#book love

Middle-earth March - Day 3 

J.R.R. Tolkien considered “The Silmarillion” as the core of his Legendarium. In a letter from 1965 he wrote: “The Silmarillion is quite different, and if good at all, good in quite another way; & I do not really know what to make of it. It began in hospital and sick-leave (1916-1917) and has been with me ever since, and is now in a confused state having been altered, enlarged, and worked at, at intervals between then and now.” It had occupied him basically through his entire adult life and having been the perfectionist that he was, he never really finished it for publication. Thanks to his son Christopher, we’re able to read these marvelous stories and adventures that form the First Age of Middle-earth.

Middle-earth March - Day 2 

Our friends over at @Tolkientribe have a list of suggestions for Middle-earth March posts. Today‘s topic is Hobbiton - an ode to the Shire. So we took one of our Hobbit editions and set out to think about what an evening in the Shire must feel like. We figured, probably the Hobbits are returning home from the fields, a walk in the woods or visiting the neighbours. 

Middle-earth March - Day 1 

Today’s the day, an epic month full of Middle-earth bliss has started! As a special treat, we wanted to show you one of the most luxurious (and probably most expensive) editions of Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”. It is limited to 1111 pieces and bound in white calf leather. The intricate illustrations, or illuminations to be more precise, remind of medieval books in old, really old libraries. Each chapter starts with an elaborate letter and several pictures in vibrant colours embellish the pages. We might post some look-inside-pictures one of these days. It is an absolutely stunning book that comes with a wonderful map of Middle-earth on heavy paper that resembles parchment. The editors sent a pair of cotton gloves along with it, normally used by archives and museums. So, we hope you do get a small impression of the particularity of this treasure.

What a bliss to spend the Weekend at home, reading on the balcony and enjoying the sunny Spring weather! Reading Tolkien’s “The Lay of Leithian” featured in “Beren and Lúthien”, edited and published by Tolkien’s son Christopher.

Middle-earth March - Day 28

“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” Bilbo really has a talent for words, no doubt! With those words, he put quite the damper to his celebration, but soon after he had left, most of the cheer and party songs, eating and dancing, returned.

Middle-earth March - Day 27

“Unfinshed Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth” is a collection of Tolkien texts posthumously compiled, revised, annotated and published by his son Christopher in 1980. They are not coherent stories, but more of a collection of fragments.

Middle-earth March - Day 26

“War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend”, states Faramir in “The Lord of the Rings”. This quote probably shows Tolkien’s own attitude to war. When the world is threatened by evil and the freedom of the individual is threatened, war is sometimes inevitable, but that doesn’t make it a good cause.

Middle-earth March - Day 24
Beware, today’s post is spooky! The topic for today’s Middle-earth March contribution suggested by @tolkientribe is “Minas Morgul: The Witch King”. This little fella lives in our Tolkien bookshelves and scares away people who would do harm to our books! So, he is a tolerated roommate of ours. In the books where he comes from originally, he is quite intimidating though – and we wouldn’t want to be in Frodo’s place when he had to face him at Weathertop!

Middle-earth March - Day 23

“What about the Oliphaunts?” is the question our friends over at @tolkientribeask for today’s Middle-earth March. We had a close look into our bookshelves and found this little treasure! It’s Tolkien’s poem “Oliphaunt”, lovely illustrated and published as a single cardboard book for little children. It’s also pretty rare and hard to get!

Middle-earth March - Day 22

Smaug really has a heart vor Dwarves! Specially is the come as cakepops… But honestly, how could anyone not like Smaug? He is rich, eloquent, magnificent, well- sometimes terrible, suspicious and murderous – but let’s not focus too much on that! He is also golden, shiny, a hoarder of riches and preserver of cultural heritage! It’s all in the point of view!

Middle-earth March - Day 21 

There are so many brilliant adaptions of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, it is easy to pick a favorite. Do you know the animated movie of “The Hobbit” by Rankin/Bass? If not, you should really watch it! Even if it’s just for the landscapes and the music! Rankin/Bass also produced “The Return of the King”, a movie that follows where Bakshi had left off the story in his “Lord of the Rings” adaption. Then of course, there are several amazing audiobook versions of both works. For the Germans among us: If you haven’t yet, go listen to “Der Hobbit”, an audiobook produced by WDR – it’s magical!

Middle-earth March - Day 20 

“For Gondor!” It is @tolkientribe’s suggestion for today’s Middle-earth March topic. Isn’t it amazing how different all of the peoples and cultures in Middle-earth are? A noteworthy comparison is of course Gondor and Rohan, so different and yet in many things so alike. But take for instance the Hobbits and the pirates of Umbar or the people from Harad and the rangers of Ithilien. Nothing really compares to the capital, Minas Tirith, though. The White City, standing tall and strong against the enemy.

Middle-earth March - Day 19 

Have you ever read Tolkien’s published letters? They are amazing, to say the least. You can learn so much from them, especially about what Tolkien thought on different topics like politics, or French cooking – but also about the way he looked at the world. You can trace the development of The Lord of the Rings through the letters he sent and received, and learn a lot about Hobbity courage in every-day life. His son Christopher Tolkien and his biographer Humphrey Carpenter worked on this together and we can easily say: It’s a preciousssss!

Middle-earth March - Day 18 

Imagine you could not only travel to Middle-earth, but also time-travel there. So you would not only visit the Third of Fourth Age where the Lord of the Rings takes place, but maybe see the arrival of the Elves or the awakening of the Dwarves. Or, not going back that much, visit the city of Dale or the Dwarves in Moria before the Balrog was woken. Today, we were thinking about all those old maps and who would draw them, maybe while smoking a pipe and drinking a pint…

Middle-earth March - Day 17 

“Don’t be hasty!” Good advice for a Sunday! It is also @tolkientribe’s suggestion for today’s Middle-earth March topic. So, what better character to choose for our picture than Treebeard! We’d love to sit on his shoulder and wander through Fangorn Forest – after the War of the Ring, of course! We wouldn’t really want to be caught in the Ents’ march on Isengard… What an amazing scene Tolkien wrote there! Nature rebelling against its own destruction through the power hunger of a single person. Still very much up to date!

Middle-earth March - Day 15 

White Lord of the Rings editions for Saruman the White! Before his fall, he was First of the Order of the Wizards and leader of the White Council. His studies of dark magic eventually led him to desire more power and the more time he spent with the Palantír (and so, Sauron), the more corrupted he became. Looking at what a great Maiar he had once been, makes his downfall even more tragic.