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J. R. R. Tolkien
- A Biography
- Narrated by: Roger May
- Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
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J. R. R. Tolkien
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Summary
The original authorised biography, and the only one written by an author who actually met J. R. R. Tolkien.
In the 25 years since Tolkien’s death in September 1973, millions have read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and become fascinated about the very private man behind the books.
Born in Bloemfontein in January 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was orphaned in childhood, brought up in near poverty and almost thwarted in adolescent romance. He served in the First World War, surviving the Battle of the Somme, where he lost some of his closest friends, and returned to academic life, achieving high repute as a scholar and university teacher, eventually becoming Merton Professor of English at Oxford.
Then suddenly his life changed dramatically. One day while marking essay papers he found himself writing 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit' - and worldwide renown awaited him.
Humphrey Carpenter was given unrestricted access to all Tolkien’s papers and interviewed his friends and family. From these sources he follows the long and painful process of creation that produced The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and offers a wealth of information about the life and work of the 20th century's most cherished author.
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Critic reviews
"One of the most interesting and readable biographies of a literary figure." (The Times)
"The story is rich and beautifully told." (Sunday Times)
"Absolutely fascinating." (Daily Mail)
What listeners say about J. R. R. Tolkien
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Steven Underdown
- 29-05-23
Informative, enjoyable, balanced.
I’d read the book years ago and now, during a period of illness and convalescence, have listened in a few days to the whole thing. Enjoyable, informative, and not too much in the way speculation about things like his ‘psychological drives’ to writing his stories and non-academic works.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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- Judit Jega Szabo
- 08-09-19
Excellent biography, horrible narration
The narrator is extremely irritating. So much so that I struggled to finish the book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Kl Love
- 18-05-20
Pleasing and well-read biography of a complex man
Whether you enjoy his books or not (I do!), J. R. R. Tolkien is a literary phenomenon of the 20th century. This biography is well-researched, and well-written, with a wealth of interesting details of Tolkien's life from his early childhood in South Africa, through his nomadic life with his mother and brother, and so to Oxford. Carpenter draws an attractive picture of Tolkien as child and man, unearthing all manner of interesting anecdotes and comments made by him and about him. His relationship to the men friends, who were his closest associates for much of his life, is handled with understanding and sensitivity. What comes out most is the extraordinary and inexhaustible fecundity of his imagination, and his devotion to langue in itself, as a way of experiencing the world. A C. S. Lewis said, Tolkien was 'inside language'. Wisely, Carpenter notes but does not try to 'explain' the apparent contradiction between the life of this quiet, conventional, middle-class don and the great leaps of fantasy and imagination in his work, A thoroughly enjoyable biography, meticulously researched and thoughtfully constructed.
The narration also was excellent. Roger May has a very pleasant voice, reads at a perfect pace, and always brings out the sense of what he is reading.
A thoroughly satisfying book.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- S. Evans
- 08-12-23
Carpenter has a gentle and patient style that I think suited the subject.
The truth is that the biography of Tolkien is rather unremarkable. Most of the important things to shape his imagination were in the field of philology, his reading of Norse myth and so on, rather than meaningful or vivid encounters in the real world. But anyone who loves his work will want to know the story, and that of the Inklings, well evoked in Carpenters companion volume of that name.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- David
- 27-08-21
An absolute delight, from start to finish!
A most extraordinary man.
A journey to the heart of the man and the people that touched his life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Don Tomlinson
- 15-04-22
A wonderful story….
Really helped get to know the man even though I have never read his books…. Now I must do that.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- C. D. Hough
- 21-10-20
A fascinating insight into a great man.
This biography sheds a lot of light on the life and works of Tolkien. Well told and thoroughly engrocing.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mike Dunn
- 22-02-24
Respectful and Insightful
If, like me, you are a lover of the works of this great author and scholar, then this biography of the man behind the stories so many of us love is required reading (or listening!)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Leo'sMa
- 18-07-22
A beautiful account of an ordinary genius
This book was not one I normally would have chosen, however I am a huge fan of Tolkien. The author captures a very ordinary man who was gifted with pure genius. This audiobook was beautifully read and at a pace perfect for such a book.
Personally I would recommend listening to this, I loved every moment and have been educated and amused throughout.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ms. A. J. Simcock
- 22-06-24
Superb and insightful account of the life of a great writer
Wonderful and detailed biography which will be of great interest to all admirers of Tolkien
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