The Millenium Collection: Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.
Recently voted the impressive title of Best book of the Twentieth Century, Tolkien’s epic ‘Lord of the Rings’ is to fantasy writing (both film and literature) what the bible is to Christianity.
Originally split into three novels: ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ (1954) ‘The Two Towers’ (1955) and ‘The return of the King’ (1956), (which by the way may as well be subtitled ‘A New Hope’, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’, because George Lucas ripped them off completely) ‘Lord of the Rings’ borrows heavily form Alfred Lord Tennison a century before, and Arthurian myths and legends before that.
JRR Tolkien didn’t just write a book, he created an entire world. Middle-earth has over three thousand years of history, it’s own highly complex languages; not to mention accurate geography and climates. Tolkiens aim was to create a new mythology for Britain to replace our own, wiped out by the Romans, the Vikings, and the Normans.
However, none of this occurs to you when your reading ‘Lord of the Rings’ because the Story telling is so good. The classic fantasy trick of taking an innocent character who has no real idea of the scope of the world they inhabit, and making them the centre of a vast legend, is used here to great effect. Step forward Frodo Baggins, 3 foot high Hobbit with hairy feet, and nephew to Bilbo Baggins of ‘The Hobbit’ fame.
Tolkien is an expert at juxtaposing scenes. At the violent centre of the action in ‘The Return of the King’, it’s difficult to imagine how nice and friendly and innocent the book seemed at the beginning of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’. But then neither can the characters.
‘Lord of the Rings’ is possibly one of the most influential books of all time, and gained cult status in the late sixties, where the LSD culture latched on to it’s bizarre fantasy imagery. The Beatles even began work on a film adaptation, with Ringo playing Sam Gamgee, Paul playing Frodo, George as Gandalf and John as Gollum. Needless to say, Tolkien never understood the cult value of his work.
To date there is only one actual screen adaptation: a 1978 animated version by Ralph Bakashi, but this only runs to the middle of the second book and was never completed. However it does capture Tolkiens world and characters very well.
And the only way is up for this books status: three film adaptations of the books, directed by Peter Jackson and staring Elijah Wood (!!) Sean Bean, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm and Liv Tyler is being released next year.
‘Lord of the Rings’ is probably the most detailed work of fiction ever produced, and is as engrossing as it is genius. This is a novel that has influenced everyone from Led Zeppelin to Star Wars and should be neglected by no-one.
