." This looks at Tolkien's relevance to modern mythologies.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A fine study of myth in Tolkien, Dec 20 2003

By	David Bratman (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Not written in dissertationese, as the author's "One Ring to Rule Them All" is, but in very colloquial English. Petty even apologizes for considering LotR alone without the context of the drafts, but there's no need to do that: it's a clear, straightforward, and insightful study of considerable quality.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Review--Tolkein in the Land of Heroes, Oct 5 2003

By	Lynn Holschuh (Tallahassee, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

If you read only one "academic" book on the works of Tolkein, read this one. Clearly and concisely written, Petty's "Tolkein the the Land of Heroes" takes us beyond Middle-Earth into the greater mythologies of all human history and imagination. Unlike many analyses of his works, this one does what it's supposed to do--it makes you want to read those works of Tolkein which you haven't read, and re-read the ones you have.

Both heroes and villains in Middle-Earth have their ancient ties. We find out who they really are, and how our Middle-Earth heroes and villains exemplify the archetypes of human culture. The author is a learned guide through the tangled webs of many paths and many stories, weaving them into a coherent whole. Her fondness (to say the least) for Tolkein is evident throughout this intelligent, clearly-written analysis.

For readers familiar primarily with "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit", this book will motivate you to read Tolkein's other works, most especially, "The Silmarillion", where all the stories really begin. Dr. Petty's carefully-crafted work is a must for all serious Tolkein fans.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars FAN-tastic!!!
I loved this book! This is the kind of book you want to be reading for you college lit courses. Its a fun and easy read that uses comparisons that everyone can understand and/or... Read more

Published on Sep 29 2003 by Windphyre

5.0 out of 5 stars buy this book!
Ditto what everybody else said about Tolkien in the Land of Heroes. I got it based on the Amazon reviews and it totally lived up to what they said. Read more

Published on Sep 15 2003 by Tilly

5.0 out of 5 stars I am enjoying this book!
I'm reading this book now and love it. A friend gave it to me for my birthday because I'm obsessed with Tolkien. Read more

Published on Sep 12 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars definitely worth it
Solid scholarly content in a readable, thought-provoking format. Not just another "Tolkien" bandwagon effort, this is another fine book from Petty. Read more

Published on Sep 7 2003 by Ted Carlson