Tolkien Biographies and Biographers

[Iolanthe]

In my experience, liberal views are generally quite the opposite. Everything is OK as long as it is new and radical - which is OK as long as it finds space to be liberal about viewpoints that aren't new and which have stood the test of time.

[Merry]

Right! The point is finding the truth, whether it is old or new. But I have found that liberals can be just as doctrinaire as conservatives. A plague on both their houses!

One really has to wonder whether some of these critics have actually read the books. Pearce has a long argument with those who call LOTR 'fascist'. Maybe I'm being too simple here, and we're to avoid allegory and all that, but isn't Sauron the fascist in this tale?

[Iolanthe]

Yup. I think you're right, most can have only given it a cursory glance at most or they wouldn't be wallowing in such ignorance .

[Merry]

Since John Garth is one of Tolkien's biographers, I though I should post this here. It contains a newly discovered photo of Tolkien at the age of 15:

http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/tolkien-at-fifteen-a-warrior-to-be/

I found the link to this at TheOneRing.net, to give credit where credit is due!

[Philipa]

That is very interesting. I can't imagine putting boys in uniforms ... if you know what I mean. They look like little men.