What do you think?
Rate this book
袩械褌 褎械薪褌褗蟹懈 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪
小褗写褗褉卸邪薪懈械:
袪袨校袙歇袪袗袧袛歇袦
肖袝袪袦袝袪袗 袛袞袗袡袥小 袨孝 袝袦袟
袩袪袠袣袥挟效袝袧袠携孝袗 袧袗 孝袨袦 袘袨袦袘袗袛袠袥 袣袨袙袗效袗 袨孝 袚袨袥携袦袨 袨袦袗袡袧袨
袥袠小孝袨 袨孝 袛袪袝袘袧袨小袪歇效袣袨
袟袗 袙歇袥楔袝袘袧袠孝袝 袩袪袠袣袗袟袣袠 (袟邪 锌褗褉胁懈 锌褗褌 薪邪 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻懈)
袩褉懈泻a蟹薪a褌a 褋褌褉a薪a 械 o锌a褋薪a, 胁 薪械褟 懈屑a 胁褗谢褔懈 褟屑懈 蟹a 薪械锌褉械写锌a蟹谢懈胁懈褌械 懈 褌褗屑薪懈褑懈 蟹a 锌褉械泻o屑械褉薪o 写褉褗蟹泻懈褌械... 袣褉a谢褋褌胁o褌o 薪a 锌褉懈泻a蟹泻懈褌械 械 薪械o斜褟褌薪o, 写褗谢斜o泻o, 胁懈褋o泻o 懈 懈蟹锌褗谢薪械薪o 褋 泻a泻胁o 谢懈 薪械: 褌a屑 褋械 薪a屑懈褉a褌 胁褋械胁褗蟹屑o卸薪懈 蟹胁械褉o胁械 懈 锌褌懈褑懈; 斜械蟹斜褉械卸薪懈 屑o褉械褌a 懈 薪械懈蟹斜褉o懈屑懈 蟹胁械蟹写懈; 泻褉a褋o褌a, 褌a褟褖a 褔a褉o胁薪a 屑a谐懈褟 懈 胁褗蟹写械褋褗褖a 蟹a锌谢axa; 褉a写o褋褌 懈 褋泻褉褗斜, o褋褌褉懈 泻a褌o 屑械褔o胁械. 效o胁械泻 屑o卸械 写a 褋械 褋屑褟褌a 蟹a 褖a褋褌谢懈胁械褑, 褔械 褋褌褗锌泻懈褌械 褋a 谐o 写o胁械谢懈 胁 褌o胁a 泻褉a谢褋褌胁o, a谢a 褋褗褋 褋a屑o褌o 褋懈 斜o谐a褌褋褌胁o 懈 褋 褑褟谢a褌a 褋懈 薪械o斜懈褔a泄薪o褋褌 褌o 褋泻o胁a胁a 械蟹懈泻a 薪a 锌褗褌械褕械褋褌胁械薪懈泻a, 泻o泄褌o 褖械 褉a蟹泻a蟹胁a 蟹a 褌褟x. 袠 写o泻a褌o 械 褌a屑, 蟹a 薪械谐o 褋褌a胁a o锌a褋薪o 写a 蟹a写a胁a 锌褉械泻a谢械薪o 屑薪o谐o 胁褗锌褉o褋懈, 懈薪a泻 锌o褉褌懈褌械 屑o谐a褌 写a 褋械 蟹ax谢o锌薪a褌 懈 泻谢褞褔褗褌 写a 懈蟹褔械蟹薪械.
袪袨校袙歇袪袗袧袛歇袦
肖袝袪袦袝袪袗 袛袞袗袡袥小 袨孝 袝袦袟
袩袪袠袣袥挟效袝袧袠携孝袗 袧袗 孝袨袦 袘袨袦袘袗袛袠袥 袣袨袙袗效袗 袨孝 袚袨袥携袦袨 袨袦袗袡袧袨
袥袠小孝袨 袨孝 袛袪袝袘袧袨小袪歇效袣袨
袟袗 袙歇袥楔袝袘袧袠孝袝 袩袪袠袣袗袟袣袠 (袟邪 锌褗褉胁懈 锌褗褌 薪邪 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻懈)
袩褉懈泻a蟹薪a褌a 褋褌褉a薪a 械 o锌a褋薪a, 胁 薪械褟 懈屑a 胁褗谢褔懈 褟屑懈 蟹a 薪械锌褉械写锌a蟹谢懈胁懈褌械 懈 褌褗屑薪懈褑懈 蟹a 锌褉械泻o屑械褉薪o 写褉褗蟹泻懈褌械... 袣褉a谢褋褌胁o褌o 薪a 锌褉懈泻a蟹泻懈褌械 械 薪械o斜褟褌薪o, 写褗谢斜o泻o, 胁懈褋o泻o 懈 懈蟹锌褗谢薪械薪o 褋 泻a泻胁o 谢懈 薪械: 褌a屑 褋械 薪a屑懈褉a褌 胁褋械胁褗蟹屑o卸薪懈 蟹胁械褉o胁械 懈 锌褌懈褑懈; 斜械蟹斜褉械卸薪懈 屑o褉械褌a 懈 薪械懈蟹斜褉o懈屑懈 蟹胁械蟹写懈; 泻褉a褋o褌a, 褌a褟褖a 褔a褉o胁薪a 屑a谐懈褟 懈 胁褗蟹写械褋褗褖a 蟹a锌谢axa; 褉a写o褋褌 懈 褋泻褉褗斜, o褋褌褉懈 泻a褌o 屑械褔o胁械. 效o胁械泻 屑o卸械 写a 褋械 褋屑褟褌a 蟹a 褖a褋褌谢懈胁械褑, 褔械 褋褌褗锌泻懈褌械 褋a 谐o 写o胁械谢懈 胁 褌o胁a 泻褉a谢褋褌胁o, a谢a 褋褗褋 褋a屑o褌o 褋懈 斜o谐a褌褋褌胁o 懈 褋 褑褟谢a褌a 褋懈 薪械o斜懈褔a泄薪o褋褌 褌o 褋泻o胁a胁a 械蟹懈泻a 薪a 锌褗褌械褕械褋褌胁械薪懈泻a, 泻o泄褌o 褖械 褉a蟹泻a蟹胁a 蟹a 褌褟x. 袠 写o泻a褌o 械 褌a屑, 蟹a 薪械谐o 褋褌a胁a o锌a褋薪o 写a 蟹a写a胁a 锌褉械泻a谢械薪o 屑薪o谐o 胁褗锌褉o褋懈, 懈薪a泻 锌o褉褌懈褌械 屑o谐a褌 写a 褋械 蟹ax谢o锌薪a褌 懈 泻谢褞褔褗褌 写a 懈蟹褔械蟹薪械.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
1438 people are currently reading
16748 people want to read
About the author
J.R.R. Tolkien
669听books75.3k听followersJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien: writer, artist, scholar, linguist. Known to millions around the world as the author of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien spent most of his life teaching at the University of Oxford where he was a distinguished academic in the fields of Old and Middle English and Old Norse. His creativity, confined to his spare time, found its outlet in fantasy works, stories for children, poetry, illustration and invented languages and alphabets.
Tolkien鈥檚 most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns 鈥� love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride 鈥� giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this 鈥榣egendarium鈥� that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children鈥檚 stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
Tolkien鈥檚 most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns 鈥� love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride 鈥� giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this 鈥榣egendarium鈥� that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children鈥檚 stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 991 reviews
August 21, 2017
Tolkien is often remembered for his vast fantasy worlds but he also wrote simple things, shorter works more in touch with the humorous themes of The Hobbit rather than the sense of darkness that permeates The Lord of the Rings. I鈥檝e been reading through them again lately and they can all be found in this edition that collects the main ones together.
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
Tom Bombadil is such an enigma. I mean who exactly is he? Some Tolkien fans would argue that he is Eru, the creator of all life within Tolkien鈥檚 Middle Earth, though I think somewhat differently. He breaks any sense of definition with his odd existence: he simply is. We can鈥檛 say for a certainty either way, but we do know that Tolkien wanted him to remain somewhat mysterious and beyond the realms of categorisation. I don鈥檛 think Tolkien quite knew what he wanted him to be. So that鈥檚 how I treat him.
He appears briefly in The Lord of the Rings, saving Frodo from the barrow wight, and spends most of the time singing in odd verses about himself. In this book the Hobbit poet captures his image:
Bombadil leads an odd, somewhat quaint, existence. His behaviour is equated with the natural world; he wonders in fields and exists among the trees. Perhaps his character, at least on the surface, is a simple version of man: a man who remains untroubled by the problems of the world and is just happy to spend his days singing, frolicking and remaining a complete mystery.
However, I don鈥檛 feel like the title of this is overly appropriate. If anything, it is very misleading. Only two of the poems actually focus on Bombadil, the rest talk about all manner of random things Middle Earth related. So we have two Bombadil adventures, followed by twelve other poems that address things from Cats to Oliphaunts. Then there鈥檚 one that鈥檚 rumoured to have been written by Frodo himself, describing a vague dream he had about his experience with the ring.
I find it truly hilarious that Tolkien effectively has a counter for any criticisms of weak poems within this book. In the preface, he says that this book was written by Hobbits. Their rhyming structures and metre are a watered down version of Elvish poetry; thus, any remarks about the weakness of such writing can be aimed at the limitations of Hobbit verse. He side-steps the negative reactions with such a statement, and it鈥檚 incredibly ironic and self-preserving. It made me laugh. So this book is a construct of Hobbit writing, and, once again, Tolkien gives his world more foundation.
It's a fun collection of verses, but by no means anything remarkable in Tolkien鈥檚 world. The scholarship that has gone into my edition is of a very good standard, it tells the history of this book鈥檚 publication. And if you are interested in reading this book, I do recommend this edition edited by Scull and Hammond. Other than that, I鈥檇 say that this one is likely to appeal more to the serious Tolkien enthusiast rather than the casual fan.
Farmer Giles of Ham
This is a great little tale full of bravery, heroism and Tolkien鈥檚 ever so subtle humour.
Farmer Giles saves his farm and, as a consequence, the local village from a rampaging giant. This earns him a fierce reputation for heroism; thus, he is rewarded by the King with a rather glamourous sword. The King, believing this to be a mere ceremonial weapon, parts with the blade gladly. It turns out that the sword is actually Tailbiter, an ancient weapon that carries a powerful enchantment. Indeed, it cannot physically be sheathed when in close proximity to a dragon.
Can you guess what happens next?
A dragon appears! Bet you didn鈥檛 see that coming. He attacks the surrounding villages and there is little anyone can do to stop him. Naturally Farmer Giles is called upon for help, though he is very reluctant. He is old and who actually wants to fight dragons? His only act of heroism was defence of his own land, this is a different situation. He fears he may not be up to the task. But nonetheless due to the constant pestering of the villages, he resolves himself and hunts down the dragon. He opts to take a more tactical approach that the strutting knights of the realm:
鈥淲ell,鈥� said Giles,鈥� if it is you notion to go dragon hunting jingling and dinging like Canterbury Bells it ain鈥檛 mine. It don鈥檛 seem sense to me to let a dragon to let a dragon know that you are coming along the road sooner than need be.鈥�
Giles has an interesting way of dealing with his problems. Instead of taking the predicted direction, the hack and slash route, he chooses a more careful approach. This in its self is a much more logical solution and leaves the tale going into unexpected directions. Instead of slaying the dragon he makes a deal with him and after forcing the dragon to complete his end of the bargain, they become unlikely friends. The dragon is bound to his service out of a respect for Giles and a fear of his sword. Trouble strikes when the King of the realm hears of the treasure Giles has taken for himself. He wants it for the crown, but why should Giles give his hard earned treasure away? He鈥檚 now friends with a dragon. Not much the King can do.
So this was a fun tale; it鈥檚 definitely aimed at a younger audience, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The ending was great, I do wish Tolkien has picked a more orginal name though for his hero.
Smith of Wooten Major
This tale is magical and enchanting but for me it seemed incomplete. Well, a little unresolved. A young boy gets to enter the wonderful world of Fay; he is chosen especially for it, but when he gets there he doesn鈥檛 do a great deal. I mean, talk about a wasted opportunity! I would have done so much more over there.
Every twenty-four years Wootton Major has a massive celebration feast. As per tradition, a giant cake is baked. In it is placed a star by an anonymous trickster. The star allows the person to enter the realm of Fay, a boon by all accounts. On entering the realm, and experiencing the power of it, the lucky person must then return home with the star for another child to be given the gift in another twenty-four years. To me it sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Imagine living in a dull boring world, not that hard to imagine really, and then you are given a little ticket to somewhere much better.
It鈥檚 a very simple story, one that avoids all dark themes. There are no cunning dragons or evil dark lords; instead we have the world of Fay. Sure there are some dangers involved in crossing the border, but I think all those that have the opportunity to cross it would overlook such peril in the face of such a chance. The story is written in Tolkien鈥檚 usual mastery of tone, but for me it needed something else. It needed a stronger sense of purpose and perhaps a greater point to it. This is far from Tolkien at his best. It's still worth a read though for enthusiasts of his writing.
For that he was grateful, for he soon became wise and understood that the marvels of Faery cannot be approached without danger, and that many of the Evils cannot be challenged without weapons of power too great for any mortal to wield. He remained a learner and explorer, not a warrior; and though in time he could have forged weapons that in his own world would have had power enough to become the matter of great tales and be worth a king's ransom, he knew that in Faery they would have been of small account. So among all the things that he made it is not remembered that he ever forged a sword or a spear or an arrow-head."
Roverandom
This is a fantastically childish book that is thoroughly charming; it really captures the essence of Tolkien鈥檚 softer themes and humour. Not everything has to be constantly dark and foreboding for his writing to be successful. This is simple, imaginative and a good little bit of fun.
The tale is quaint and fairly short in which a dog, initially named Rover, is turned into a toy as an act of revenge because he bit a mean old sand sorcerer. Some people really are that petty. This leads to a series of events in which the toy is washed up on a beach, learns to fly and finally ends up in the company of the Man in the Moon.
However, the Man in the Moon already has a dog named Rover; thus, he dubs the toy Roverandom. He temporarily grants him wings resulting in him and the other Rover being chased by a Dragon during one of their flights. A friendship blossoms between the two Rovers, though eventually Rover seeks to be a normal dog once more. He wants to go back to his normal life. And the only person who can reverse the magic is the one who cast it in the first place, but wizards are always tricky: he won鈥檛 simply do it for nothing.
The thing I enjoyed most about this story is learning about where it came from. Tolkien鈥檚 son lost his precious toy, so Tolkien wrote this story about what could have happened to it and where it might of gone after he lost it. Doesn鈥檛 he sound like a wonderful farther?
鈥淚 did nothing but run away from the time I was a puppy, and I kept on running and roving until one fine morning - a very fine morning, with the sun in my eyes - I fell over the world's edge chasing a butterfly.鈥�
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
Tom Bombadil is such an enigma. I mean who exactly is he? Some Tolkien fans would argue that he is Eru, the creator of all life within Tolkien鈥檚 Middle Earth, though I think somewhat differently. He breaks any sense of definition with his odd existence: he simply is. We can鈥檛 say for a certainty either way, but we do know that Tolkien wanted him to remain somewhat mysterious and beyond the realms of categorisation. I don鈥檛 think Tolkien quite knew what he wanted him to be. So that鈥檚 how I treat him.
He appears briefly in The Lord of the Rings, saving Frodo from the barrow wight, and spends most of the time singing in odd verses about himself. In this book the Hobbit poet captures his image:
Old Tom Bombadil was a merry fellow;
Bright blue his jacket was and his boots were yellow
Green were his girdle and his breeches all of leather,
He wore in his hat a swan-wing feather.
He lived up under Hill, where the Withyywindle
Ran from a grassy well down into the dingle.
Bombadil leads an odd, somewhat quaint, existence. His behaviour is equated with the natural world; he wonders in fields and exists among the trees. Perhaps his character, at least on the surface, is a simple version of man: a man who remains untroubled by the problems of the world and is just happy to spend his days singing, frolicking and remaining a complete mystery.
However, I don鈥檛 feel like the title of this is overly appropriate. If anything, it is very misleading. Only two of the poems actually focus on Bombadil, the rest talk about all manner of random things Middle Earth related. So we have two Bombadil adventures, followed by twelve other poems that address things from Cats to Oliphaunts. Then there鈥檚 one that鈥檚 rumoured to have been written by Frodo himself, describing a vague dream he had about his experience with the ring.
I find it truly hilarious that Tolkien effectively has a counter for any criticisms of weak poems within this book. In the preface, he says that this book was written by Hobbits. Their rhyming structures and metre are a watered down version of Elvish poetry; thus, any remarks about the weakness of such writing can be aimed at the limitations of Hobbit verse. He side-steps the negative reactions with such a statement, and it鈥檚 incredibly ironic and self-preserving. It made me laugh. So this book is a construct of Hobbit writing, and, once again, Tolkien gives his world more foundation.
It's a fun collection of verses, but by no means anything remarkable in Tolkien鈥檚 world. The scholarship that has gone into my edition is of a very good standard, it tells the history of this book鈥檚 publication. And if you are interested in reading this book, I do recommend this edition edited by Scull and Hammond. Other than that, I鈥檇 say that this one is likely to appeal more to the serious Tolkien enthusiast rather than the casual fan.
Farmer Giles of Ham
This is a great little tale full of bravery, heroism and Tolkien鈥檚 ever so subtle humour.
Farmer Giles saves his farm and, as a consequence, the local village from a rampaging giant. This earns him a fierce reputation for heroism; thus, he is rewarded by the King with a rather glamourous sword. The King, believing this to be a mere ceremonial weapon, parts with the blade gladly. It turns out that the sword is actually Tailbiter, an ancient weapon that carries a powerful enchantment. Indeed, it cannot physically be sheathed when in close proximity to a dragon.
Can you guess what happens next?
A dragon appears! Bet you didn鈥檛 see that coming. He attacks the surrounding villages and there is little anyone can do to stop him. Naturally Farmer Giles is called upon for help, though he is very reluctant. He is old and who actually wants to fight dragons? His only act of heroism was defence of his own land, this is a different situation. He fears he may not be up to the task. But nonetheless due to the constant pestering of the villages, he resolves himself and hunts down the dragon. He opts to take a more tactical approach that the strutting knights of the realm:
鈥淲ell,鈥� said Giles,鈥� if it is you notion to go dragon hunting jingling and dinging like Canterbury Bells it ain鈥檛 mine. It don鈥檛 seem sense to me to let a dragon to let a dragon know that you are coming along the road sooner than need be.鈥�
Giles has an interesting way of dealing with his problems. Instead of taking the predicted direction, the hack and slash route, he chooses a more careful approach. This in its self is a much more logical solution and leaves the tale going into unexpected directions. Instead of slaying the dragon he makes a deal with him and after forcing the dragon to complete his end of the bargain, they become unlikely friends. The dragon is bound to his service out of a respect for Giles and a fear of his sword. Trouble strikes when the King of the realm hears of the treasure Giles has taken for himself. He wants it for the crown, but why should Giles give his hard earned treasure away? He鈥檚 now friends with a dragon. Not much the King can do.
So this was a fun tale; it鈥檚 definitely aimed at a younger audience, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The ending was great, I do wish Tolkien has picked a more orginal name though for his hero.
Smith of Wooten Major
This tale is magical and enchanting but for me it seemed incomplete. Well, a little unresolved. A young boy gets to enter the wonderful world of Fay; he is chosen especially for it, but when he gets there he doesn鈥檛 do a great deal. I mean, talk about a wasted opportunity! I would have done so much more over there.
Every twenty-four years Wootton Major has a massive celebration feast. As per tradition, a giant cake is baked. In it is placed a star by an anonymous trickster. The star allows the person to enter the realm of Fay, a boon by all accounts. On entering the realm, and experiencing the power of it, the lucky person must then return home with the star for another child to be given the gift in another twenty-four years. To me it sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Imagine living in a dull boring world, not that hard to imagine really, and then you are given a little ticket to somewhere much better.
It鈥檚 a very simple story, one that avoids all dark themes. There are no cunning dragons or evil dark lords; instead we have the world of Fay. Sure there are some dangers involved in crossing the border, but I think all those that have the opportunity to cross it would overlook such peril in the face of such a chance. The story is written in Tolkien鈥檚 usual mastery of tone, but for me it needed something else. It needed a stronger sense of purpose and perhaps a greater point to it. This is far from Tolkien at his best. It's still worth a read though for enthusiasts of his writing.
For that he was grateful, for he soon became wise and understood that the marvels of Faery cannot be approached without danger, and that many of the Evils cannot be challenged without weapons of power too great for any mortal to wield. He remained a learner and explorer, not a warrior; and though in time he could have forged weapons that in his own world would have had power enough to become the matter of great tales and be worth a king's ransom, he knew that in Faery they would have been of small account. So among all the things that he made it is not remembered that he ever forged a sword or a spear or an arrow-head."
Roverandom
This is a fantastically childish book that is thoroughly charming; it really captures the essence of Tolkien鈥檚 softer themes and humour. Not everything has to be constantly dark and foreboding for his writing to be successful. This is simple, imaginative and a good little bit of fun.
The tale is quaint and fairly short in which a dog, initially named Rover, is turned into a toy as an act of revenge because he bit a mean old sand sorcerer. Some people really are that petty. This leads to a series of events in which the toy is washed up on a beach, learns to fly and finally ends up in the company of the Man in the Moon.
However, the Man in the Moon already has a dog named Rover; thus, he dubs the toy Roverandom. He temporarily grants him wings resulting in him and the other Rover being chased by a Dragon during one of their flights. A friendship blossoms between the two Rovers, though eventually Rover seeks to be a normal dog once more. He wants to go back to his normal life. And the only person who can reverse the magic is the one who cast it in the first place, but wizards are always tricky: he won鈥檛 simply do it for nothing.
The thing I enjoyed most about this story is learning about where it came from. Tolkien鈥檚 son lost his precious toy, so Tolkien wrote this story about what could have happened to it and where it might of gone after he lost it. Doesn鈥檛 he sound like a wonderful farther?
鈥淚 did nothing but run away from the time I was a puppy, and I kept on running and roving until one fine morning - a very fine morning, with the sun in my eyes - I fell over the world's edge chasing a butterfly.鈥�
June 16, 2023
Lovely collection of short stories by J.R.R. Tolkien. Great audio by Derek Jacobi. #theliterarylifepodcast #20for2020reads #shortstories
5 Stars for Farmer Giles and Leaf by Niggle
5 stars for the audio
5 Stars for Farmer Giles and Leaf by Niggle
5 stars for the audio
August 14, 2017
No s茅 porqu茅 he tardado tanto en leer estos relatos, quiz谩s porque no esperaba gran cosa de ellos pero me he llevado una buena sorpresa. Me ha gustado MUCH脥SIMO 'El Herrero de Wootton Mayor', 'Hoja de Niggle' tambi茅n es una preciosidad, y 'Las aventuras de Tom Bombadil' (aunque en verso) son un complemento perfecto para leer tras 'El se帽or de los anillos'.
Los otros dos relatos me parecieron simplemente entretenidos pero todos tienen algo de original y 煤nico que solo Tolkien pod铆a crear
Los otros dos relatos me parecieron simplemente entretenidos pero todos tienen algo de original y 煤nico que solo Tolkien pod铆a crear
October 20, 2024
鈥炐澬� 胁械写薪褗卸 芯褋褌邪薪邪 孝芯屑 懈 褋谢芯屑械薪, 懈 锌芯褉邪蟹械薪,
袟谢邪褌芯褉芯薪泻邪 褖芯屑 胁懈写褟, 屑懈谢邪, 锌褉械谢械褋褌薪邪 屑芯屑邪.
袪褍褋芯泻芯褋邪, 胁 锌谢邪褖 蟹械谢械薪, 薪邪 斜褉械谐邪 锌褉懈褋械写薪邪
懈 蟹邪锌褟 褋褗褋 屑械写械薪 谐谢邪褋 锌械褋械薪 褋谢邪写泻邪, 写褉械胁薪邪.鈥�
袨褌泻邪泻褌芯 褋械 锌芯屑薪褟, 芯斜芯卸邪胁邪屑 写邪 褔械褌邪 锌褉懈泻邪蟹薪懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈! 小褌褉邪褋褌褌邪 屑懈 泻褗屑 写械褌褋泻懈褌械 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻懈 褋褗胁褋械屑 械褋褌械褋褌胁械薪芯 懈 薪械褍褋械褌薪芯 褋械 锌褉械薪械褋械 褋 胁褉械屑械褌芯 泻褗屑 卸邪薪褉芯胁械褌械 褎械薪褌褗蟹懈 懈 薪邪褍褔薪邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪... 孝械蟹懈 泻褉械锌芯褋褌懈 薪邪 胁褗芯斜褉邪卸械薪懈械褌芯 薪械 褋邪屑芯, 褔械 薪械 褋邪 鈥炐叫笛佇笛€懈芯蟹薪懈 谐谢褍锌芯褋褌懈 蟹邪 写械褑邪鈥�, 邪 薪邪锌褉芯褌懈胁 - 褏芯褉邪 芯褌 胁褋褟泻邪泻胁邪 胁褗蟹褉邪褋褌 懈屑邪褌 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌 写邪 (锌褉械)芯褌泻褉懈胁邪褌 胁 褌褟褏 屑芯褉邪谢薪懈 褑械薪薪芯褋褌懈 懈 锌芯褍泻懈, 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 褋褗斜褍写褟褌 胁 褋械斜械 褋懈 懈薪褌械褉械褋 泻褗屑 薪邪褍泻懈褌械, 褌褗褉褋械泄泻懈 胁褗褌褉械褕薪邪 谢芯谐懈泻邪 胁 邪谢褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪懈 泻薪懈卸薪懈 褋胁械褌芯胁械.
袩褉芯褎械褋芯褉 袛卸芯薪 孝芯谢泻懈薪 蟹邪写褗谢斜芯褔械薪芯 褉邪蟹褋褗卸写邪胁邪 胁褗褉褏褍 褌械屑邪褌邪 蟹邪 胁褗芯斜褉邪卸械薪懈械褌芯 胁 褋胁芯械褌芯 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪芯 械褋械 (谢械泻褑懈褟), 薪邪褉械褔械薪芯 鈥炐椥� 胁褗谢褕械斜薪懈褌械 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻懈鈥�! 孝芯泄 斜褉懈谢褟薪褌薪芯 蟹邪褖懈褌邪胁邪 薪褍卸写邪褌邪 芯褌 褎邪薪褌邪蟹懈褟, 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁褟泄泻懈 邪泻邪写械屑懈褔薪芯, 薪芯 懈 薪邪 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪械屑 械蟹懈泻 薪械泄薪懈褌械 锌褉芯懈蟹褏芯写, 褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 懈 褋屑懈褋褗谢... 袙褗锌褉芯褋薪芯褌芯 械褋械 械 懈蟹谢褟蟹谢芯 薪邪 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻懈 蟹邪 锌褉褗胁 锌褗褌 胁 褋斜芯褉薪懈泻邪 鈥炐熜笛� 褎械薪褌褗蟹懈 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪鈥�. 袨褋胁械薪 胁 薪械谐芯, 褔懈褌邪褌械谢懈褌械 屑芯谐邪褌 写邪 褋械 锌芯褌芯锌褟褌 懈 胁 锌械褌褌械 锌褉懈泻邪蟹薪懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋邪 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 锌褉懈褟褌薪懈 懈 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪懈! 袝写薪邪 芯褌 褌褟褏 械 胁 褋褌懈褏芯褌胁芯褉薪邪 褎芯褉屑邪 懈 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈褟褌邪 薪邪 屑薪芯谐芯 谢褞斜懈屑 蟹邪 屑械薪 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸 - 褋褌邪褉懈褟褌 懈 褋谢邪胁械薪 孝芯屑 袘芯屑斜邪写懈谢...
鈥炐ば靶窖傂靶沸秆徰傂� 褋械 褋褌褉械屑懈 泻褗屑 械谢褎懈褔械褋泻芯褌芯 褍屑械薪懈械, 泻褗屑 袨褔邪褉芯胁邪薪懈械褌芯, 懈 泻芯谐邪褌芯 锌芯褋褌懈谐邪 褍褋锌械褏, 褋械 锌褉懈斜谢懈卸邪胁邪 锌芯-锌谢褗褌薪芯 写芯 薪械谐芯, 芯褌泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 胁褋褟泻芯 写褉褍谐芯 褔芯胁械褕泻芯 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯. 袙 褑械薪褌褗褉邪 薪邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褔芯胁械褕泻懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈 蟹邪 械谢褎懈褌械 谢械卸懈 芯褌泻褉懈褌 懈谢懈 锌褉懈泻褉懈褌, 褔懈褋褌 懈谢懈 褉邪蟹褉械写械薪 泻芯锌薪械卸褗褌 蟹邪 卸懈胁芯, 芯褋褗褖械褋褌胁械薪芯 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯 薪邪 胁褌芯褉懈褔薪芯褌芯 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯, 泻芯械褌芯 (泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 懈 写邪 屑褍 锌褉懈谢懈褔邪 锌芯 胁褗薪褕薪懈 褔械褉褌懈) 胁褗褌褉械褕薪芯 褋械 褉邪蟹谢懈褔邪胁邪 懈蟹褑褟谢芯 芯褌 邪谢褔薪芯褋褌褌邪 蟹邪 械谐芯褑械薪褌褉懈褔薪邪 胁谢邪褋褌, 泻芯褟褌芯 械 斜械谢械谐 薪邪 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈褟 袦邪谐褜芯褋薪懈泻. 袛芯 谐芯谢褟屑邪 褋褌械锌械薪 褌芯褔薪芯 芯褌 褌芯蟹懈 泻芯锌薪械卸 褋邪 褋褗蟹写邪写械薪懈 薪邪泄-写芯斜褉懈褌械 (懈 胁褋械 锌邪泻 芯锌邪褋薪懈) 械谢褎懈; 懈 芯褌 褌褟褏 屑芯卸械屑 写邪 薪邪褍褔懈屑 泻邪泻胁芯 械 谐谢邪胁薪芯褌芯 卸械谢邪薪懈械 懈 褍锌芯胁邪薪懈械 薪邪 褔芯胁械褕泻邪褌邪 肖邪薪褌邪蟹懈褟 鈥� 写芯褉懈 邪泻芯 (懈谢懈 褌褗泻屑芯 蟹邪褖芯褌芯) 械谢褎懈褌械 褋邪 褋邪屑芯 锌谢芯写 薪邪 褋邪屑邪褌邪 肖邪薪褌邪蟹懈褟. 孝芯蟹懈 褌胁芯褉褔械褋泻懈 泻芯锌薪械卸 屑芯卸械 褋邪屑芯 写邪 斜褗写械 褍薪懈褖芯卸械薪 芯褌 懈屑懈褌邪褑懈懈褌械 鈥� 薪械蟹邪胁懈褋懈屑芯 写邪谢懈 褋褌邪胁邪 写褍屑邪 蟹邪 薪械胁懈薪薪懈褌械, 薪芯 薪械写芯写褟谢邪薪懈 懈蟹屑懈褋谢懈褑懈 薪邪 褔芯胁械泻邪 写褉邪屑邪褌褍褉谐, 懈谢懈 蟹邪 蟹谢芯薪邪屑械褉械薪懈褌械 懈蟹屑邪屑懈 薪邪 屑邪谐褜芯褋薪懈褑懈褌械. 袙 薪邪褕懈褟 褋胁褟褌 褌芯蟹懈 褔芯胁械褕泻懈 泻芯锌薪械卸 械 薪械褍褌芯谢懈屑 懈 锌芯褉邪写懈 褌芯胁邪 斜械蟹褋屑褗褉褌械薪. 袙 褔懈褋褌懈褟 褋懈 胁懈写 褌芯泄 薪械 褋械 褋褌褉械屑懈 薪懈褌芯 泻褗屑 懈蟹屑邪屑邪, 薪懈褌芯 泻褗屑 褔邪褉芯写械泄褋褌胁芯 懈 锌芯写褔懈薪械薪懈械; 褌芯泄 薪械 褌褗褉褋懈 褉芯斜懈, 邪 褋锌芯写械谢械薪芯 芯斜芯谐邪褌褟胁邪薪械, 锌邪褉褌薪褜芯褉褋褌胁芯 胁 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈 褉邪写芯褋褌褌邪.鈥�
袟谢邪褌芯褉芯薪泻邪 褖芯屑 胁懈写褟, 屑懈谢邪, 锌褉械谢械褋褌薪邪 屑芯屑邪.
袪褍褋芯泻芯褋邪, 胁 锌谢邪褖 蟹械谢械薪, 薪邪 斜褉械谐邪 锌褉懈褋械写薪邪
懈 蟹邪锌褟 褋褗褋 屑械写械薪 谐谢邪褋 锌械褋械薪 褋谢邪写泻邪, 写褉械胁薪邪.鈥�
袨褌泻邪泻褌芯 褋械 锌芯屑薪褟, 芯斜芯卸邪胁邪屑 写邪 褔械褌邪 锌褉懈泻邪蟹薪懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈! 小褌褉邪褋褌褌邪 屑懈 泻褗屑 写械褌褋泻懈褌械 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻懈 褋褗胁褋械屑 械褋褌械褋褌胁械薪芯 懈 薪械褍褋械褌薪芯 褋械 锌褉械薪械褋械 褋 胁褉械屑械褌芯 泻褗屑 卸邪薪褉芯胁械褌械 褎械薪褌褗蟹懈 懈 薪邪褍褔薪邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪... 孝械蟹懈 泻褉械锌芯褋褌懈 薪邪 胁褗芯斜褉邪卸械薪懈械褌芯 薪械 褋邪屑芯, 褔械 薪械 褋邪 鈥炐叫笛佇笛€懈芯蟹薪懈 谐谢褍锌芯褋褌懈 蟹邪 写械褑邪鈥�, 邪 薪邪锌褉芯褌懈胁 - 褏芯褉邪 芯褌 胁褋褟泻邪泻胁邪 胁褗蟹褉邪褋褌 懈屑邪褌 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌 写邪 (锌褉械)芯褌泻褉懈胁邪褌 胁 褌褟褏 屑芯褉邪谢薪懈 褑械薪薪芯褋褌懈 懈 锌芯褍泻懈, 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 褋褗斜褍写褟褌 胁 褋械斜械 褋懈 懈薪褌械褉械褋 泻褗屑 薪邪褍泻懈褌械, 褌褗褉褋械泄泻懈 胁褗褌褉械褕薪邪 谢芯谐懈泻邪 胁 邪谢褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪懈 泻薪懈卸薪懈 褋胁械褌芯胁械.
袩褉芯褎械褋芯褉 袛卸芯薪 孝芯谢泻懈薪 蟹邪写褗谢斜芯褔械薪芯 褉邪蟹褋褗卸写邪胁邪 胁褗褉褏褍 褌械屑邪褌邪 蟹邪 胁褗芯斜褉邪卸械薪懈械褌芯 胁 褋胁芯械褌芯 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪芯 械褋械 (谢械泻褑懈褟), 薪邪褉械褔械薪芯 鈥炐椥� 胁褗谢褕械斜薪懈褌械 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻懈鈥�! 孝芯泄 斜褉懈谢褟薪褌薪芯 蟹邪褖懈褌邪胁邪 薪褍卸写邪褌邪 芯褌 褎邪薪褌邪蟹懈褟, 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁褟泄泻懈 邪泻邪写械屑懈褔薪芯, 薪芯 懈 薪邪 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪械屑 械蟹懈泻 薪械泄薪懈褌械 锌褉芯懈蟹褏芯写, 褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 懈 褋屑懈褋褗谢... 袙褗锌褉芯褋薪芯褌芯 械褋械 械 懈蟹谢褟蟹谢芯 薪邪 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻懈 蟹邪 锌褉褗胁 锌褗褌 胁 褋斜芯褉薪懈泻邪 鈥炐熜笛� 褎械薪褌褗蟹懈 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪鈥�. 袨褋胁械薪 胁 薪械谐芯, 褔懈褌邪褌械谢懈褌械 屑芯谐邪褌 写邪 褋械 锌芯褌芯锌褟褌 懈 胁 锌械褌褌械 锌褉懈泻邪蟹薪懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋邪 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 锌褉懈褟褌薪懈 懈 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪懈! 袝写薪邪 芯褌 褌褟褏 械 胁 褋褌懈褏芯褌胁芯褉薪邪 褎芯褉屑邪 懈 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈褟褌邪 薪邪 屑薪芯谐芯 谢褞斜懈屑 蟹邪 屑械薪 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸 - 褋褌邪褉懈褟褌 懈 褋谢邪胁械薪 孝芯屑 袘芯屑斜邪写懈谢...
鈥炐ば靶窖傂靶沸秆徰傂� 褋械 褋褌褉械屑懈 泻褗屑 械谢褎懈褔械褋泻芯褌芯 褍屑械薪懈械, 泻褗屑 袨褔邪褉芯胁邪薪懈械褌芯, 懈 泻芯谐邪褌芯 锌芯褋褌懈谐邪 褍褋锌械褏, 褋械 锌褉懈斜谢懈卸邪胁邪 锌芯-锌谢褗褌薪芯 写芯 薪械谐芯, 芯褌泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 胁褋褟泻芯 写褉褍谐芯 褔芯胁械褕泻芯 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯. 袙 褑械薪褌褗褉邪 薪邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褔芯胁械褕泻懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈 蟹邪 械谢褎懈褌械 谢械卸懈 芯褌泻褉懈褌 懈谢懈 锌褉懈泻褉懈褌, 褔懈褋褌 懈谢懈 褉邪蟹褉械写械薪 泻芯锌薪械卸褗褌 蟹邪 卸懈胁芯, 芯褋褗褖械褋褌胁械薪芯 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯 薪邪 胁褌芯褉懈褔薪芯褌芯 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯, 泻芯械褌芯 (泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 懈 写邪 屑褍 锌褉懈谢懈褔邪 锌芯 胁褗薪褕薪懈 褔械褉褌懈) 胁褗褌褉械褕薪芯 褋械 褉邪蟹谢懈褔邪胁邪 懈蟹褑褟谢芯 芯褌 邪谢褔薪芯褋褌褌邪 蟹邪 械谐芯褑械薪褌褉懈褔薪邪 胁谢邪褋褌, 泻芯褟褌芯 械 斜械谢械谐 薪邪 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈褟 袦邪谐褜芯褋薪懈泻. 袛芯 谐芯谢褟屑邪 褋褌械锌械薪 褌芯褔薪芯 芯褌 褌芯蟹懈 泻芯锌薪械卸 褋邪 褋褗蟹写邪写械薪懈 薪邪泄-写芯斜褉懈褌械 (懈 胁褋械 锌邪泻 芯锌邪褋薪懈) 械谢褎懈; 懈 芯褌 褌褟褏 屑芯卸械屑 写邪 薪邪褍褔懈屑 泻邪泻胁芯 械 谐谢邪胁薪芯褌芯 卸械谢邪薪懈械 懈 褍锌芯胁邪薪懈械 薪邪 褔芯胁械褕泻邪褌邪 肖邪薪褌邪蟹懈褟 鈥� 写芯褉懈 邪泻芯 (懈谢懈 褌褗泻屑芯 蟹邪褖芯褌芯) 械谢褎懈褌械 褋邪 褋邪屑芯 锌谢芯写 薪邪 褋邪屑邪褌邪 肖邪薪褌邪蟹懈褟. 孝芯蟹懈 褌胁芯褉褔械褋泻懈 泻芯锌薪械卸 屑芯卸械 褋邪屑芯 写邪 斜褗写械 褍薪懈褖芯卸械薪 芯褌 懈屑懈褌邪褑懈懈褌械 鈥� 薪械蟹邪胁懈褋懈屑芯 写邪谢懈 褋褌邪胁邪 写褍屑邪 蟹邪 薪械胁懈薪薪懈褌械, 薪芯 薪械写芯写褟谢邪薪懈 懈蟹屑懈褋谢懈褑懈 薪邪 褔芯胁械泻邪 写褉邪屑邪褌褍褉谐, 懈谢懈 蟹邪 蟹谢芯薪邪屑械褉械薪懈褌械 懈蟹屑邪屑懈 薪邪 屑邪谐褜芯褋薪懈褑懈褌械. 袙 薪邪褕懈褟 褋胁褟褌 褌芯蟹懈 褔芯胁械褕泻懈 泻芯锌薪械卸 械 薪械褍褌芯谢懈屑 懈 锌芯褉邪写懈 褌芯胁邪 斜械蟹褋屑褗褉褌械薪. 袙 褔懈褋褌懈褟 褋懈 胁懈写 褌芯泄 薪械 褋械 褋褌褉械屑懈 薪懈褌芯 泻褗屑 懈蟹屑邪屑邪, 薪懈褌芯 泻褗屑 褔邪褉芯写械泄褋褌胁芯 懈 锌芯写褔懈薪械薪懈械; 褌芯泄 薪械 褌褗褉褋懈 褉芯斜懈, 邪 褋锌芯写械谢械薪芯 芯斜芯谐邪褌褟胁邪薪械, 锌邪褉褌薪褜芯褉褋褌胁芯 胁 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈 褉邪写芯褋褌褌邪.鈥�
May 8, 2023
[ESP/ENG]
Esta rese帽a va a ser diferente, puesto que comentar茅 un poco de cada historia por separado, despu茅s de poner un poco en situaci贸n. Este libro recoge 5 historias breves de Tolkien, algunas publicadas anteriormente, otras in茅ditas para el libro. Pero todas tratan sobre lo mismo: El mundo de las hadas y la magia fe茅rica. Estos relatos son bastante m谩s sencillos en su elaboraci贸n que el archiconocido universo de E盲, Arda o la Tiera media, aunque no por ello menos elaborados. La capacidad de Tolkien para inventar mundos e historias es fascinante. Y no puedo olvidar el increible arte de Alan Lee, una peque帽a muestra de cada historia debajo de estas.
Roverandom: Un perrito est谩 jugando cuando se enfada con un se帽or que pasaba por all铆, y le rompe el pantal贸n. Este se帽or, a la saz贸n un mago de gran poder y un pel铆n rencoroso, le convierte en un perrito de juguete, que por avatares de la vida acaba en el bolsillo de un ni帽o. El ni帽o pierde al perrito en una playa, y la historia nos cuenta los viajes del perrito Rover en busca de volver a su hogar.
Aqu铆 tendremos un viaje de lo m谩s surrealista yendo a sitios como la cara luminosa de la luna, donde vive El hombre de la luna, o el fondo del mar. Un relato con un marcado toque infantil, con elementos interesantes (El hombre de la luna, o los magos, e incluso La serpiente de mar), que parten de un hecho real y c贸mo un padre intenta animar a su hijo (en efecto, Michael Tolkien perdi贸 un juguete de un perrito y esta es la forma de su padre de ayudarle a animarse)
Egidio, el granjero de Ham: Nos vamos ahora a una aventura caballeresca de las cl谩sicas, pero con una vuelta de humor, no humor de re铆rse, sino m谩s bien sat铆rico, con mucha retranca. 脝gidius Ahenobarbi Julii Agricole de Hammo, m谩s conocido como Egidio el grangero de Ham se encuentra un d铆a con un gigante en sus tierras. Armado de su trabuco (y un tanto de suerte) lo espanta, por lo que se convierte en una celebridad, e incluso el rey le manda una espada de regalo. Cuando un drag贸n llega a Ham le instan de nuevo a salir a su encuentro, y armado con la espada (m谩gica) y un tanto de suerte lo espanta tambi茅n. As铆 el rey le env铆a a una aventura con su caballeros...y como acaba todo. Un relato divertido, en el que podemos encontrar elementos que nos suenan de otras historias del g茅nero, pero muy bien escrito.
Las aventuras de Tom Bobadil
Aqu铆 encontramos una serie de poemas que tratan sobre Tom Bombadil (solo dos de ellos) y otros que tienen que ver en su mayor铆a con La Comarca o historias de la Tierra media. La parte menos buena del libro sin duda, es una mezcla poco atractiva.
El herrero de Wootton Mayor
Este me deja un poco descolocado, no ha sido mala lectura pero durante gran parte del relato no sab铆a muy bien qu茅 quer铆a contar. En el pueblecito de Wooton mayor, m谩s grande que Wooton menor pero sin ser nada grande, hay un puesto muy relevante, el de cocinero Mayor. 脡ste prepara comidas para las fiestas, entre ellas La tarta de los veinticuatro, una celebraci贸n especial con una tarta espectacular. Cuando el cocinero se retira, deja su puesto a un ayudante, Alf, pero el pueblo elige a otro. En esa tarta acaba una estrella aparentemente m谩gica, que le cae en suerte al hijo del herrero, que posteriormente ser谩 El herrero de Wooton mayor. Esta historia tiene un giro muy bueno, pero en su mayor铆a no sucede mucho.
Hoja de Niggle
El pintor Niggle vive volcado en su obra, que empez贸 siendo una hoja de 谩rbol (preciosa, eso s铆) y que creci贸 y creci贸 incorporando elementos adicionales: a la hoja una rama, a la rama un 谩rbol, al 谩rbol un prado, un lago y unas monta帽as de fondo...
Un d铆a debe emprender un viaje, que ha ido posponiendo, y...spoilers.
Esta obra parece ser en algunos elementos autobiogr谩fica del propio Tolkien, que empez贸 un relato al que fue a帽adiendo cosas e historias adicionales que acabar铆a desembocando en su famosa saga de Beleriand y la Tierra media, y que c贸mo Niggle, nunca dej贸 de cambiar y a帽adir.
Al final viene un ensayo que Tolkien escribi贸 llamado "Sobre el mundo de las hadas", en el que elucubra sobre el trato dado a este g茅nero en general, que no est谩 mal, pero que llegando al final se puede hacer un poquito pesado. Pero sirve para ver lo que el autor pensaba de las personas que calificaban esta literatura como obras para ni帽os, entre otras cosas.
Unos relatos muy variados, que permiten ver a Tolkien en otro 谩mbito que no fuese la Tierra media, acompa帽ados de unas ilustraciones fant谩sticas.
-----------------------------
This review is going to be different, since I will comment a little on each story separately. This book collects 5 Tolkien short stories, some previously published, others unpublished for the book. But they are all about the same thing: The world of fairies and fairy magic. These stories are much simpler in their elaboration than the well-known universe of E盲, Arda or the Middle Earth, although no less elaborate for that. Tolkien's ability to create worlds and stories is fascinating. And I can't forget the amazing art by Alan Lee, a small sample of each story below these.
Roverandom : A puppy is playing when he gets angry with a man who was passing by, and rips his pants. This gentleman, at the time a magician of great power and a bit spiteful, turns him into a toy puppy, which due to the vicissitudes of life ends up in the pocket of a child. The boy loses the puppy on a beach, and the story tells us about the travels of the puppy (Rover) trying to return to his home.
Here we will have a most surreal trip going to places like the luminous face of the moon, where The Man of the Moon lives, or the bottom of the sea. A story with a strong childish touch, with interesting elements (The Man of the Moon, or the magicians, and even The Sea Serpent), which is based on a real event and how a father tries to cheer up his son (that's right, Michael Tolkien lost a puppy toy and this is his father's way of helping him cheer up)
Giles, farmer of Ham: We are now going on a chivalric adventure with a classic taste, but with a humorous twist, not the humor of laughing, but rather satirical, with a lot of restraint. 脝gidius Ahenobarbi Julii Agricole de Hammo, better known as Giles farmer of Ham one day meets a giant in his land. Armed with his firearm (and a bit of luck) he scares him away, so he becomes a celebrity, and even the king sends him a gift sword. When a dragon comes to Ham they urge him again to go out to meet it, and armed with the (magical) sword and a bit of luck he scares it away too. So the king sends him on an adventure with his knights... and more would be spoilers. A funny story, in which we can find elements that sound familiar to us from other stories of the genre, but very well written.
The Adventures of Tom Bobadil
Here we find a series of poems that deal with Tom Bombadil (only two of them) and others that have to do mostly with The Shire or Middle Earth stories. The least good part of the book, without a doubt, is an unappealing mix.
Smith of Wootton major
This leaves me a little confused, it has not been a bad read but for much of the story I did not know very well what it was telling. In the small town of Wooton Major, bigger than Wooton Minor but not big at all, there is a very important position, that of Master Cook. He prepares food for the holidays, including the Feast of Good Children, a special celebration with a spectacular cake. When the cook retires, he leaves his place to an apprentice, Alf, but the town chooses another instead. In that cake ends up an apparently magical star, which falls in luck to the blacksmith's son, who will later be The Smith of Wooton major. This story has a very cool twist, but mostly nothing much happens.
Leaf by Niggle
The painter Niggle lives devoted to his work, which began as a tree leaf (beautiful, yes) and which grew and grew incorporating additional elements: a branch to the leaf, a tree to the branch, a meadow to the tree, a lake and some mountains in the background...
One day he must go on a journey, which he has been postponing, and... spoilers.
This work seems to be some sort of autobiographical about Tolkien himself, who began a story to which he was adding additional things and stories that would end up leading to his famous saga of Beleriand and Middle Earth, and like Niggle, he never stopped changing and adding.
At the end comes an essay that Tolkien wrote called "On Fairy-stories", in which he wonders about the treatment given to this genre in general, which is not bad, but when it comes to the end it can get a little heavy. But it serves to see what the author thought of the people who qualified this literature as works for children, among other things.
Some very varied stories, which allow us to see Tolkien in another area that was not Middle-earth, accompanied by some fantastic illustrations.
Esta rese帽a va a ser diferente, puesto que comentar茅 un poco de cada historia por separado, despu茅s de poner un poco en situaci贸n. Este libro recoge 5 historias breves de Tolkien, algunas publicadas anteriormente, otras in茅ditas para el libro. Pero todas tratan sobre lo mismo: El mundo de las hadas y la magia fe茅rica. Estos relatos son bastante m谩s sencillos en su elaboraci贸n que el archiconocido universo de E盲, Arda o la Tiera media, aunque no por ello menos elaborados. La capacidad de Tolkien para inventar mundos e historias es fascinante. Y no puedo olvidar el increible arte de Alan Lee, una peque帽a muestra de cada historia debajo de estas.
Roverandom: Un perrito est谩 jugando cuando se enfada con un se帽or que pasaba por all铆, y le rompe el pantal贸n. Este se帽or, a la saz贸n un mago de gran poder y un pel铆n rencoroso, le convierte en un perrito de juguete, que por avatares de la vida acaba en el bolsillo de un ni帽o. El ni帽o pierde al perrito en una playa, y la historia nos cuenta los viajes del perrito Rover en busca de volver a su hogar.
Aqu铆 tendremos un viaje de lo m谩s surrealista yendo a sitios como la cara luminosa de la luna, donde vive El hombre de la luna, o el fondo del mar. Un relato con un marcado toque infantil, con elementos interesantes (El hombre de la luna, o los magos, e incluso La serpiente de mar), que parten de un hecho real y c贸mo un padre intenta animar a su hijo (en efecto, Michael Tolkien perdi贸 un juguete de un perrito y esta es la forma de su padre de ayudarle a animarse)
Egidio, el granjero de Ham: Nos vamos ahora a una aventura caballeresca de las cl谩sicas, pero con una vuelta de humor, no humor de re铆rse, sino m谩s bien sat铆rico, con mucha retranca. 脝gidius Ahenobarbi Julii Agricole de Hammo, m谩s conocido como Egidio el grangero de Ham se encuentra un d铆a con un gigante en sus tierras. Armado de su trabuco (y un tanto de suerte) lo espanta, por lo que se convierte en una celebridad, e incluso el rey le manda una espada de regalo. Cuando un drag贸n llega a Ham le instan de nuevo a salir a su encuentro, y armado con la espada (m谩gica) y un tanto de suerte lo espanta tambi茅n. As铆 el rey le env铆a a una aventura con su caballeros...y como acaba todo. Un relato divertido, en el que podemos encontrar elementos que nos suenan de otras historias del g茅nero, pero muy bien escrito.
Las aventuras de Tom Bobadil
Aqu铆 encontramos una serie de poemas que tratan sobre Tom Bombadil (solo dos de ellos) y otros que tienen que ver en su mayor铆a con La Comarca o historias de la Tierra media. La parte menos buena del libro sin duda, es una mezcla poco atractiva.
El herrero de Wootton Mayor
Este me deja un poco descolocado, no ha sido mala lectura pero durante gran parte del relato no sab铆a muy bien qu茅 quer铆a contar. En el pueblecito de Wooton mayor, m谩s grande que Wooton menor pero sin ser nada grande, hay un puesto muy relevante, el de cocinero Mayor. 脡ste prepara comidas para las fiestas, entre ellas La tarta de los veinticuatro, una celebraci贸n especial con una tarta espectacular. Cuando el cocinero se retira, deja su puesto a un ayudante, Alf, pero el pueblo elige a otro. En esa tarta acaba una estrella aparentemente m谩gica, que le cae en suerte al hijo del herrero, que posteriormente ser谩 El herrero de Wooton mayor. Esta historia tiene un giro muy bueno, pero en su mayor铆a no sucede mucho.
Hoja de Niggle
El pintor Niggle vive volcado en su obra, que empez贸 siendo una hoja de 谩rbol (preciosa, eso s铆) y que creci贸 y creci贸 incorporando elementos adicionales: a la hoja una rama, a la rama un 谩rbol, al 谩rbol un prado, un lago y unas monta帽as de fondo...
Un d铆a debe emprender un viaje, que ha ido posponiendo, y...spoilers.
Esta obra parece ser en algunos elementos autobiogr谩fica del propio Tolkien, que empez贸 un relato al que fue a帽adiendo cosas e historias adicionales que acabar铆a desembocando en su famosa saga de Beleriand y la Tierra media, y que c贸mo Niggle, nunca dej贸 de cambiar y a帽adir.
Al final viene un ensayo que Tolkien escribi贸 llamado "Sobre el mundo de las hadas", en el que elucubra sobre el trato dado a este g茅nero en general, que no est谩 mal, pero que llegando al final se puede hacer un poquito pesado. Pero sirve para ver lo que el autor pensaba de las personas que calificaban esta literatura como obras para ni帽os, entre otras cosas.
Unos relatos muy variados, que permiten ver a Tolkien en otro 谩mbito que no fuese la Tierra media, acompa帽ados de unas ilustraciones fant谩sticas.
-----------------------------
This review is going to be different, since I will comment a little on each story separately. This book collects 5 Tolkien short stories, some previously published, others unpublished for the book. But they are all about the same thing: The world of fairies and fairy magic. These stories are much simpler in their elaboration than the well-known universe of E盲, Arda or the Middle Earth, although no less elaborate for that. Tolkien's ability to create worlds and stories is fascinating. And I can't forget the amazing art by Alan Lee, a small sample of each story below these.
Roverandom : A puppy is playing when he gets angry with a man who was passing by, and rips his pants. This gentleman, at the time a magician of great power and a bit spiteful, turns him into a toy puppy, which due to the vicissitudes of life ends up in the pocket of a child. The boy loses the puppy on a beach, and the story tells us about the travels of the puppy (Rover) trying to return to his home.
Here we will have a most surreal trip going to places like the luminous face of the moon, where The Man of the Moon lives, or the bottom of the sea. A story with a strong childish touch, with interesting elements (The Man of the Moon, or the magicians, and even The Sea Serpent), which is based on a real event and how a father tries to cheer up his son (that's right, Michael Tolkien lost a puppy toy and this is his father's way of helping him cheer up)
Giles, farmer of Ham: We are now going on a chivalric adventure with a classic taste, but with a humorous twist, not the humor of laughing, but rather satirical, with a lot of restraint. 脝gidius Ahenobarbi Julii Agricole de Hammo, better known as Giles farmer of Ham one day meets a giant in his land. Armed with his firearm (and a bit of luck) he scares him away, so he becomes a celebrity, and even the king sends him a gift sword. When a dragon comes to Ham they urge him again to go out to meet it, and armed with the (magical) sword and a bit of luck he scares it away too. So the king sends him on an adventure with his knights... and more would be spoilers. A funny story, in which we can find elements that sound familiar to us from other stories of the genre, but very well written.
The Adventures of Tom Bobadil
Here we find a series of poems that deal with Tom Bombadil (only two of them) and others that have to do mostly with The Shire or Middle Earth stories. The least good part of the book, without a doubt, is an unappealing mix.
Smith of Wootton major
This leaves me a little confused, it has not been a bad read but for much of the story I did not know very well what it was telling. In the small town of Wooton Major, bigger than Wooton Minor but not big at all, there is a very important position, that of Master Cook. He prepares food for the holidays, including the Feast of Good Children, a special celebration with a spectacular cake. When the cook retires, he leaves his place to an apprentice, Alf, but the town chooses another instead. In that cake ends up an apparently magical star, which falls in luck to the blacksmith's son, who will later be The Smith of Wooton major. This story has a very cool twist, but mostly nothing much happens.
Leaf by Niggle
The painter Niggle lives devoted to his work, which began as a tree leaf (beautiful, yes) and which grew and grew incorporating additional elements: a branch to the leaf, a tree to the branch, a meadow to the tree, a lake and some mountains in the background...
One day he must go on a journey, which he has been postponing, and... spoilers.
This work seems to be some sort of autobiographical about Tolkien himself, who began a story to which he was adding additional things and stories that would end up leading to his famous saga of Beleriand and Middle Earth, and like Niggle, he never stopped changing and adding.
At the end comes an essay that Tolkien wrote called "On Fairy-stories", in which he wonders about the treatment given to this genre in general, which is not bad, but when it comes to the end it can get a little heavy. But it serves to see what the author thought of the people who qualified this literature as works for children, among other things.
Some very varied stories, which allow us to see Tolkien in another area that was not Middle-earth, accompanied by some fantastic illustrations.
December 21, 2022
4鉁�
La verdad es que este autor me llama especialmente la atenci贸n, de tal manera que me gustar铆a leer todo lo ha escrito.
Este libro no est谩 totalmente basado en suimaginarium del Se帽or de los Anillos, pero s铆 que tiene algunos escritos con algo de conexi贸n. Hoy voy a hablar individualmente de los relatos/cuentos que os encontrar茅is en este ejemplar:
-Roverandom:
Cuenta la historia de un perro de juguete que se convierte en uno de verdad y vive maravillas por la Luna, bajo el mar, conoce a magos poderosos y a otros dos perros llamados como 茅l. No me maravill贸 especialmente y la verdad es fue el que menos me gust贸. Es cierto que fue escrito para ni帽os (est谩 basado en una vivencia real con su hijo) y tal vez eso tenga que ver.
-Egidio, el granjero de Ham:
Este me pareci贸 m谩s curioso. Est谩 ambientado en otra realidad, que podr铆a ser f谩cilmente alg煤n paraje de N煤menor. El granjero se convierte sin quererlo en el salvador de su aldea, y ver谩 las implicaciones de que su renombre crezca. Sin embargo, no me convenci贸 mucho la parte del drag贸n.
-Las aventuras de Tom Bombadil:
En esta secci贸n nos encontramos distintas poes铆as que escribi贸 Tolkien. Algunas fueron sacadas/inspiradas en el mundo de LOTR.
-El Herrero de Wotton Mayor:
Trata sobre un herrero que consigue un pase para el Pa铆s de la Fantas铆a y c贸mo vive y madura con todas sus aventuras. Para m铆, est谩 a la altura del de Egidio: curioso, con transfondo y entretenido.
-Hoja de Niggle:
Este fue mi favorito, pero m谩s por lo que representa y la alegor铆a con Tolkien: c贸mo a trav茅s de una hoja va ampliando el cuadro (a trav茅s de un relato/cuento va ampliando su mundo).
Por 煤ltimo, nos encontramos con un ensayo sobe los cuentos de hadas. Ya sab茅is que Tolkien era un erudito, profesor de universidad y experto en folklore y cuentos tradicionales. Este ensayo me pareci贸 muy interesante y esclarecedor, aunque hab铆a puntos con los que no estaba de acuerdo.
馃崄 隆Y eso es todo por hoy! 驴Ya sab铆as que Tolkien ten铆a otros escritos? Te ha llamado la atenci贸n?
La verdad es que este autor me llama especialmente la atenci贸n, de tal manera que me gustar铆a leer todo lo ha escrito.
Este libro no est谩 totalmente basado en suimaginarium del Se帽or de los Anillos, pero s铆 que tiene algunos escritos con algo de conexi贸n. Hoy voy a hablar individualmente de los relatos/cuentos que os encontrar茅is en este ejemplar:
-Roverandom:
Cuenta la historia de un perro de juguete que se convierte en uno de verdad y vive maravillas por la Luna, bajo el mar, conoce a magos poderosos y a otros dos perros llamados como 茅l. No me maravill贸 especialmente y la verdad es fue el que menos me gust贸. Es cierto que fue escrito para ni帽os (est谩 basado en una vivencia real con su hijo) y tal vez eso tenga que ver.
-Egidio, el granjero de Ham:
Este me pareci贸 m谩s curioso. Est谩 ambientado en otra realidad, que podr铆a ser f谩cilmente alg煤n paraje de N煤menor. El granjero se convierte sin quererlo en el salvador de su aldea, y ver谩 las implicaciones de que su renombre crezca. Sin embargo, no me convenci贸 mucho la parte del drag贸n.
-Las aventuras de Tom Bombadil:
En esta secci贸n nos encontramos distintas poes铆as que escribi贸 Tolkien. Algunas fueron sacadas/inspiradas en el mundo de LOTR.
-El Herrero de Wotton Mayor:
Trata sobre un herrero que consigue un pase para el Pa铆s de la Fantas铆a y c贸mo vive y madura con todas sus aventuras. Para m铆, est谩 a la altura del de Egidio: curioso, con transfondo y entretenido.
-Hoja de Niggle:
Este fue mi favorito, pero m谩s por lo que representa y la alegor铆a con Tolkien: c贸mo a trav茅s de una hoja va ampliando el cuadro (a trav茅s de un relato/cuento va ampliando su mundo).
Por 煤ltimo, nos encontramos con un ensayo sobe los cuentos de hadas. Ya sab茅is que Tolkien era un erudito, profesor de universidad y experto en folklore y cuentos tradicionales. Este ensayo me pareci贸 muy interesante y esclarecedor, aunque hab铆a puntos con los que no estaba de acuerdo.
馃崄 隆Y eso es todo por hoy! 驴Ya sab铆as que Tolkien ten铆a otros escritos? Te ha llamado la atenci贸n?
January 10, 2014
This collection of Tolkien's shorter works (Farmer Giles of Ham, Leaf By Niggle, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and Smith of Wootton Major) rely on England's "tales of yore" and its faery-filled past.
Though not what he is remembered for, they are intriguing reads. Their whimsical nature echos the more fanciful scenes in The Hobbit, but beyond that - and obviously the inclusion of Bombadil in Fellowship - there is little resemblance to these short works and his epics. (For something in the middle, one might try Tolkien's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.)
No, the depth, the thrill and (for better or worse) the gravitas of LotR and The Silmarillion is lacking here. And fans of his Middle Earth world will be disappointed, little if any of this has to anything to do with that fantasy land. If you're looking for more ME, try something like the Unfinished Tales collection.
Still and all, these stories are enjoyable and should be read by Tolkien enthusiasts.
Though not what he is remembered for, they are intriguing reads. Their whimsical nature echos the more fanciful scenes in The Hobbit, but beyond that - and obviously the inclusion of Bombadil in Fellowship - there is little resemblance to these short works and his epics. (For something in the middle, one might try Tolkien's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.)
No, the depth, the thrill and (for better or worse) the gravitas of LotR and The Silmarillion is lacking here. And fans of his Middle Earth world will be disappointed, little if any of this has to anything to do with that fantasy land. If you're looking for more ME, try something like the Unfinished Tales collection.
Still and all, these stories are enjoyable and should be read by Tolkien enthusiasts.
December 15, 2024
The English version can be found below. 猬囷笍
-----------
German version:
Der Band 鈥欸eschichten aus dem gef盲hrlichen K枚nigreich鈥� enth盲lt eine kleine Auswahl von Tolkiens Fantasy- und Abenteuererz盲hlungen und einige Gedichte:
- Bauer Giles: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Roverandom: 馃専 馃専
- Die Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil: 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Schmied von Gro脽holzingen: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Blatt von T眉ftler: 馃専 馃専 馃専
Au脽erdem: mit vielen wundersch枚nen Illustrationen von Alan Lee und einem kurzen aber interessanten Nachwort von ihm! 馃
---
Bauer Giles: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
鈥欱auer Giles von Ham鈥� war wirklich ein sch枚nes mittelalterliches M盲re, das die Definition der mittelalterlichen Komik (bes. mhd. 鈥歸itz鈥�, d.h. nhd. List) wirklich gut getroffen hat und auch die Doppelungen erinnern mich an 鈥欵rec鈥�/鈥欼wein鈥� von Hartmann von Aue oder 鈥欻einrich von Kempten鈥� von Konrad von W眉rzburg. Und das Hineinstolpern in die Handlung sehr an Parzivals (,Parzival鈥� von Wolfram von Eschenbach) Anfangsphase馃槄 Die Erz盲hlung ist von gl眉cklichen Zufall getragen und l盲sst einen oft schmunzeln.
---
Roverandom: 馃専 馃専
鈥歊overandom鈥� erz盲hlt eine sehr niedliche abenteuerliche Reise eines kleinen Hundes馃槉馃枻馃対 Genau wie in 鈥欱auer Giles鈥� kommen hier Drachen und Hunde vor. Diese Geschichte richtet sich aber im Gegensatz zur ersten eher an Kinder und ist f眉r meinen Geschmack etwas zu 眉bertrieben bei den Abenteuern, man k枚nnte auch sagen zu abgespacet 鈥� wortw枚rtlich 馃槄 Das -鈥歳andom鈥� des Titels zeigt sich auch in den Geschehnissen 馃槄
---
Die Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil: 馃専 馃専 馃専
鈥欴ie Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil鈥� war die Geschichte bzw. das Gedicht, weswegen ich das Buch lesen wollte! 鈽猴笍 Ich bin daher leider etwas entt盲uscht, denn 鈥欴ie Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil鈥� beschr盲nkte sich auf ein Gedicht, was etwas irref眉hrend ist (bzw. zwei, wenn der Tom im 2ten Gedicht identisch mit Tom B. ist, was zwar im Vorwort steht, ich aber die Sache mit der Verwandtschaft seltsam finde, wenn sie ernst gemeint ist, da Tom Bombadil ja eig. einen unklaren Ursprung hat馃). Die anderen Gedichte hatten nicht direkt einen Bezug zu Tom, sind aber sprachlich sch枚n gestaltet und zeigen winzige Facetten von Mittelerde. Neben 鈥欴ie Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil鈥� hat mir besonders gefallen: 鈥歅rinzessin Ich-Mi鈥�, 鈥欴ie Muhlipps鈥� und 鈥欴er Hort鈥�.
Das Vorwort hierzu war wirklich sch枚n zu lesen mit Tolkiens fiktiver Einordnung in die Zeitalter Mittelerdes und den vermeintlichen Autoren und den Bez眉gen zu den Hobbits:)
Alle Gedichte haben ihre ganz eigene Note (wie im Vorwort durch ihrem Ursprung erkl盲rt) und in der deutschen 脺bersetzung konnte man auch sp眉ren, dass sich viel M眉he gegeben wurde beim 脺bersetzen der Gedichte, v.a. bei den Reimen.
---
Schmied von Gro脽holzingen: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
Eine sch枚ne Geschichte von der Beziehung von Gro脽herzingen und dem Elbenland! Hierin scheint der M盲rchencharakter deutlich durch, v.a. mit dem Belohnen der Guten.馃専 馃嵃鈽猴笍 馃
---
Blatt von T眉ftler: 馃専 馃専 馃専
Die Frage nach dem Nutzen von Kunst ist hier zentral. Mich hat dieser Text am Ende etwas verwirrt, da nie aufgel枚st wurde, wer die Stimme ist und wo genau sich alles befindet 馃槄 Den philosophischen bzw. gesellschaftskritischen Aspekt fand ich aber gut gelungen.
---
Allgemeine Anmerkung: Aus der Sache mit dem Mann im Mond, der mehrmals vorkommt, werde ich leider nicht schlau und finde es irgendwie seltsam 馃槄馃対
---
Gesamt: 3,8 馃専
----------
English version:
The volume 鈥楾ales from the Perilous Realm鈥� contains a small selection of Tolkien's fantasy and adventure stories and some poems:
- Farmer Giles of Ham: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Roverandom: 馃専 馃専
- The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Smith of Wootton Major: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Leaf by Niggle: 馃専 馃専 馃専
Also: with many beautiful illustrations by Alan Lee and a short but interesting epilogue by him! 馃
---
Farmer Giles: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
鈥楩armer Giles of Ham鈥� was a really nice medieval tale that really hit the definition of medieval comedy (especially mhd. 鈥榳itz鈥�, i.e. nhd. trick, sophistication) and the doublings also remind me of 鈥楨rec鈥�/鈥業wein鈥� by Hartmann von Aue or 鈥楬einrich von Kempten鈥� by Konrad von W眉rzburg. And the stumbling into the plot is very reminiscent of Parzival's (by Wolfram von Eschenbach) initial phase馃槄 The narrative is based on happy coincidence and often makes you smile.
---
Roverandom: 馃専 馃専
鈥楻overandom鈥� tells a very cute adventurous journey of a little dog馃槉馃枻馃対 Just like in 鈥楩armer Giles鈥�, there are dragons and dogs here. However, unlike the first one, this story is aimed more towards children and is a little too exaggerated in its adventures for my taste, you could also say too spaced out - literally 馃槄The 鈥榬andom鈥� of the title is also reflected in the events 馃槄
---
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: 馃専 馃専 馃専
鈥楾he Adventures of Tom Bombadil鈥� was the story/poem that made me want to read the book! 鈽猴笍 So unfortunately I'm a bit disappointed, because 鈥楾he Adventures of Tom Bombadil鈥� was limited to one poem, which is a bit misleading (or two, if the Tom in the 2nd poem is identical to Tom B., which is stated in the preface, but I find the relatedness thing strange if it's meant seriously, as Tom Bombadil actually has an unclear origin馃). The other poems were not directly related to Tom, but are beautifully written and show tiny facets of Middle-earth. In addition to 鈥楾he Adventures of Tom Bombadil鈥�, I particularly liked: 鈥楶rincess Me-Mi鈥�, 鈥楾he Muhlipps鈥� and 鈥楾he Hoard鈥�.
The foreword to these was really nice to read with Tolkien's fictional placing in the ages of Middle-earth and the supposed authors and references to the hobbits :)
All the poems have their very own character (as explained in the preface by their origin) and in the German translation you could also feel that a lot of effort was put into translating the poems, especially the rhymes.
---
Smith of Wootton Major: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
A beautiful story about the relationship between Gro脽herzingen and the Elvenland! The fairytale character clearly shines through here, especially through the rewarding of the good people.馃専 馃嵃鈽猴笍 馃
---
Leaf by Niggle: 馃専 馃専 馃専
The question of the utility of art is central here. I was a bit confused by this text at the end, as it was never resolved who the voice is and where exactly everything is located 馃槄 But I thought the philosophical or socio-critical aspect was well done.
---
General comment: Unfortunately, I can't figure out the thing with the man in the moon, who appears several times, and I find it kind of strange 馃槄馃対
---
Total: 3.8 馃専
-----------
German version:
Der Band 鈥欸eschichten aus dem gef盲hrlichen K枚nigreich鈥� enth盲lt eine kleine Auswahl von Tolkiens Fantasy- und Abenteuererz盲hlungen und einige Gedichte:
- Bauer Giles: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Roverandom: 馃専 馃専
- Die Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil: 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Schmied von Gro脽holzingen: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Blatt von T眉ftler: 馃専 馃専 馃専
Au脽erdem: mit vielen wundersch枚nen Illustrationen von Alan Lee und einem kurzen aber interessanten Nachwort von ihm! 馃
---
Bauer Giles: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
鈥欱auer Giles von Ham鈥� war wirklich ein sch枚nes mittelalterliches M盲re, das die Definition der mittelalterlichen Komik (bes. mhd. 鈥歸itz鈥�, d.h. nhd. List) wirklich gut getroffen hat und auch die Doppelungen erinnern mich an 鈥欵rec鈥�/鈥欼wein鈥� von Hartmann von Aue oder 鈥欻einrich von Kempten鈥� von Konrad von W眉rzburg. Und das Hineinstolpern in die Handlung sehr an Parzivals (,Parzival鈥� von Wolfram von Eschenbach) Anfangsphase馃槄 Die Erz盲hlung ist von gl眉cklichen Zufall getragen und l盲sst einen oft schmunzeln.
---
Roverandom: 馃専 馃専
鈥歊overandom鈥� erz盲hlt eine sehr niedliche abenteuerliche Reise eines kleinen Hundes馃槉馃枻馃対 Genau wie in 鈥欱auer Giles鈥� kommen hier Drachen und Hunde vor. Diese Geschichte richtet sich aber im Gegensatz zur ersten eher an Kinder und ist f眉r meinen Geschmack etwas zu 眉bertrieben bei den Abenteuern, man k枚nnte auch sagen zu abgespacet 鈥� wortw枚rtlich 馃槄 Das -鈥歳andom鈥� des Titels zeigt sich auch in den Geschehnissen 馃槄
---
Die Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil: 馃専 馃専 馃専
鈥欴ie Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil鈥� war die Geschichte bzw. das Gedicht, weswegen ich das Buch lesen wollte! 鈽猴笍 Ich bin daher leider etwas entt盲uscht, denn 鈥欴ie Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil鈥� beschr盲nkte sich auf ein Gedicht, was etwas irref眉hrend ist (bzw. zwei, wenn der Tom im 2ten Gedicht identisch mit Tom B. ist, was zwar im Vorwort steht, ich aber die Sache mit der Verwandtschaft seltsam finde, wenn sie ernst gemeint ist, da Tom Bombadil ja eig. einen unklaren Ursprung hat馃). Die anderen Gedichte hatten nicht direkt einen Bezug zu Tom, sind aber sprachlich sch枚n gestaltet und zeigen winzige Facetten von Mittelerde. Neben 鈥欴ie Abenteuer des Tom Bombadil鈥� hat mir besonders gefallen: 鈥歅rinzessin Ich-Mi鈥�, 鈥欴ie Muhlipps鈥� und 鈥欴er Hort鈥�.
Das Vorwort hierzu war wirklich sch枚n zu lesen mit Tolkiens fiktiver Einordnung in die Zeitalter Mittelerdes und den vermeintlichen Autoren und den Bez眉gen zu den Hobbits:)
Alle Gedichte haben ihre ganz eigene Note (wie im Vorwort durch ihrem Ursprung erkl盲rt) und in der deutschen 脺bersetzung konnte man auch sp眉ren, dass sich viel M眉he gegeben wurde beim 脺bersetzen der Gedichte, v.a. bei den Reimen.
---
Schmied von Gro脽holzingen: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
Eine sch枚ne Geschichte von der Beziehung von Gro脽herzingen und dem Elbenland! Hierin scheint der M盲rchencharakter deutlich durch, v.a. mit dem Belohnen der Guten.馃専 馃嵃鈽猴笍 馃
---
Blatt von T眉ftler: 馃専 馃専 馃専
Die Frage nach dem Nutzen von Kunst ist hier zentral. Mich hat dieser Text am Ende etwas verwirrt, da nie aufgel枚st wurde, wer die Stimme ist und wo genau sich alles befindet 馃槄 Den philosophischen bzw. gesellschaftskritischen Aspekt fand ich aber gut gelungen.
---
Allgemeine Anmerkung: Aus der Sache mit dem Mann im Mond, der mehrmals vorkommt, werde ich leider nicht schlau und finde es irgendwie seltsam 馃槄馃対
---
Gesamt: 3,8 馃専
----------
English version:
The volume 鈥楾ales from the Perilous Realm鈥� contains a small selection of Tolkien's fantasy and adventure stories and some poems:
- Farmer Giles of Ham: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Roverandom: 馃専 馃専
- The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Smith of Wootton Major: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
- Leaf by Niggle: 馃専 馃専 馃専
Also: with many beautiful illustrations by Alan Lee and a short but interesting epilogue by him! 馃
---
Farmer Giles: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
鈥楩armer Giles of Ham鈥� was a really nice medieval tale that really hit the definition of medieval comedy (especially mhd. 鈥榳itz鈥�, i.e. nhd. trick, sophistication) and the doublings also remind me of 鈥楨rec鈥�/鈥業wein鈥� by Hartmann von Aue or 鈥楬einrich von Kempten鈥� by Konrad von W眉rzburg. And the stumbling into the plot is very reminiscent of Parzival's (by Wolfram von Eschenbach) initial phase馃槄 The narrative is based on happy coincidence and often makes you smile.
---
Roverandom: 馃専 馃専
鈥楻overandom鈥� tells a very cute adventurous journey of a little dog馃槉馃枻馃対 Just like in 鈥楩armer Giles鈥�, there are dragons and dogs here. However, unlike the first one, this story is aimed more towards children and is a little too exaggerated in its adventures for my taste, you could also say too spaced out - literally 馃槄The 鈥榬andom鈥� of the title is also reflected in the events 馃槄
---
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: 馃専 馃専 馃専
鈥楾he Adventures of Tom Bombadil鈥� was the story/poem that made me want to read the book! 鈽猴笍 So unfortunately I'm a bit disappointed, because 鈥楾he Adventures of Tom Bombadil鈥� was limited to one poem, which is a bit misleading (or two, if the Tom in the 2nd poem is identical to Tom B., which is stated in the preface, but I find the relatedness thing strange if it's meant seriously, as Tom Bombadil actually has an unclear origin馃). The other poems were not directly related to Tom, but are beautifully written and show tiny facets of Middle-earth. In addition to 鈥楾he Adventures of Tom Bombadil鈥�, I particularly liked: 鈥楶rincess Me-Mi鈥�, 鈥楾he Muhlipps鈥� and 鈥楾he Hoard鈥�.
The foreword to these was really nice to read with Tolkien's fictional placing in the ages of Middle-earth and the supposed authors and references to the hobbits :)
All the poems have their very own character (as explained in the preface by their origin) and in the German translation you could also feel that a lot of effort was put into translating the poems, especially the rhymes.
---
Smith of Wootton Major: 馃専 馃専 馃専 馃専
A beautiful story about the relationship between Gro脽herzingen and the Elvenland! The fairytale character clearly shines through here, especially through the rewarding of the good people.馃専 馃嵃鈽猴笍 馃
---
Leaf by Niggle: 馃専 馃専 馃専
The question of the utility of art is central here. I was a bit confused by this text at the end, as it was never resolved who the voice is and where exactly everything is located 馃槄 But I thought the philosophical or socio-critical aspect was well done.
---
General comment: Unfortunately, I can't figure out the thing with the man in the moon, who appears several times, and I find it kind of strange 馃槄馃対
---
Total: 3.8 馃専
August 13, 2019
I wasn't overawed by this, unfortunately. Or awed, as the case may be.
There was nothing wrong with any of the five stories here, but they all felt a bit average if I'm going to be perfectly honest.
Farmer Giles of Ham was a light romp with nothing but standard fantasy tropes, and I mean, super standard. The hero with the magical sword doesn't quite defeat the dragon, however. He just tames it. *shrug* Not related to LotR.
Smith of Wootton Major was a lightly magical, almost magical realism tale of the Fae with the passing on of gifts from one generation to another. Also not related to LotR.
The Tom Bombadil tale was almost exactly out of LotR. Rather disappointing.
The only one I actually rather liked was Niggle and the Leaf. No LotR, either, but at least I loved the story. :) It's almost too dark for words if you're an artist. :)
I don't know if I would really recommend this for anyone. Not unless you're a completionist for Tolkien in general.
There was nothing wrong with any of the five stories here, but they all felt a bit average if I'm going to be perfectly honest.
Farmer Giles of Ham was a light romp with nothing but standard fantasy tropes, and I mean, super standard. The hero with the magical sword doesn't quite defeat the dragon, however. He just tames it. *shrug* Not related to LotR.
Smith of Wootton Major was a lightly magical, almost magical realism tale of the Fae with the passing on of gifts from one generation to another. Also not related to LotR.
The Tom Bombadil tale was almost exactly out of LotR. Rather disappointing.
The only one I actually rather liked was Niggle and the Leaf. No LotR, either, but at least I loved the story. :) It's almost too dark for words if you're an artist. :)
I don't know if I would really recommend this for anyone. Not unless you're a completionist for Tolkien in general.
February 28, 2023
4.5 stars!
What a delightful collection of short stories and poems! I had no idea what to except upon reading this book, but it was a lot of fun!
I enjoyed them all, Roverandom and Farmer Giles of Ham being my favorites! I enjoyed a lot of the poetry from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (though some were harder to interpret than others), and I found Leaf by Niggle quite sad鈥攖hough that鈥檚 not a bad thing.
And lastly, Tolkien鈥檚 essay On Fairy-Stories was at the end, and I was surprised by how palatable it was; yes, some of his verbiage was dense and went over my head, but the majority of it was super interesting! What a profound commentary on the world of Faerie and how it pertains to our lives, even as Christians. There was also a lot of encouraging moments for fellow writers who seek to produce fantasy stories, too.
Overall, this was a great collection, and I鈥檓 so glad I read it!
Content:
In Leaf by Niggle - one use of the word d*mn.
Minor violence in Farmer Giles of Ham
What a delightful collection of short stories and poems! I had no idea what to except upon reading this book, but it was a lot of fun!
I enjoyed them all, Roverandom and Farmer Giles of Ham being my favorites! I enjoyed a lot of the poetry from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (though some were harder to interpret than others), and I found Leaf by Niggle quite sad鈥攖hough that鈥檚 not a bad thing.
And lastly, Tolkien鈥檚 essay On Fairy-Stories was at the end, and I was surprised by how palatable it was; yes, some of his verbiage was dense and went over my head, but the majority of it was super interesting! What a profound commentary on the world of Faerie and how it pertains to our lives, even as Christians. There was also a lot of encouraging moments for fellow writers who seek to produce fantasy stories, too.
Overall, this was a great collection, and I鈥檓 so glad I read it!
Content:
In Leaf by Niggle - one use of the word d*mn.
Minor violence in Farmer Giles of Ham
November 14, 2020
Devia ser lido a todos os piquenos.馃槉
Esta crian莽a gostou!馃槏
Esta crian莽a gostou!馃槏
January 1, 2024
Finally finished the last book of 2023.
Review to come when I鈥檓 not so sleepy 馃槾
If I was into faerie stories, I might have liked this book. Unfortunately, since this is a compilation of Tolkien's faerie stories, and I can't stand that genre, this book was a bit of a chore to get through. Of course Tolkien shows his intelligence and skill, as always.
Roverandom: a dog gets turned into a toy and goes to the moon and the sea. Far-fetched and weird to me. But would make a good children's illustrated book.
Farmer Giles of Ham: this was probably my favorite story in here. It had a good lesson: sometimes the poor unassuming people are the most heroic. This is a good ole dragon slaying tale.
Tom Bombadil and other poems: Enjoyable, some were pretty good.
Smith of Wootton Major: Interesting classic faerie story. Well written.
Leaf by Niggle: not as great as I expected based on all the talk I've heard about it. There were some really neat parts but the whole purgatory thing was very odd.
On Fairy-stories: Reading this was like running through molasses with briars in it. I was so bored and I was the very person that Tolkien considered "stupid" because I don't appreciate fairy stories.
Review to come when I鈥檓 not so sleepy 馃槾
If I was into faerie stories, I might have liked this book. Unfortunately, since this is a compilation of Tolkien's faerie stories, and I can't stand that genre, this book was a bit of a chore to get through. Of course Tolkien shows his intelligence and skill, as always.
Roverandom: a dog gets turned into a toy and goes to the moon and the sea. Far-fetched and weird to me. But would make a good children's illustrated book.
Farmer Giles of Ham: this was probably my favorite story in here. It had a good lesson: sometimes the poor unassuming people are the most heroic. This is a good ole dragon slaying tale.
Tom Bombadil and other poems: Enjoyable, some were pretty good.
Smith of Wootton Major: Interesting classic faerie story. Well written.
Leaf by Niggle: not as great as I expected based on all the talk I've heard about it. There were some really neat parts but the whole purgatory thing was very odd.
On Fairy-stories: Reading this was like running through molasses with briars in it. I was so bored and I was the very person that Tolkien considered "stupid" because I don't appreciate fairy stories.
April 20, 2021
Prelepo <3
August 20, 2017
La colecci贸n de obras menores de Tolkien es un poco desperdigada, unida por un tema no muy bien hilado de parte de su 'estate', que viene a ser m谩s bien su hijo Christopher. La idea de mantenerlas todas reunidas en un solo volumen no hace mucho sentido salvo el que signific贸 en su momento para sacar la obra 'refundida' de rigor que a veces milagrosamente nos llega cada cierto tiempo. Por eso, y m谩s all谩 de la hermosa edici贸n (mucho mejor la de Minotauro), se me hace m谩s correcta la presentaci贸n que hizo Harper en Inglaterra consistente en un peque帽o boxset con todas estas obras (minus el ensayo - pero sin el ensayo no vale mucho).
Entonces, lo que hace m谩s sentido como en toda colecci贸n es ver la val铆a individual de cada uno de los cuentos y ponderar al final.
Roverandom es una novela corta infantil. Si bien es whimsy y por momentos encantadora, se habr铆a beneficiado mucho de un formato aparte, con muchas m谩s ilustraciones de parte del infaltable Sr Lee. Es como para le茅rselo a los ni帽os en voz alta y quiz谩 el relato que menos tiene que ver con la colecci贸n. Har铆a mucho m谩s sentido en un gran 脫mnibus con el Hobbit. Lo que m谩s me gust贸 fue el acercamiento al resto del legendarium con la menci贸n de Valinor.
Egidio, el Granjero de Ham, donde Tolkien escribe un relato fant谩stico y anacr贸nico sobre esa idea de Merry England'; es moderadamente chusco y con un drag贸n que, como dicen, est谩 a medio camino entre Smaug y el Reluctant Dragon de Kenneth Grahame. Dado que est谩 muy fuera del estilo de Tolkien al que estamos acostumbrados, no s茅 muy bien qu茅 hacer de 茅l.
Las Aventuras de Tom Bombadil es la parte del libro m谩s ilustrada, un poemario completo de folklore de la TM. Por lo general no se le considera a Tolkien buen poeta, y la inclusi贸n de verso en LOTR tiende a ser muy criticada. Sin embargo, el maestro s铆 supo innovar gracias a su formaci贸n de fil贸logo con nuevas formas de m茅trica y rima e incluso uno de los poemas fue alabado por Auden.
El Herrero de Wooton Mayor es un cuento pre-tolkieniano de Tolkien y para m铆 el mejor del libro. Un aut茅ntico cuento de hadas con la correspondiente visita a Fata y un regreso. L谩stima que vengo de leer al monumental McDonald con Famtastes: de no haberlo hecho el cuento me habr铆a llegado m谩s.
Hoja de Niggle es distinto a todo lo dem谩s que solemos asociar con nuestro amigo JRRT. Aunque 茅ste sol铆a decir que odiaba las met谩foras, el relato resulta altamente simb贸lico al describir el proceso creativo del padre de la Creaci贸n Secundaria. Es muy necesario complementar este cuento con el ensayo final.
Y finalmente, el c贸rtex del libro que viene a ser el ep铆logo. El famos铆simo ensayo 'Sobre los cuentos de hadas' deber铆a ser core curriculum de cualquier lector de 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 para entender, entre otras cosas:
A) El porqu茅 del camino Inkling de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 y su portentosa carga teol贸gica.
B) La falta de respeto y la torpeza monumental de los imitadores de Tolkien (quienes no le entendieron nada).
C) 脥dem para sus cr铆ticos.
En ensayo es muy denso, largo (60 p谩ginas) y las digresiones del maestro hacen mucho por confirmar su reputaci贸n de profesor vetusto y tendiente a divagar. Pero vale toda la pena hacer el esfuerzo y echarse todo el ensayo para entender c贸mo pensaba nuestro querido autor (adem谩s de darse cuenta de lo falsos que son muchos debates que sigo leyendo en Reddit Fantasy sobre los cuales ya hubo quien dio su veredicto. Pero vayamos con puntos importantes.
-Hada = Elfo. Por si alguien ten铆a una duda. Oberon y Titania son tan elfos como Campanita, Legolas, Drizzt, Bast, Dobby y compa帽铆a.
-Narraciones extraordinarias que NO son cuentos de hadas y por lo tanto NO son 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补: los travelogues del S XVII a pa铆ses fant谩sticos (porque son s谩tira), las obras on铆ricas y simb贸licas como Alicia y todo tipo de ciencia ficci贸n. As铆 salimos de esa idea absurda de que Star Wars es 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补.
-La idea de que la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 no debe ser cre铆ble, sino internamente coherente. Debate zanjado.
-Por un momento parece que Tolkien afirma que la 'magia dura' no es posible en 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补. Pero luego deja la cuesti贸n abierta al cambiar su definici贸n de magia.
-Una oposici贸n a que la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 sea representada. Me imagino qu茅 pensar铆a entonces de Peter Jackson.
-Los cuentos de hadas no deben ser (s贸lo) para ni帽os. Y la inocencia de 茅stos no es causal del asombro elemental del g茅nero.
-La cr铆tica a denostar la idea del escapismo. Tolkien antepone la noci贸n de que el escapismo es para huir de una prisi贸n (aqu铆 sale a relucir el cl谩sico ludismo del profesor), no para desertar de un combate.
-Y finalmente de la idea de la eucat谩strofe como necesaria (y por ende, resultante en un perenne final feliz). La justificaci贸n a la eucat谩strofe es de corte teol贸gico al 100%, porque aqu铆 Tolkien hace la gran revelaci贸n de que la Creaci贸n Secundaria (AKA 'Worldbuilding') ha de reflejar atisbos del devenir de la Creaci贸n Primaria. El Evangelio. Y por lo tanto, para alejarse e ir en contra de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 de Tolkien se debe apuntar a la l铆nea de flotaci贸n del Cristianismo perfecto de su obra. Y pocos de sus cr铆ticos han entendido esto bien.
Entonces, lo que hace m谩s sentido como en toda colecci贸n es ver la val铆a individual de cada uno de los cuentos y ponderar al final.
Roverandom es una novela corta infantil. Si bien es whimsy y por momentos encantadora, se habr铆a beneficiado mucho de un formato aparte, con muchas m谩s ilustraciones de parte del infaltable Sr Lee. Es como para le茅rselo a los ni帽os en voz alta y quiz谩 el relato que menos tiene que ver con la colecci贸n. Har铆a mucho m谩s sentido en un gran 脫mnibus con el Hobbit. Lo que m谩s me gust贸 fue el acercamiento al resto del legendarium con la menci贸n de Valinor.
Egidio, el Granjero de Ham, donde Tolkien escribe un relato fant谩stico y anacr贸nico sobre esa idea de Merry England'; es moderadamente chusco y con un drag贸n que, como dicen, est谩 a medio camino entre Smaug y el Reluctant Dragon de Kenneth Grahame. Dado que est谩 muy fuera del estilo de Tolkien al que estamos acostumbrados, no s茅 muy bien qu茅 hacer de 茅l.
Las Aventuras de Tom Bombadil es la parte del libro m谩s ilustrada, un poemario completo de folklore de la TM. Por lo general no se le considera a Tolkien buen poeta, y la inclusi贸n de verso en LOTR tiende a ser muy criticada. Sin embargo, el maestro s铆 supo innovar gracias a su formaci贸n de fil贸logo con nuevas formas de m茅trica y rima e incluso uno de los poemas fue alabado por Auden.
El Herrero de Wooton Mayor es un cuento pre-tolkieniano de Tolkien y para m铆 el mejor del libro. Un aut茅ntico cuento de hadas con la correspondiente visita a Fata y un regreso. L谩stima que vengo de leer al monumental McDonald con Famtastes: de no haberlo hecho el cuento me habr铆a llegado m谩s.
Hoja de Niggle es distinto a todo lo dem谩s que solemos asociar con nuestro amigo JRRT. Aunque 茅ste sol铆a decir que odiaba las met谩foras, el relato resulta altamente simb贸lico al describir el proceso creativo del padre de la Creaci贸n Secundaria. Es muy necesario complementar este cuento con el ensayo final.
Y finalmente, el c贸rtex del libro que viene a ser el ep铆logo. El famos铆simo ensayo 'Sobre los cuentos de hadas' deber铆a ser core curriculum de cualquier lector de 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 para entender, entre otras cosas:
A) El porqu茅 del camino Inkling de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 y su portentosa carga teol贸gica.
B) La falta de respeto y la torpeza monumental de los imitadores de Tolkien (quienes no le entendieron nada).
C) 脥dem para sus cr铆ticos.
En ensayo es muy denso, largo (60 p谩ginas) y las digresiones del maestro hacen mucho por confirmar su reputaci贸n de profesor vetusto y tendiente a divagar. Pero vale toda la pena hacer el esfuerzo y echarse todo el ensayo para entender c贸mo pensaba nuestro querido autor (adem谩s de darse cuenta de lo falsos que son muchos debates que sigo leyendo en Reddit Fantasy sobre los cuales ya hubo quien dio su veredicto. Pero vayamos con puntos importantes.
-Hada = Elfo. Por si alguien ten铆a una duda. Oberon y Titania son tan elfos como Campanita, Legolas, Drizzt, Bast, Dobby y compa帽铆a.
-Narraciones extraordinarias que NO son cuentos de hadas y por lo tanto NO son 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补: los travelogues del S XVII a pa铆ses fant谩sticos (porque son s谩tira), las obras on铆ricas y simb贸licas como Alicia y todo tipo de ciencia ficci贸n. As铆 salimos de esa idea absurda de que Star Wars es 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补.
-La idea de que la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 no debe ser cre铆ble, sino internamente coherente. Debate zanjado.
-Por un momento parece que Tolkien afirma que la 'magia dura' no es posible en 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补. Pero luego deja la cuesti贸n abierta al cambiar su definici贸n de magia.
-Una oposici贸n a que la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 sea representada. Me imagino qu茅 pensar铆a entonces de Peter Jackson.
-Los cuentos de hadas no deben ser (s贸lo) para ni帽os. Y la inocencia de 茅stos no es causal del asombro elemental del g茅nero.
-La cr铆tica a denostar la idea del escapismo. Tolkien antepone la noci贸n de que el escapismo es para huir de una prisi贸n (aqu铆 sale a relucir el cl谩sico ludismo del profesor), no para desertar de un combate.
-Y finalmente de la idea de la eucat谩strofe como necesaria (y por ende, resultante en un perenne final feliz). La justificaci贸n a la eucat谩strofe es de corte teol贸gico al 100%, porque aqu铆 Tolkien hace la gran revelaci贸n de que la Creaci贸n Secundaria (AKA 'Worldbuilding') ha de reflejar atisbos del devenir de la Creaci贸n Primaria. El Evangelio. Y por lo tanto, para alejarse e ir en contra de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 de Tolkien se debe apuntar a la l铆nea de flotaci贸n del Cristianismo perfecto de su obra. Y pocos de sus cr铆ticos han entendido esto bien.
September 7, 2021
This was just a bunch of short stories, so I'll just rank them from best to worst with a few of my thoughts.
1. Farmer Giles of Ham.
I don't know why I liked this one so much, but it was so good. The plot was interesting, the dialogue was funny, and the whole story in general was so cool. Honestly I have nothing else to say about this except it was a lot of fun. Farmer vs Dragon? What more do you want!
2. Leaf by Niggle.
This story, although not exactly fun to read, was a very good story and afer life allegory. At least, that's what I think it is. No spoiles, but it was definitely a unique story that gets you thinking, and one I will more than likely come back to in the future.
3. Smith of Wooton Major.
I really liked the story with this one, very creative and fun. The whole diamond thing was so cool. In terms of my enjoyment I probably liked this more than Niggle, but Niggle was so unique it had to top this one, but only by a little bit.
4. Roverandom.
I liked this story, and again was super unique, but boring at times. I found myself uninterested at times. But I still liked it none the less.
5. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.
Though an amazing story, couldn't get past the Poetry prose. I just don't really like Poetry. I find it boring and hard to keep my attention.
Overall, I loved this book. Tolkien always has the right words to make me smile.
1. Farmer Giles of Ham.
I don't know why I liked this one so much, but it was so good. The plot was interesting, the dialogue was funny, and the whole story in general was so cool. Honestly I have nothing else to say about this except it was a lot of fun. Farmer vs Dragon? What more do you want!
2. Leaf by Niggle.
This story, although not exactly fun to read, was a very good story and afer life allegory. At least, that's what I think it is. No spoiles, but it was definitely a unique story that gets you thinking, and one I will more than likely come back to in the future.
3. Smith of Wooton Major.
I really liked the story with this one, very creative and fun. The whole diamond thing was so cool. In terms of my enjoyment I probably liked this more than Niggle, but Niggle was so unique it had to top this one, but only by a little bit.
4. Roverandom.
I liked this story, and again was super unique, but boring at times. I found myself uninterested at times. But I still liked it none the less.
5. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.
Though an amazing story, couldn't get past the Poetry prose. I just don't really like Poetry. I find it boring and hard to keep my attention.
Overall, I loved this book. Tolkien always has the right words to make me smile.
February 10, 2017
No, Tom Bombadil, we just can't get along, no matter what you say. It's not you, it's me. And I do understand it's not your fault you've been written in verse. But it's just all working against you. Life's tough.
Buy anyway. This is a funny book (I mean... a strange one). It's hard to sum it up - to be honest, each of the fairytales deserves its own rating. But like I said, life can be tough, so we'll just have to do with a single one.
I liked most of these fairytales (and hey, you already know which one I didn't like). The book is also illustrated very nicely. The stories are all so different - ranging from a truly children's story (about an enchanted puppy, turned into a toy) to a nearly metaphysical story about death and afterlife, the completion of one's life's work. I guess I could sum it up that this is Tolkien Lite - Tolkien for the non-Tolkien reader. I don't plan to read anything else by him, as The Hobbit and this is pretty much as far as I can go - so if you're like me, you could enjoy this.
Buy anyway. This is a funny book (I mean... a strange one). It's hard to sum it up - to be honest, each of the fairytales deserves its own rating. But like I said, life can be tough, so we'll just have to do with a single one.
I liked most of these fairytales (and hey, you already know which one I didn't like). The book is also illustrated very nicely. The stories are all so different - ranging from a truly children's story (about an enchanted puppy, turned into a toy) to a nearly metaphysical story about death and afterlife, the completion of one's life's work. I guess I could sum it up that this is Tolkien Lite - Tolkien for the non-Tolkien reader. I don't plan to read anything else by him, as The Hobbit and this is pretty much as far as I can go - so if you're like me, you could enjoy this.
January 2, 2015
Ya hab铆a leido antes, mucho antes, los cuentos Egidio el Granjero de Ham, El Herrero de Wootom Mayor, y Hoja de Niggle (lejos, mi favorito <3 ) que son fabulosos.
Roveradom, lo vi por ahi en este sitio, y es m谩s bien para ni帽os, como dice una de esas historias inventadas para uno de sus hijos. Muy fantasioso, valga la redudancia, sencillo y hermoso.
Despu茅s estan poemas de Tom Bombadil, y de otras cosas,
(Arte de Alan Lee)
algunos m谩s interesantes que otros.
Y, finalmente, un ensayo sobre Tolkien sobre los Cuentos de Hadas, y que sale en , que salen varias cosas inesperadas, y que me encantaron.
En fin, aparte de los 3 primeras historias a que me refiero, como dije, el resto es para fans.
Roveradom, lo vi por ahi en este sitio, y es m谩s bien para ni帽os, como dice una de esas historias inventadas para uno de sus hijos. Muy fantasioso, valga la redudancia, sencillo y hermoso.
(el Hombre de la Luna)
鈥斅縌u茅 hace 茅l solo todo el d铆a? 鈥攄ijo Roverandom a Rover.
鈥斅縃acer? 鈥攄ijo el perro de la luna鈥�. Oh, durante todo el d铆a est谩 bastante ocupado; aunque desde que llegaste parece a煤n m谩s ocupado de lo que yo le hab铆a visto durante mucho tiempo. Inventando sue帽os, creo yo.
鈥斅縔 para qui茅n los inventa?
鈥斅h, para los del otro lado de la luna! En este lado nadie sue帽a; todos los que sue帽an van a la parte de atr谩s.
Despu茅s estan poemas de Tom Bombadil, y de otras cosas,
(Arte de Alan Lee)algunos m谩s interesantes que otros.
Los Maulladores viven en sus sombras
como tinta, h煤medas y negras,
y lenta y suave su campana toca
cuando te devora la ci茅naga.
La ci茅naga te traga, si te atreves
a golpear, llamando a su puerta,
mientras miran las g谩rgolas, sonrientes,
y derraman aguas infectas.
Y, finalmente, un ensayo sobre Tolkien sobre los Cuentos de Hadas, y que sale en , que salen varias cosas inesperadas, y que me encantaron.
En el mundo de los cuentos de hadas (o de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补) hay una gracia s煤bita y milagrosa con la que ya nunca se puede volver a contar. No niegan la existencia de la discat谩strofe, de la tristeza y el fracaso, pues la posibilidad de ambos se hace necesaria para el gozo de la liberaci贸n; rechazan (tras numerosas pruebas, si as铆 lo dese谩is) la completa derrota final, y son por tanto evangelium, ya que proporcionan una fugaz visi贸n del Gozo, Gozo que los l铆mites de este mundo no encierran y que es penetrante como el sufrimiento mismo.
En fin, aparte de los 3 primeras historias a que me refiero, como dije, el resto es para fans.
August 13, 2017
I will say it time and time again but you can never go wrong with Tolkien. I know that his writing style and the structure and complexity of his narratives isn't for everyone, but this man and the worlds he has created have slowly but surely stolen their way into my heart.
Tales from the Perilous Realm is a collection of three short stories set outside of the realm of Middle Earth and one poetry collection featuring legends and jests of the Shire at the end of the Third Age. I was prepared for many things but not for the level of wit and charm which Tolkien displayed in these tales. I had no idea that the man could be so funny. I'm shook!
Overall, it's just an amazing feeling to get familiar with an author on such a level and just so comfortable with his work as a whole. Whenever I read something by Tolkien nowadays, it feels like returning home. Blesseth!
Farmer Giles of Ham | 4/5 stars
The first short story Farmer Giles of Ham is a comic Medieval fable written by Tolkien in 1937. The story describes the encounters between Farmer Giles and the dragon Chrysophylax, and how Giles manages to rise from humble beginnings to rival the king of the land.
Similar to The Lord of the Rings it is set in Britain in an imaginary period of the Dark Ages featuring mythological creatures, and thus providing an alternative prehistory to the world we live in today. And I have to say that the villagers in this tale really reminded me of the hobbits, and even Chrysophylax can be seen as a parody of Tolkien's smaug. It was just a delightful read.
Tolkien, himself a philologist, sprinkled several philological jokes into the tale, including a variety of ingeniously fake etymologies. Almost all the place-names are supposed to occur relatively close to Oxford, along the Thames, or along the route to London.
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil | 2.5/5 stars
Surprisingly, this selection of poems from the Shire was my least favorite part of Tales from the Perilous Realm. Philologically, I definitely appreciate that Tolkien varied his tone depending on the origin of the poems, e.g. the first two poems from Buckland vary in their rhyme scheme and choice of words from Bilbo's poems.
However, all in all the poems didn't woe me. I was hoping for an insight into the culture of the hobbits and maybe even some fun facts about Tom Bombadil, but most of the poems were pretty useless in that regard.
The only poem that I really enjoyed was Princess Mee, a nonsense poem that was among those written in the margins of the Red Book. It is about a princess who sees her reflection in a bottomless well for the first time.
Leaf by Niggle | 5/5 stars
Gosh, you don't know how much I loved this short story. Definitely my favorite in this collection, and also one that I will re-read as long as I live. It combined lighthearted moments and a serious message in a brilliant manner, and also left room for interesting academic interpretations. What can ya want more? It is often seen as an allegory of Tolkien's own creative process, and, to an extent, of his own life.
In this story, an artist, named Niggle, lives in a society that does not much value art. Working only to please himself, he paints a canvas of a great Tree with a forest in the distance. He invests each and every leaf of his tree with obsessive attention to detail, making every leaf uniquely beautiful. Niggle ends up discarding all his other artworks, or tacks them onto the main canvas, which becomes a single vast embodiment of his vision.
Smith of Wootton Major | 4.5/5 stars
This novella began as an attempt to explain the meaning of Faery by means of a story about a cook and his cake. Every 24 years the village of Wootton Major celebrates the Feast of Good Children. The story takes off when the cook's apprentice, Alf, hides a Faery star in the traditional cake for the feast, and one of the children swallows it. On the morning of the boy's 10th birthday the star fixes itself on his forehead, and becomes his passport to Faery.
Renunciation is certainly a major theme, but so is an appreciation of imaginative vision, as against the philistine outlook represented by the old cook Nokes, a shallow, sly and lazy man. Nokes is foremost among the non-believers, and dismisses all things magical as mere dreams and fancies.
A good case can be made that Nokes represents the literary, critical approach to studying English, belittling the contributions of the philological approach represented by the previous Master Cook. On this reading, the little star trinket added by Alf, the old Master's apprentice, turns into the talisman that cuts through Nokes's sweet, sticky nonsense and raises the smith's life from the ordinary to something deeply meaningful.
Tales from the Perilous Realm is a collection of three short stories set outside of the realm of Middle Earth and one poetry collection featuring legends and jests of the Shire at the end of the Third Age. I was prepared for many things but not for the level of wit and charm which Tolkien displayed in these tales. I had no idea that the man could be so funny. I'm shook!
Overall, it's just an amazing feeling to get familiar with an author on such a level and just so comfortable with his work as a whole. Whenever I read something by Tolkien nowadays, it feels like returning home. Blesseth!
Farmer Giles of Ham | 4/5 stars
The first short story Farmer Giles of Ham is a comic Medieval fable written by Tolkien in 1937. The story describes the encounters between Farmer Giles and the dragon Chrysophylax, and how Giles manages to rise from humble beginnings to rival the king of the land.
Similar to The Lord of the Rings it is set in Britain in an imaginary period of the Dark Ages featuring mythological creatures, and thus providing an alternative prehistory to the world we live in today. And I have to say that the villagers in this tale really reminded me of the hobbits, and even Chrysophylax can be seen as a parody of Tolkien's smaug. It was just a delightful read.
'I hope you are taking some stout rope with you?' he said.I was living for the comic relief this tale provided 鈥� Farmer Giles can be read as a satire on the typical dragon-slaying hero. He is fat and red-bearded and enjoys a slow, comfortable life. Just by pure coincidince does he manage to ward away a rather deaf and short-sighted giant. Same goes for the useless knights sent by the King to pursue the dragon.
'What for?' said Giles. 'To hang myself?'
Tolkien, himself a philologist, sprinkled several philological jokes into the tale, including a variety of ingeniously fake etymologies. Almost all the place-names are supposed to occur relatively close to Oxford, along the Thames, or along the route to London.
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil | 2.5/5 stars
Surprisingly, this selection of poems from the Shire was my least favorite part of Tales from the Perilous Realm. Philologically, I definitely appreciate that Tolkien varied his tone depending on the origin of the poems, e.g. the first two poems from Buckland vary in their rhyme scheme and choice of words from Bilbo's poems.
However, all in all the poems didn't woe me. I was hoping for an insight into the culture of the hobbits and maybe even some fun facts about Tom Bombadil, but most of the poems were pretty useless in that regard.
The only poem that I really enjoyed was Princess Mee, a nonsense poem that was among those written in the margins of the Red Book. It is about a princess who sees her reflection in a bottomless well for the first time.
Her gleaming eyesAs fun as it can be to read Sam's poems about stone trolls and hear about Frodo's dark and despairing dreams, this selection of poetry left me rather underwhelmed.
In great surprise
Looked up to the eyes of Mee:
A marvellous thing,
Head-down to swing,
Above a starry sea!
Leaf by Niggle | 5/5 stars
Gosh, you don't know how much I loved this short story. Definitely my favorite in this collection, and also one that I will re-read as long as I live. It combined lighthearted moments and a serious message in a brilliant manner, and also left room for interesting academic interpretations. What can ya want more? It is often seen as an allegory of Tolkien's own creative process, and, to an extent, of his own life.
In this story, an artist, named Niggle, lives in a society that does not much value art. Working only to please himself, he paints a canvas of a great Tree with a forest in the distance. He invests each and every leaf of his tree with obsessive attention to detail, making every leaf uniquely beautiful. Niggle ends up discarding all his other artworks, or tacks them onto the main canvas, which becomes a single vast embodiment of his vision.
Things might have been different, but they could not have been better.An autobiographical interpretation places Tolkien himself as Niggle 鈥� in mundane matters as well as spiritual ones. Tolkien was compulsive in his writing, his revision, his desire for perfection in form and in the "reality" of his invented world, its languages, its chronologies, its existence. Like Niggle, Tolkien came to abandon other projects or graft them onto his "Tree," Middle-earth. Like Niggle, Tolkien faced many chores and duties that kept him from the work he loved.
Smith of Wootton Major | 4.5/5 stars
This novella began as an attempt to explain the meaning of Faery by means of a story about a cook and his cake. Every 24 years the village of Wootton Major celebrates the Feast of Good Children. The story takes off when the cook's apprentice, Alf, hides a Faery star in the traditional cake for the feast, and one of the children swallows it. On the morning of the boy's 10th birthday the star fixes itself on his forehead, and becomes his passport to Faery.
Renunciation is certainly a major theme, but so is an appreciation of imaginative vision, as against the philistine outlook represented by the old cook Nokes, a shallow, sly and lazy man. Nokes is foremost among the non-believers, and dismisses all things magical as mere dreams and fancies.
A good case can be made that Nokes represents the literary, critical approach to studying English, belittling the contributions of the philological approach represented by the previous Master Cook. On this reading, the little star trinket added by Alf, the old Master's apprentice, turns into the talisman that cuts through Nokes's sweet, sticky nonsense and raises the smith's life from the ordinary to something deeply meaningful.
November 24, 2011
欧宝娱乐 librarians really need to work on Tales from the Perilous Realm. Some editions contain four stories, others five, and some also contain Tolkien's 'On Fairy-Stories'. I'm not sure they should all be combined.
Anyway, today this arrived -- since my first copy, most irritatingly, did not include 'Roverandom', which is a fun story aimed at younger readers than the others, involving the adventures of a puppy who gets turned into a toy, and his marvellous journeys. It's the longest story in the collection -- the only one to be chaptered -- and has, I think, more illustrations than the others. The illustrator is Alan Lee, about whom I probably have to say very little -- I think his drawings capture the things and mood described pretty well, for this volume. This edition also has an introduction, which helps contextualise each story and draw out a few things of interest. It includes 'On Fairy-Stories', as well.
I think one of the most charming things about Tolkien's fairy tales is the lack of moralising. Roverandom doesn't learn any big life lessons, except perhaps to mind his Ps (not so sure about his Qs) and not to bite a chunk out of a magician's trousers.
Anyway, today this arrived -- since my first copy, most irritatingly, did not include 'Roverandom', which is a fun story aimed at younger readers than the others, involving the adventures of a puppy who gets turned into a toy, and his marvellous journeys. It's the longest story in the collection -- the only one to be chaptered -- and has, I think, more illustrations than the others. The illustrator is Alan Lee, about whom I probably have to say very little -- I think his drawings capture the things and mood described pretty well, for this volume. This edition also has an introduction, which helps contextualise each story and draw out a few things of interest. It includes 'On Fairy-Stories', as well.
I think one of the most charming things about Tolkien's fairy tales is the lack of moralising. Roverandom doesn't learn any big life lessons, except perhaps to mind his Ps (not so sure about his Qs) and not to bite a chunk out of a magician's trousers.
December 11, 2024
Leer a J.R.R. Tolkien siempre es bien, o por lo menos a m铆 me hace mucho bien. Hac铆a ya un par de a帽os que no ten铆a entre mis manos libro de uno de mis autores favoritos. Y la verdad es que ten铆a ganas de conocerle en otra vertiente que no fuera la de su c茅lebre legendarium de 鈥淓l Se帽or de los Anillos鈥�. El tomo de 鈥淐uentos Desde el Reino Peligroso鈥� llevaba desde las Navidades pasadas, esperando pacientemente mis estanter铆as a que llegase su momento, sin apresurarse, ni quejarse; sabiendo que cuando llegara la hora en que lo coger铆a y me aventurar铆a entre sus p谩ginas, iba a ser una lectura muy disfrutable. Y as铆 lo ha sido. En esta mezcolanza de cuentos, poemas y ensayos, vemos a un Tolkien que se aleja de la Tierra Media鈥� pero nunca la pierde de vista. Como ecos lejano nos llegan las voces de los elfos, los hobbit, los hombres y, en general, todos esos lugares y personajes que hemos conocido cualquiera que haya le铆do sus obras m谩s ic贸nicas. Y es que , como explico m谩s abajo en la rese帽a de uno de los cuentos,, esa historia, constatada en la obra 鈥淓l Silmarillion鈥�, fue el trabajo de toda la vida del profesor. Una labor ambiciosa y de la que recreo miles de aspectos. Por lo que es imposible que su influencia no estuviera presente en otras obras que escribiese Tolkien.
A continuaci贸n, aqu铆 ten茅is mi opini贸n e impresiones sobre los diferentes textos que conforman esta recopilaci贸n.
鈥淩overandom鈥�: siempre me he preguntado c贸mo debe ser eso de que tu padre sea uno de los mejores narradores de toda la historia de la literatura y la suerte que debe ser eso. No olvidemos que la novela 鈥淓l Hobbit鈥漵urgi贸 como un cuento de Tolkien para sus hijos, haciendo las veces de complemento para todas las historias que el escritor estaba ideando y recopilando para dar vida a ese mundo, que nosotros conocemos como la Tierra Media y que ser铆an recopiladas a su muerte en 鈥� El Silmarillion鈥�.
鈥淩overandom鈥� es otro ejemplo del Tolkien padre y escritor. Este cuento largo fue escrito por Tolkien para consolar a uno de sus hijos cuando perdi贸 su apreciado perro de peluche en una excursi贸n en la playa. Llamado Rover en un principio, el joven fue transformado en un juguete por haber tenido una peque帽a trifulca con un malhumorado mago y haberle mordido en los pantalones. A partir de ese momento Rover vivir谩 un sinf铆n de aventuras que le llevar谩n a conocer a otros magos y personajes (incluyendo otros dos perros que tambi茅n se llaman Rover, de ah铆 que para diferenciarle acabe siendo conocido como Roverandom) y a viajar a la luna y al fondo del mar. El relato est谩 lleno de momentos, muy graciosos, y sus diferentes y originales. Ambientaciones resultan ser su punto fuerte. Es una historia tierna y encantadora, de ritmo, apacible y tono c谩lido; se nota que fue escrita pensando en el disfrute y entretenimiento de unos ni帽os. No obstante, a m铆 se me ha hecho en ciertos momentos bastante pesada y lenta, por lo que no he terminado de conectar del todo con ella, aunque valore lo bonita que es.
鈥淓gidio, el granjero de Ham鈥�: todo lo que he le铆do de Tolkien siempre ha estado relacionado, hasta ahora, con la Tierra Media y su famoso lengendarium. Pero tengo mucha curiosidad por la vertiente del autor, como erudito de lenguas y literatura medievales; como amante del romance de 鈥淪ir Gawain y el Caballero Verde鈥�, traductor del 鈥淏eowulf鈥� y compositor de un poema sobre la muerte del rey Arturo. Tengo muchas ganas de leer sobre este aspecto. De momento, me conformo con esta breve historia, ambientada en el medievo medieval, y protagonizada por Agidius Ahenobarbi Julii Agricole de Hammo, o Egidio de Ham para abreviar, un granjero terco, relativamente astuto y bastante arrogante que, a modo de sastrecillo valiente, se ve enfrentado a varios peligros bajo la forma de gigantes y dragones, y sale victorioso de la empresa. Sinceramente, este relato ha tenido para m铆 m谩s sabor a cuento de hadas que el anterior. Y quiz谩s por eso ha sido mi favorito de la antolog铆a, ya que el cuento tiene elementos que pueden encontrarse en otras obras de Tolkien y de otros autores, pero manejaros con mucha gracia y buenas dosis de originalidad. Se trata de una historia sencilla, a帽eja y que m谩s de un momento me ha despertado la sonrisa y la carcajada con sus situaciones sat铆ricas, los comentarios e intenciones burlonas del autor y sus personajes humor铆sticos y coloridos. Y es que ninguno tiene desperdicio, desde el propio protagonista hasta sus vecinos del pueblo de Ham, pasando por su mascota, un perro tan presuntuoso como cobarde, y su montura, tan callada como armada de paciencia ante tanto sinsentido. Sin olvidarnos del drag贸n, un excelente hermano menor del inolvidable Smaug de 鈥淓l Hobbit鈥� pero sin resultar tan aterrador.
鈥淟as aventuras de Tom Bombadil鈥�: el Tolkien poeta tambi茅n tiene cabida en esta antolog铆a 驴la excusa? Presentarnos unos poemas que aparecen en los m谩rgenes del manuscrito de鈥淓l Libro Rojo鈥� la obra que escribi贸 el inolvidable Bilbo Bols贸n contando sus aventuras y andanzas, y que fue completada y ampliada por las vivencias de su sobrino Frodo y Sam Gamyi. Y de la que se supone que salieron 鈥淓l Hobbit鈥� y 鈥淓l Se帽or de los Anillos鈥�. Dentro caben todo tipo de poemas, desde algunos relacionados con la Tierra Media y la Comarca, hasta otros que Tolkien prepar贸 para revistas, antolog铆as o para sus familiares, con la excusa de que forman parte de la cultura del imaginario y fant谩stico continente. De ah铆 que nos encontremos con muchos temas e historias diferentes que nos permiten conocer m谩s sobre las canciones, historia y mitolog铆a de la Tierra Media, y sorpr茅ndenos como hasta ese aspecto estaba bien controlado y trabajado por parte del profesor. Personalmente me han gustado la mayor铆a, pero el que hayan metido entre tanta prosa de pronto estos versos, para m铆 ha resultado, editorialmente, bastante anti clim谩tico. De todas formas, he disfrutado de su lectura. Aunque quiz谩s me haya descolocado que presenten al personaje de Tom Bombadil como el centro de esta recopilaci贸n por el t铆tulo, y en realidad solo hay dos poemas dedicados a 茅l. Es una l谩stima. Especialmente por la historia de amor-odio que tengo por este enigm谩tico hombrecillo. Y es que me he pasado la mayor parte de mi vida lectora teni茅ndole tirria a este personaje sin saber muy bien el motivo, desde que tengo 10-9 a帽os y le铆 por primera vez 鈥淓l Se帽or de los Anillos鈥�. Sin embargo, cuando hice el a帽o pasado la re lectura de la trilog铆a, me sorprendi贸 encontrar que ahora tragaba bastante bien al bueno de Tom. Nunca ser谩 mi personaje favorito, pero le reconozco que es bastante entra帽able a su manera.
驴Lo mejir de leer estos fragmentos? Que la inmensa mayor铆a de las p谩ginas est谩n decoradas con ilustraciones de Alan Lee, cuyos dibujos aparecen m谩s ocasionalmente en el resto de relatos del volumen. Como este artista creo que ha sabido captar la belleza, humanidad y magnificiencia de la Tierra Media y la obra de Tolkien.
鈥淓l herrero de Wootton Mayor鈥�: un peque帽o pueblo cerca del bosque donde hay muchas fiestas y a cuyos habitantes les gusta comer, un cocinero fanfarr贸n y un aprendiz que guarda alg煤n que otro secreto y sabe m谩s de lo que cuenta, una estrella m谩gica y un viaje de toda una vida por sendas misteriosas y m谩gicas. Este relato empieza con un tono humor铆stico y ligero, que paulatinamente va mirando hacia los viajes que un ni帽o hace , a medida que crece, por el on铆rico reino de Fantas铆a y que marcan su vida. Haciendo que el cuento tenga una carga melanc贸lica y filos贸fica que lo hace m谩s profundo de lo que sus primeras l铆neas pronosticaban. Un cuento que nos habla de los aprendizajes que hacemos a lo largo de toda nuestra existencka, y de la posibilidad de ser nuestras mejores versiones y aprender constantemente. De no conformarnos con lo sencillo, con lo cercano, con lo banal. De mirar siempre por encima de las apariencias y aceptar que nada en esta vida es definitivo, que a veces hay que dejar ir. Y todo esto se aprende mientras el lector, junto con el herrero, viaja por diferentes parajes del reino de las hadas, Fantas铆a. Muchas de sus ubicaciones recuerdan a las de la Tierra Media, y el lector no puede evitar preguntarse si Tolkien ha llevado a su protagonista hacia este m铆tico lugar, si Fantas铆a no es m谩s que la Tierra Media.
De mis relatos favoritos de la antolog铆a. Me ha parecido un cuento de lo m谩s conmovedor, del que se puede rasgar mucho. Deja un poso de dulce melancol铆a cuando lo finalizas.
鈥淗oja de Niggle鈥�: 脡rase una vez un pintor que empez贸 pintando unas hojas, y la cosa acabo derivando en hacer un 谩rbol y luego todo un bosque y un paisaje monta帽oso鈥� Y eso hizo que dilatase un viaje que ten铆a que hacer obligatoriamente鈥�
Probablemente el relato m谩s especial e indefinible de toda la antolog铆a. Y tambi茅n el m谩s personal. Tolkien no compuso todo su legendarium a partir de una historia o una idea concreta. Su aut茅ntico inter茅s y pasi贸n era de estudiar, lenguas antiguas, palabras extra帽as y crear lenguajes propios. Fue por esto 煤ltimo, para darle un contexto y una estructura hist贸rica a esos idiomas que le gustaba inventar, que invent贸 todas sus historias sobre hobbit, elfos y anillos de poder. 鈥淓l Silmarillion鈥� fue el contexto que cre贸 para todos esos idiomas, que cont贸 con dos spin-off de infarto como fueron 鈥淓l Hobbit鈥� y 鈥淓l Se帽or de los Anillos鈥�. De la misma forma que el desdichado Niggle de esta historia empieza por dibujar unas hojas y acaba por pintar todo un paisaje de bosque y monta帽as, su obra poco a poco va aumentando, sin que 茅l se diera casi ni cuenta. Incluso, aunque los peque帽os inconvenientes y obligaciones del d铆a a d铆as se interpusieran en su camino. Leyendo no es muy dif铆cil darse cuenta de que Tolkien y Niggle son lo mismo, dos artistas encaminados a una obra que va haci茅ndose m谩s potente y grande casi en contra de su voluntad, pero obligados a dejar de lado a su 鈥測o 鈥渁rt铆stico en pos de su 鈥測o鈥� cotidiano, el que tiene que hacer caso a los peque帽os inconvenientes del d铆a a d铆a y no sabe decir que no a cualquiera que le pida ayuda. La met谩fora no puede ser m谩s certera, y por ello no es imposible leer con cari帽o esta breve historia en la que Tolkien se describe a si mismo, y que no solo nos habla de uno (dos) hombres a los que les cuesta conciliar y racionar su tiempo para llegar a todo. Tambi茅n nos habla de la necesidad de aprender a dar a cada cosa su espacio, y nunca dejarse llevar por las opiniones y las imposiciones de otro, a seguir cada uno su camino. Al final cada uno debe recorrer su propio camino, y nunca se sabe que nos puede deparar. Puede que, incluso, acabes trabajando codo con codo con ese vecino antip谩tico que tanto te molestaba.
鈥漇obre los cuentos de hadas鈥�: encontrarme este texto en el libro me ha hecho mucha ilusi贸n porque no me lo esperaba. Y porque uno de los libros que m谩s ganas tengo de leer de Tolkien es una recopilaci贸n de ensayos y conferencias suyas, que el a帽o pasado sac贸 la editorial Minotauro, donde entre otros muchos se encuentra esta ampliaci贸n de una conferencia que en 1939 nuestro autor pronunci贸 en honor a el cuentista Andrew Lang.
Reconozco que esta parte del libro me ha costado, he tardado varios d铆as en leerla. Ha habido partes que se me han hecho muy cuesta arriba por lo densas que me han resultado, que he tenido que leerlas y volver a leerlas varias veces para captar, t铆midamente, su aut茅ntico significado. Pero qu茅 quer茅is que os diga, quer铆a ver algo del Tolkien estudioso y fil贸logo, y me lo he encontrado con creces. Pese a todo he disfrutado de esta parte, porque el tema de los cuentos de hadas es algo que me fascina, y me ha gustado muchas de las cosas que dice el profesor, aunque con otras no haya podido evitar alzar la ceja (desde mi humilde conocimientos sobre el tema, que seguro que no llegan ni a la suela de los zapatos al erudito, autor, faltar铆a m谩s). Por lo pronto, este ensayo me ha dejado muy buen sabor de boca, me ha parecido muy interesante la visi贸n de Tolkien sobre los cuentos de hadas, como pueden ser una v谩lvula de escape y de aprendizaje para el ser humano, que no deben estar solo dirigidos hacia ni帽os, y si se dirige hacia ellos, se no se les debe endulzar, sino que sirvan de veh铆culo para que aprendan cosas que puedan serle 煤tiles en la vida real. Que b谩sicamente es la funci贸n primaria que tiene el cuento. Tolkien se muestra esc茅ptico contra los t铆picos cuentos de hadas, prefiriendo las historias que beben m谩s de la mitolog铆a. Entre otras cosas, me ha parecido interesante cuando habla de que seguramente estos cuentos surjan de alg煤n hecho o personaje hist贸rico, que en s铆 mismo contienen algunos pozos de realidad. Y tambi茅n todas las cosas que dice sobre el g茅nero de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补, aunque me haya costado entenderlas, me han parecido muy interesantes. Y es que, el profesor empieza hablando desde una visi贸n filol贸gica, sobre lo que es el cuento, intentando explicar qu茅 es y cu谩l es su importancia dentro de la literatura. Pero como ya se ha visto en esta obra, al final, el hombre se va por las ramas y tambi茅n nos hablasobre el poder de la imaginaci贸n y reivindica estas historias, como parte esencial de la literatura y del bagaje cultural. No le emocionan los cuentos que llegan tamizados a los lectores, pero eso no quita que a m铆 este g茅nero. Me ha sorprendido mucho que se considerarse un mero 鈥渆xplorador sin rumbo鈥� en lo concerniente a este tema, ni mucho menos un experto鈥� Si t煤 no eres un experto, amigo m铆o, no tengo ni idea de qui茅n puede serlo鈥�
Y un aplauso porque se haya atrevido a criticar el 鈥淢acbeth鈥� de William Shakespeare. No es que hoy este autor, pero teniendo en cuenta como le ponen la mayor parte de la historiograf铆a y literatura inglesa, cuando encuentro alguna cr铆tica hacia su obra, no puedo dejar de aplaudir.
En general, pese a que me haya costado, creo que solo por leer este ensayo, merece mucho la pena la lectura de 鈥淐uentos Desde el Reino Peligroso鈥�. Su existencia dentro de la antolog铆a es lo que unifica todos estos diversos relatos, ya que al final el cuento y la visi贸n que Tolkien ten铆a del mismo, la importancia de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补, el mero amor hacia este g茅nero y el arte de escribir e inventar son las se帽as de identidad de esta lectura y de lo que Tolkien nos lego al mundo. No todo tiene porque ser s贸rdido y real, tambi茅n la propia 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 con su magia tiene algo que nos puede ense帽ar mucho, a la vez que sirve de consuelo y de inspiraci贸n. Y es bello una forma tan especial que tiene Tolkien de reivindicar esto.
A continuaci贸n, aqu铆 ten茅is mi opini贸n e impresiones sobre los diferentes textos que conforman esta recopilaci贸n.
鈥淩overandom鈥�: siempre me he preguntado c贸mo debe ser eso de que tu padre sea uno de los mejores narradores de toda la historia de la literatura y la suerte que debe ser eso. No olvidemos que la novela 鈥淓l Hobbit鈥漵urgi贸 como un cuento de Tolkien para sus hijos, haciendo las veces de complemento para todas las historias que el escritor estaba ideando y recopilando para dar vida a ese mundo, que nosotros conocemos como la Tierra Media y que ser铆an recopiladas a su muerte en 鈥� El Silmarillion鈥�.
鈥淩overandom鈥� es otro ejemplo del Tolkien padre y escritor. Este cuento largo fue escrito por Tolkien para consolar a uno de sus hijos cuando perdi贸 su apreciado perro de peluche en una excursi贸n en la playa. Llamado Rover en un principio, el joven fue transformado en un juguete por haber tenido una peque帽a trifulca con un malhumorado mago y haberle mordido en los pantalones. A partir de ese momento Rover vivir谩 un sinf铆n de aventuras que le llevar谩n a conocer a otros magos y personajes (incluyendo otros dos perros que tambi茅n se llaman Rover, de ah铆 que para diferenciarle acabe siendo conocido como Roverandom) y a viajar a la luna y al fondo del mar. El relato est谩 lleno de momentos, muy graciosos, y sus diferentes y originales. Ambientaciones resultan ser su punto fuerte. Es una historia tierna y encantadora, de ritmo, apacible y tono c谩lido; se nota que fue escrita pensando en el disfrute y entretenimiento de unos ni帽os. No obstante, a m铆 se me ha hecho en ciertos momentos bastante pesada y lenta, por lo que no he terminado de conectar del todo con ella, aunque valore lo bonita que es.
鈥淓gidio, el granjero de Ham鈥�: todo lo que he le铆do de Tolkien siempre ha estado relacionado, hasta ahora, con la Tierra Media y su famoso lengendarium. Pero tengo mucha curiosidad por la vertiente del autor, como erudito de lenguas y literatura medievales; como amante del romance de 鈥淪ir Gawain y el Caballero Verde鈥�, traductor del 鈥淏eowulf鈥� y compositor de un poema sobre la muerte del rey Arturo. Tengo muchas ganas de leer sobre este aspecto. De momento, me conformo con esta breve historia, ambientada en el medievo medieval, y protagonizada por Agidius Ahenobarbi Julii Agricole de Hammo, o Egidio de Ham para abreviar, un granjero terco, relativamente astuto y bastante arrogante que, a modo de sastrecillo valiente, se ve enfrentado a varios peligros bajo la forma de gigantes y dragones, y sale victorioso de la empresa. Sinceramente, este relato ha tenido para m铆 m谩s sabor a cuento de hadas que el anterior. Y quiz谩s por eso ha sido mi favorito de la antolog铆a, ya que el cuento tiene elementos que pueden encontrarse en otras obras de Tolkien y de otros autores, pero manejaros con mucha gracia y buenas dosis de originalidad. Se trata de una historia sencilla, a帽eja y que m谩s de un momento me ha despertado la sonrisa y la carcajada con sus situaciones sat铆ricas, los comentarios e intenciones burlonas del autor y sus personajes humor铆sticos y coloridos. Y es que ninguno tiene desperdicio, desde el propio protagonista hasta sus vecinos del pueblo de Ham, pasando por su mascota, un perro tan presuntuoso como cobarde, y su montura, tan callada como armada de paciencia ante tanto sinsentido. Sin olvidarnos del drag贸n, un excelente hermano menor del inolvidable Smaug de 鈥淓l Hobbit鈥� pero sin resultar tan aterrador.
鈥淟as aventuras de Tom Bombadil鈥�: el Tolkien poeta tambi茅n tiene cabida en esta antolog铆a 驴la excusa? Presentarnos unos poemas que aparecen en los m谩rgenes del manuscrito de鈥淓l Libro Rojo鈥� la obra que escribi贸 el inolvidable Bilbo Bols贸n contando sus aventuras y andanzas, y que fue completada y ampliada por las vivencias de su sobrino Frodo y Sam Gamyi. Y de la que se supone que salieron 鈥淓l Hobbit鈥� y 鈥淓l Se帽or de los Anillos鈥�. Dentro caben todo tipo de poemas, desde algunos relacionados con la Tierra Media y la Comarca, hasta otros que Tolkien prepar贸 para revistas, antolog铆as o para sus familiares, con la excusa de que forman parte de la cultura del imaginario y fant谩stico continente. De ah铆 que nos encontremos con muchos temas e historias diferentes que nos permiten conocer m谩s sobre las canciones, historia y mitolog铆a de la Tierra Media, y sorpr茅ndenos como hasta ese aspecto estaba bien controlado y trabajado por parte del profesor. Personalmente me han gustado la mayor铆a, pero el que hayan metido entre tanta prosa de pronto estos versos, para m铆 ha resultado, editorialmente, bastante anti clim谩tico. De todas formas, he disfrutado de su lectura. Aunque quiz谩s me haya descolocado que presenten al personaje de Tom Bombadil como el centro de esta recopilaci贸n por el t铆tulo, y en realidad solo hay dos poemas dedicados a 茅l. Es una l谩stima. Especialmente por la historia de amor-odio que tengo por este enigm谩tico hombrecillo. Y es que me he pasado la mayor parte de mi vida lectora teni茅ndole tirria a este personaje sin saber muy bien el motivo, desde que tengo 10-9 a帽os y le铆 por primera vez 鈥淓l Se帽or de los Anillos鈥�. Sin embargo, cuando hice el a帽o pasado la re lectura de la trilog铆a, me sorprendi贸 encontrar que ahora tragaba bastante bien al bueno de Tom. Nunca ser谩 mi personaje favorito, pero le reconozco que es bastante entra帽able a su manera.
驴Lo mejir de leer estos fragmentos? Que la inmensa mayor铆a de las p谩ginas est谩n decoradas con ilustraciones de Alan Lee, cuyos dibujos aparecen m谩s ocasionalmente en el resto de relatos del volumen. Como este artista creo que ha sabido captar la belleza, humanidad y magnificiencia de la Tierra Media y la obra de Tolkien.
鈥淓l herrero de Wootton Mayor鈥�: un peque帽o pueblo cerca del bosque donde hay muchas fiestas y a cuyos habitantes les gusta comer, un cocinero fanfarr贸n y un aprendiz que guarda alg煤n que otro secreto y sabe m谩s de lo que cuenta, una estrella m谩gica y un viaje de toda una vida por sendas misteriosas y m谩gicas. Este relato empieza con un tono humor铆stico y ligero, que paulatinamente va mirando hacia los viajes que un ni帽o hace , a medida que crece, por el on铆rico reino de Fantas铆a y que marcan su vida. Haciendo que el cuento tenga una carga melanc贸lica y filos贸fica que lo hace m谩s profundo de lo que sus primeras l铆neas pronosticaban. Un cuento que nos habla de los aprendizajes que hacemos a lo largo de toda nuestra existencka, y de la posibilidad de ser nuestras mejores versiones y aprender constantemente. De no conformarnos con lo sencillo, con lo cercano, con lo banal. De mirar siempre por encima de las apariencias y aceptar que nada en esta vida es definitivo, que a veces hay que dejar ir. Y todo esto se aprende mientras el lector, junto con el herrero, viaja por diferentes parajes del reino de las hadas, Fantas铆a. Muchas de sus ubicaciones recuerdan a las de la Tierra Media, y el lector no puede evitar preguntarse si Tolkien ha llevado a su protagonista hacia este m铆tico lugar, si Fantas铆a no es m谩s que la Tierra Media.
De mis relatos favoritos de la antolog铆a. Me ha parecido un cuento de lo m谩s conmovedor, del que se puede rasgar mucho. Deja un poso de dulce melancol铆a cuando lo finalizas.
鈥淗oja de Niggle鈥�: 脡rase una vez un pintor que empez贸 pintando unas hojas, y la cosa acabo derivando en hacer un 谩rbol y luego todo un bosque y un paisaje monta帽oso鈥� Y eso hizo que dilatase un viaje que ten铆a que hacer obligatoriamente鈥�
Probablemente el relato m谩s especial e indefinible de toda la antolog铆a. Y tambi茅n el m谩s personal. Tolkien no compuso todo su legendarium a partir de una historia o una idea concreta. Su aut茅ntico inter茅s y pasi贸n era de estudiar, lenguas antiguas, palabras extra帽as y crear lenguajes propios. Fue por esto 煤ltimo, para darle un contexto y una estructura hist贸rica a esos idiomas que le gustaba inventar, que invent贸 todas sus historias sobre hobbit, elfos y anillos de poder. 鈥淓l Silmarillion鈥� fue el contexto que cre贸 para todos esos idiomas, que cont贸 con dos spin-off de infarto como fueron 鈥淓l Hobbit鈥� y 鈥淓l Se帽or de los Anillos鈥�. De la misma forma que el desdichado Niggle de esta historia empieza por dibujar unas hojas y acaba por pintar todo un paisaje de bosque y monta帽as, su obra poco a poco va aumentando, sin que 茅l se diera casi ni cuenta. Incluso, aunque los peque帽os inconvenientes y obligaciones del d铆a a d铆as se interpusieran en su camino. Leyendo no es muy dif铆cil darse cuenta de que Tolkien y Niggle son lo mismo, dos artistas encaminados a una obra que va haci茅ndose m谩s potente y grande casi en contra de su voluntad, pero obligados a dejar de lado a su 鈥測o 鈥渁rt铆stico en pos de su 鈥測o鈥� cotidiano, el que tiene que hacer caso a los peque帽os inconvenientes del d铆a a d铆a y no sabe decir que no a cualquiera que le pida ayuda. La met谩fora no puede ser m谩s certera, y por ello no es imposible leer con cari帽o esta breve historia en la que Tolkien se describe a si mismo, y que no solo nos habla de uno (dos) hombres a los que les cuesta conciliar y racionar su tiempo para llegar a todo. Tambi茅n nos habla de la necesidad de aprender a dar a cada cosa su espacio, y nunca dejarse llevar por las opiniones y las imposiciones de otro, a seguir cada uno su camino. Al final cada uno debe recorrer su propio camino, y nunca se sabe que nos puede deparar. Puede que, incluso, acabes trabajando codo con codo con ese vecino antip谩tico que tanto te molestaba.
鈥漇obre los cuentos de hadas鈥�: encontrarme este texto en el libro me ha hecho mucha ilusi贸n porque no me lo esperaba. Y porque uno de los libros que m谩s ganas tengo de leer de Tolkien es una recopilaci贸n de ensayos y conferencias suyas, que el a帽o pasado sac贸 la editorial Minotauro, donde entre otros muchos se encuentra esta ampliaci贸n de una conferencia que en 1939 nuestro autor pronunci贸 en honor a el cuentista Andrew Lang.
Reconozco que esta parte del libro me ha costado, he tardado varios d铆as en leerla. Ha habido partes que se me han hecho muy cuesta arriba por lo densas que me han resultado, que he tenido que leerlas y volver a leerlas varias veces para captar, t铆midamente, su aut茅ntico significado. Pero qu茅 quer茅is que os diga, quer铆a ver algo del Tolkien estudioso y fil贸logo, y me lo he encontrado con creces. Pese a todo he disfrutado de esta parte, porque el tema de los cuentos de hadas es algo que me fascina, y me ha gustado muchas de las cosas que dice el profesor, aunque con otras no haya podido evitar alzar la ceja (desde mi humilde conocimientos sobre el tema, que seguro que no llegan ni a la suela de los zapatos al erudito, autor, faltar铆a m谩s). Por lo pronto, este ensayo me ha dejado muy buen sabor de boca, me ha parecido muy interesante la visi贸n de Tolkien sobre los cuentos de hadas, como pueden ser una v谩lvula de escape y de aprendizaje para el ser humano, que no deben estar solo dirigidos hacia ni帽os, y si se dirige hacia ellos, se no se les debe endulzar, sino que sirvan de veh铆culo para que aprendan cosas que puedan serle 煤tiles en la vida real. Que b谩sicamente es la funci贸n primaria que tiene el cuento. Tolkien se muestra esc茅ptico contra los t铆picos cuentos de hadas, prefiriendo las historias que beben m谩s de la mitolog铆a. Entre otras cosas, me ha parecido interesante cuando habla de que seguramente estos cuentos surjan de alg煤n hecho o personaje hist贸rico, que en s铆 mismo contienen algunos pozos de realidad. Y tambi茅n todas las cosas que dice sobre el g茅nero de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补, aunque me haya costado entenderlas, me han parecido muy interesantes. Y es que, el profesor empieza hablando desde una visi贸n filol贸gica, sobre lo que es el cuento, intentando explicar qu茅 es y cu谩l es su importancia dentro de la literatura. Pero como ya se ha visto en esta obra, al final, el hombre se va por las ramas y tambi茅n nos hablasobre el poder de la imaginaci贸n y reivindica estas historias, como parte esencial de la literatura y del bagaje cultural. No le emocionan los cuentos que llegan tamizados a los lectores, pero eso no quita que a m铆 este g茅nero. Me ha sorprendido mucho que se considerarse un mero 鈥渆xplorador sin rumbo鈥� en lo concerniente a este tema, ni mucho menos un experto鈥� Si t煤 no eres un experto, amigo m铆o, no tengo ni idea de qui茅n puede serlo鈥�
Y un aplauso porque se haya atrevido a criticar el 鈥淢acbeth鈥� de William Shakespeare. No es que hoy este autor, pero teniendo en cuenta como le ponen la mayor parte de la historiograf铆a y literatura inglesa, cuando encuentro alguna cr铆tica hacia su obra, no puedo dejar de aplaudir.
En general, pese a que me haya costado, creo que solo por leer este ensayo, merece mucho la pena la lectura de 鈥淐uentos Desde el Reino Peligroso鈥�. Su existencia dentro de la antolog铆a es lo que unifica todos estos diversos relatos, ya que al final el cuento y la visi贸n que Tolkien ten铆a del mismo, la importancia de la 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补, el mero amor hacia este g茅nero y el arte de escribir e inventar son las se帽as de identidad de esta lectura y de lo que Tolkien nos lego al mundo. No todo tiene porque ser s贸rdido y real, tambi茅n la propia 蹿补苍迟补蝉铆补 con su magia tiene algo que nos puede ense帽ar mucho, a la vez que sirve de consuelo y de inspiraci贸n. Y es bello una forma tan especial que tiene Tolkien de reivindicar esto.
March 31, 2025
Four short stories by JRR Tolkien; the most notable for me is Tom Bombadil. Bombadil meets Frodo, Sam, Merry & Pippin shortly after they leave the Shire. The scene was taken from the LOTR books and not included in the movie. Additionally, there are interviews from Tolkien and others who knew him.
July 16, 2016
Tanto tiempo sin leer a mi amado Tolkien.
"Fantas铆a es una tierra peligrosa, con trampas para los incautos y mazmorras para los temerarios"
Cuentos desde el Reino Peligroso es una compilaci贸n que nos presenta cinco historias escritas por Tolkien a lo largo de su vida, algunas narradas originalmente de forma oral a sus propios hijos antes de ser ampliadas para su publicaci贸n y otras tantas escritas por sobre pedido de sus editores. Ademas contiene una introducci贸n de Tom Shippey y un ap茅ndice en el que aparece un ensayo tambi茅n de Tolkien.
Dar茅 una opini贸n muy breve de cada relato en el volumen.
Introducci贸n. Por Tom Shippey: NO LA LEAN. As铆 de sencillo. 隆Esto no es una introducci贸n! es un mero resumen de las historias que aparecen posteriormente en el libro. Tom Shippey se dedic贸 a hacer spoiler una-por-una. En todo caso se puede leer al final para esclarecer algunas cosas.
Roverandom: Un cuento de hadas con toda la esencia 茅pica del autor. Es una historia muy linda plagada de magia que amar谩n sobretodo los m谩s peque帽os. Es el tipo de cuento que yo le leer铆a a mis hijossuponiendo que quisiera unos
Egidio, el granjero de Ham: Continuamos con otra historia igual de interesante que la anterior, con un protagonista que aunque se siente m谩s como un anti-h茅roe logra ganarse al lector. Ah! Y tiene... 隆un drag贸n!
Las aventuras de Tom Bombadil: Completamente diferente a los anteriores esta tercera parte del libro est谩 formada por poemas/canciones. Quienes hemos le铆do El se帽or de los anillos y El hobbit sabemos que Tolkien ten铆a un don para los poemas. Al contener 12 poemas es muy dif铆cil que logren gustarte todos, es cuesti贸n de gustos.
Mis favoritos: 1- Las aventuras de Tom Bombadil; 8- Perry Gui帽os; y 10- Olifante.
El herrero de Wootton Mayor: Tal vez mi menos favorito. Simplemente no pude adentrarme mucho en la historia. Es bello, s铆, pero no me pareci贸 demasiado. El "villano" es realmente interesante.
Hoja de Niggle: De lo m谩s hermoso que he le铆do en la vida. Un relato que reconforta el coraz贸n. 鈾�
Ap茅ndices. Sobre los cuentos de Hadas No es un relato sino un ensayo, y debo confesarlo. No lo le铆. Disfrut茅 mucho los cuentos como para ponerme a filosofar con Tolkien. Ya habr谩 otra oportunidad, adem谩s como bien dice es un ap茅ndice, no es parte del libro en s铆.
Un libro que vale mucho la pena, tanto para fans del GRAN JRR Tolkien como para quienes desean leerlo y le temencon justa raz贸n al resto de sus libros. Las ilustraciones de Alan Lee son simplemente hermosas.
"Tom Bombadil el viejo era un alegre tipo;
chaqueta azul brillante, y zapatos amarillos,
de verde cintur贸n, las calzas de buen cuero,
y una pluma de cisne sujeta en el sombrero."
"Fantas铆a es una tierra peligrosa, con trampas para los incautos y mazmorras para los temerarios"
Cuentos desde el Reino Peligroso es una compilaci贸n que nos presenta cinco historias escritas por Tolkien a lo largo de su vida, algunas narradas originalmente de forma oral a sus propios hijos antes de ser ampliadas para su publicaci贸n y otras tantas escritas por sobre pedido de sus editores. Ademas contiene una introducci贸n de Tom Shippey y un ap茅ndice en el que aparece un ensayo tambi茅n de Tolkien.
Dar茅 una opini贸n muy breve de cada relato en el volumen.
Introducci贸n. Por Tom Shippey: NO LA LEAN. As铆 de sencillo. 隆Esto no es una introducci贸n! es un mero resumen de las historias que aparecen posteriormente en el libro. Tom Shippey se dedic贸 a hacer spoiler una-por-una. En todo caso se puede leer al final para esclarecer algunas cosas.
Roverandom: Un cuento de hadas con toda la esencia 茅pica del autor. Es una historia muy linda plagada de magia que amar谩n sobretodo los m谩s peque帽os. Es el tipo de cuento que yo le leer铆a a mis hijos
Egidio, el granjero de Ham: Continuamos con otra historia igual de interesante que la anterior, con un protagonista que aunque se siente m谩s como un anti-h茅roe logra ganarse al lector. Ah! Y tiene... 隆un drag贸n!
Las aventuras de Tom Bombadil: Completamente diferente a los anteriores esta tercera parte del libro est谩 formada por poemas/canciones. Quienes hemos le铆do El se帽or de los anillos y El hobbit sabemos que Tolkien ten铆a un don para los poemas. Al contener 12 poemas es muy dif铆cil que logren gustarte todos, es cuesti贸n de gustos.
Mis favoritos: 1- Las aventuras de Tom Bombadil; 8- Perry Gui帽os; y 10- Olifante.
El herrero de Wootton Mayor: Tal vez mi menos favorito. Simplemente no pude adentrarme mucho en la historia. Es bello, s铆, pero no me pareci贸 demasiado. El "villano" es realmente interesante.
Hoja de Niggle: De lo m谩s hermoso que he le铆do en la vida. Un relato que reconforta el coraz贸n. 鈾�
Ap茅ndices. Sobre los cuentos de Hadas No es un relato sino un ensayo, y debo confesarlo. No lo le铆. Disfrut茅 mucho los cuentos como para ponerme a filosofar con Tolkien. Ya habr谩 otra oportunidad, adem谩s como bien dice es un ap茅ndice, no es parte del libro en s铆.
Un libro que vale mucho la pena, tanto para fans del GRAN JRR Tolkien como para quienes desean leerlo y le temen
"Tom Bombadil el viejo era un alegre tipo;
chaqueta azul brillante, y zapatos amarillos,
de verde cintur贸n, las calzas de buen cuero,
y una pluma de cisne sujeta en el sombrero."
November 19, 2023
You can find my review on my blog by clicking .
Writer J.R.R. Tolkien has written numerous shorter pieces that does not necessarily have any connection to his Middle-earth universe. Far more comical, much more whimsical, these shorter works of fiction, and even non-fiction, help readers better grasp the extent of the author鈥檚 imagination. They give us all a glimpse into the mind of a writer in full control of his passion, irrevocably capable of sending his readers on adventures with unpredictable twists and turns. Tales From the Perilous Realm collects within one volume six of his shorter stories about fantasy and adventure, including Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, Leaf by Niggle, and his essay 鈥淥n Fairy-stories鈥�.
The first short story, Roverandom, follows a dog, initially called Rover, who is forcefully turned into a toy by a sorcerer and embarks on a formidable adventure, learning to fly, and even meeting strange individuals along the way. Originally conceived by author J.R.R. Tolkien to try to explain to his second son Michael where his own toy might have gotten lost, this curious story is as unpredictable as it gets. Its charming nature and plot direction sets the mood for a magical quest full of silly and unforgettable characters.
The second short story, Farmer Giles of Ham, follows the title character who inadvertently saves a village from a giant and becomes a hero of the people. Embracing the fame, his stature draws the attention of various characters, including the King himself, as his reputation precedes him and leads him to face off against an even more powerful foe, one with wings, claws, and maybe some fire-breathing abilities. This story was quite wonderful, a favourite of the bunch, as its refreshingly simple narrative leads to some fun encounters.
The third short story, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, is the only short story that refers to a character from Middle-earth, and one of the most mysterious entities of them all too. It would be difficult to call it a short story too, considering that it鈥檚 more like a collection of poems, notwithstanding the first two chapters that briefly introduces Tom Bombadil and his way of life, always through poetry. Unfortunately, poetry wasn鈥檛 what I was looking for through these short stories, and while I appreciated the micro-expansion of Middle-earth鈥檚 lore through this collection, these poems mostly, figuratively speaking, went through one ear and got out the other.
The fourth short story, Smith of Wootton Major, begins with an imminent festival celebrated every twenty-four years, as twenty-four children are invited and the Great Cake is unveiled at the Feast of Good Children. The particularity here is the secret magical ingredients within the cake that would give one lucky child the opportunity of a lifetime to enter the Land of Faery. Despite such a fascinating premise, complemented by author J.R.R. Tolkien鈥檚 wonderful writing style, the story was void of peripeteia. As you approach the end, you realize that nothing much happens with the chosen one and the world of faeries, leaving you completely unsatisfied by the end of it all.
The fifth short story, Leaf by Niggle, tells the story of the artist Niggle, who dedicates his life to drawing the perfect tree until an unexpected event sends him on a life-changing journey. This story was short and sweet, quite sad at times, kicking off with this society that attributes no value to art. However, the story evolves in such an intriguing way that by the end of it all, nothing will ever be the same, both for Niggle and everyone else in his village.
The sixth story, placed as an appendix, is an essay by the author J.R.R. Tolkien called 鈥淥n Fairy-stories鈥�. Inevitably, this one had a completely different tone. Clearly not dedicated to children unlike all the other short stories, this one offers insight into the author鈥檚 understanding of fairy-stories, what they are, and what they are meant to be. His deconstruction of the whole category, while offering explicit examples of well-known fairy-stories and authors, demonstres his clear-cut definition of fairy-stories and allows readers and writers to put the art of writing these kinds of stories into perspective.
As a whole, this collection of short stories is a wonderful read, allowing fans to explore more of author J.R.R. Tolkien鈥檚 imagination and understanding of fantasy and adventure. This edition also contains an introduction by Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey, artist Alan Lee鈥檚 remarkable artwork (you should see his pencil-drawn oliphaunt), and an afterword by the artist himself.
Tales From the Perilous Realm is a peculiar and eccentric collection of short writing pieces about fantastical creatures and places.
January 17, 2019
If you a total Tolkien fanatic you would probably like this book. I did not enjoy the collection of poems and shorts. Some are about Middle Earth and some are not. Not recommended
June 28, 2017
Cada uno de los cuentos que aparecen en este libro son una muestra de la maestr铆a de Tolkien como narrador y creador de mundos. Y respecto al ensayo: "On Fairy-Stories" (Sobre los Cuentos de Hadas), repetir茅 lo que escrib铆 en twitter esta ma帽ana: deber铆a ser lectura obligatoria para cualquiera que pretenda escribir (y leer) Fantas铆a en serio. Yo me demor茅 demasiado (m谩s de lo justificable) pero creo que a煤n no es demasiado tarde.
August 11, 2021
Re-read. (Lost track of how many times I've read these charming stories.)
It's easy to remember Tolkien as "just" the creator of Lord of the Rings, but he was also a world-class talent, and his other works deserve as much recogntion as LotR.
(Not sure it would fit thematically in this volume, but it would have been nice to get Tolkiens take on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Orfeo, and Sir Pearl in here, but that doesn't deter the magnificence of this volume of tales.)
It's easy to remember Tolkien as "just" the creator of Lord of the Rings, but he was also a world-class talent, and his other works deserve as much recogntion as LotR.
(Not sure it would fit thematically in this volume, but it would have been nice to get Tolkiens take on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Orfeo, and Sir Pearl in here, but that doesn't deter the magnificence of this volume of tales.)
May 20, 2024
I've actually been reading this book for a while, but only just now am I adding it to my goodreads. It's a collection of short stories written by J.R.R Tolkien. I've been reading them in between my larger books. Tolkien always makes me smile馃槉 It's not The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, but a great collection of shorter fairy tales tailored towards children, some better than others, but certainly worth your time if you want to wind down and relax.
猸愨瓙猸愨瓙/5
猸愨瓙猸愨瓙/5
June 25, 2019
Es una excelente lectura, una deliciosa prolongaci贸n del universo de Tolkien, hay que leerla
November 23, 2011
This edition seems to be combined with other editions that have different content -- mine contains only four stories: 'Farmer Giles of Ham', 'The Adventures of Tom Bombadil', 'Leaf by Niggle', and 'Smith of Wootton Major'. I've already read the latter in an extended edition. It's worth picking up this book -- or the version with 'Roverandom' in it as well -- to get an idea of Tolkien's real idea of fairy tales. Possibly best read along with 'On Fairy-Stories', which some editions also contain.
'Farmer Giles of Ham' is fun -- closer in tone to The Hobbit than Lord of the Rings. I wasn't so keen on 'The Adventures of Tom Bombadil' -- I prefer Tolkien's prose to his poetry, for the most part. 'Leaf by Niggle' is rather more allegorical than I expected of Tolkien, and rather magical. And I've said what I think of 'Smith of Wootton Major' elsewhere, but in summary, it's a lovely gentle fairytale that nonetheless has reality and pain in it.
'Farmer Giles of Ham' is fun -- closer in tone to The Hobbit than Lord of the Rings. I wasn't so keen on 'The Adventures of Tom Bombadil' -- I prefer Tolkien's prose to his poetry, for the most part. 'Leaf by Niggle' is rather more allegorical than I expected of Tolkien, and rather magical. And I've said what I think of 'Smith of Wootton Major' elsewhere, but in summary, it's a lovely gentle fairytale that nonetheless has reality and pain in it.
December 10, 2024
An anthology of Tolkien's short tales and verses, and the essay 'On Fairy-Stories', accompanied by Alan Lee's pencil sketches.
馃崄 Roverandom - This charming children's tale was inspired by the loss of the favourite toy of the author's own child. A surprise encounter with an irascible wizard results in Rover the dog biting the wizard's trousers, and being turned into a toy as punishment. Naturally, adventures abound for the enchanted dog. These include encounters with a sand-wizard; a seagull sponsored trip to the moon, where Rover meets the Man-in-the-Moon and his moon-dog; and eventually a journey under the sea to get the enchantment lifted. The world-building is also rather interesting and anticipates some ideas and motifs incorporated into Tolkien's longer works. Whimsical and fun to read.
馃崄 Farmer Giles of Ham - This is a short children's tale set within a framing story of an alternate medieval England. Down-to-Earth and gruff Farmer Giles of the village of Ham accidentally wins great renown by firing his anachronistic blunderbuss at an oblivious, wandering giant about to flatten his farm. The giant assumes he has been stung by vicious insects and retreats... only to tell an exaggerated tale to all his friends and relations. The next thing Farmer Giles knows, he is being called up to save the country from the marauding Chrysophylax. Farmer Giles has an interesting (and somewhat comedic) manner in dealing with the dragon, the fall out of which annoys the king immensely (too bad!). I didn't much care for Farmer Giles' treatment of his poor dog, but otherwise a mildly amusing tale of wit over brawn.
馃崄 The Adventures of Tom Bombadil - This is a collection of poetry mainly concerned with legends and jests of the Shire at the end of the Third Age. These verses are claimed to be written by Hobbits and preserved in the 鈥楻ed Book鈥� - scribbled in the margins and blank spaces and on loose leaves. Only two of the poems describe the rather tame adventures of Tom Bombadil around the Shire. There are also a handful of poems that were incorporated into the Lord of the Rings. Most of the poems in this collection are rather frivolous, with weak rhyming structures and metre, and do not particularly appeal to me. Perhaps children would like them better? I particularly like poems that tell a story and have a decent rhythm, so the poems I liked the most include The Stone Troll, The Mewlips, and The Last Ship.
馃崄 Smith of Wooton Major - This is my favourite of the short fairy-stories Tolkien wrote. This enchanting tale involves the baking of a fancy, party cake every 24 years, and only 24 children of suitable age are invited. The cake has a trinket from Faery hidden inside. The child who inadvertently swallows the little trinket grown up to become the Smith of Wooton Major and makes many journeys into the realm of Faery. I love the evocative scenery of Faery. And the surprise reveal of the identity of the apprentice cook. Lacking drama, darkness and an extensive plot, this is the last of Tolkien's literary work published in his lifetime, and is something of a symbol of Tolkien鈥檚 farewell to the literary work.
馃崄 Leaf by Niggle - Something of a self-portrait of Tolkien's life, though apparently the story came to him in a dream. A charming, if poignant, story that has been so helpfully analysed by many people and summarised in the .
馃尶 On Fairy-Stories is a 1947 essay in which Tolkien discusses the fairy story as a literary form. In this essay, Tolkien muses on fairy-stories and explains his philosophy on fantasy, and his thoughts on mythopoeia and sub-creation or world-building. Scholarly, and very interesting.
馃崄 Roverandom - This charming children's tale was inspired by the loss of the favourite toy of the author's own child. A surprise encounter with an irascible wizard results in Rover the dog biting the wizard's trousers, and being turned into a toy as punishment. Naturally, adventures abound for the enchanted dog. These include encounters with a sand-wizard; a seagull sponsored trip to the moon, where Rover meets the Man-in-the-Moon and his moon-dog; and eventually a journey under the sea to get the enchantment lifted. The world-building is also rather interesting and anticipates some ideas and motifs incorporated into Tolkien's longer works. Whimsical and fun to read.
馃崄 Farmer Giles of Ham - This is a short children's tale set within a framing story of an alternate medieval England. Down-to-Earth and gruff Farmer Giles of the village of Ham accidentally wins great renown by firing his anachronistic blunderbuss at an oblivious, wandering giant about to flatten his farm. The giant assumes he has been stung by vicious insects and retreats... only to tell an exaggerated tale to all his friends and relations. The next thing Farmer Giles knows, he is being called up to save the country from the marauding Chrysophylax. Farmer Giles has an interesting (and somewhat comedic) manner in dealing with the dragon, the fall out of which annoys the king immensely (too bad!). I didn't much care for Farmer Giles' treatment of his poor dog, but otherwise a mildly amusing tale of wit over brawn.
馃崄 The Adventures of Tom Bombadil - This is a collection of poetry mainly concerned with legends and jests of the Shire at the end of the Third Age. These verses are claimed to be written by Hobbits and preserved in the 鈥楻ed Book鈥� - scribbled in the margins and blank spaces and on loose leaves. Only two of the poems describe the rather tame adventures of Tom Bombadil around the Shire. There are also a handful of poems that were incorporated into the Lord of the Rings. Most of the poems in this collection are rather frivolous, with weak rhyming structures and metre, and do not particularly appeal to me. Perhaps children would like them better? I particularly like poems that tell a story and have a decent rhythm, so the poems I liked the most include The Stone Troll, The Mewlips, and The Last Ship.
馃崄 Smith of Wooton Major - This is my favourite of the short fairy-stories Tolkien wrote. This enchanting tale involves the baking of a fancy, party cake every 24 years, and only 24 children of suitable age are invited. The cake has a trinket from Faery hidden inside. The child who inadvertently swallows the little trinket grown up to become the Smith of Wooton Major and makes many journeys into the realm of Faery. I love the evocative scenery of Faery. And the surprise reveal of the identity of the apprentice cook. Lacking drama, darkness and an extensive plot, this is the last of Tolkien's literary work published in his lifetime, and is something of a symbol of Tolkien鈥檚 farewell to the literary work.
馃崄 Leaf by Niggle - Something of a self-portrait of Tolkien's life, though apparently the story came to him in a dream. A charming, if poignant, story that has been so helpfully analysed by many people and summarised in the .
馃尶 On Fairy-Stories is a 1947 essay in which Tolkien discusses the fairy story as a literary form. In this essay, Tolkien muses on fairy-stories and explains his philosophy on fantasy, and his thoughts on mythopoeia and sub-creation or world-building. Scholarly, and very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 991 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.