The story of how Christopher Tolkien had to assemble The Silmarillion from J. R. R. Tolkien's mass of surviving papers.
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@MadHatter42 Жыл бұрын
You have to marvel at Christopher’s dedication. How many of us would have the desire, let alone the ability, to fully realize our parents’ uncompleted works? And yet, how much would be lost without Christopher having both? Middle Earth fans almost have as great a debt to Christopher as they do to J.R.R. himself.
@hughzehzelleise716610 ай бұрын
This is why some fantasy stories just can't compare to the breadth and scope of this singular legendarium as two people gave their lives to bring it to life---their life's work.
@tracyrain49418 ай бұрын
Some people write books. Tolkien wrote a history of a world that never existed. He wrote about lives I miss when I stop reading about them. He gave a fullness to fictional characters, places and events that makes them seem like they really existed. There is nothing comparable with Tolkien's work.
@MothyEmms10 ай бұрын
we salute J.R.R, Christopher, and all those who have worked on creating and preserving this immense legacy
@Bhenderson000110 ай бұрын
Tolkiens work is so special and important to so many because of what it encapsulates, Christopher Tolkien not only made much of his fathers work publishable, he also protected the integrity of the work, not allowing it to be desecrated for the sake of making a modern film. Unfortunately those left of the Tolkien family only seem to be interested in how much money they can get out of it. I bet you could make many videos about the work that Christopher Tolkien did to publish his fathers work, after all you have the magnificent "history of middle earth" series of 12 or 13 books which gives a fantastic insight into the evolution of the world for those interested. There would be so much to make videos about. I hope you consider more videos on Tolkien.
@hishamhilal83328 ай бұрын
I am not even a fan of the lotr series, but it is this level of craftsmanship, dedication, and passion that I admire about art.
@JakeDetects8 ай бұрын
You have just taught the biggest Tolkien fan a lot more about one of my lifelong loves. Fantastic, informative video. The grey rain curtain all turned to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise 🌅
@sharbean10 күн бұрын
We owe Christopher a great deal for his efforts. Not just the Silmarillion, but the whole of the Histories of Middle-earth, has been documented, catalogued, annotated, and published. I believe we have no other similar record of an author's process and work over time than that of J.R.R. Tolkien, and only because of Christopher.
@rachellerachelle29318 ай бұрын
I'd really like to see more discussion of Kay's work on the Silmarillion - he played an important part in it's construction, and it definitely influenced him as a fantasy writer. To quote: Christopher Tolkien has commented that "almost every substantial change", made to his father's manuscripts for publication as The Silmarillion in 1977, was: discussed with Guy Kay. He indeed made many suggestions for the construction of the text (such as, in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, the introduction of a passage from the Lay of Leithian), and proposed solutions to problems arising in the making of a composite narrative -- in some cases of major significance to the structure ...
@KristineMaitland4 ай бұрын
Guy Gavriel Kay and I have been crossing paths since the mid 90s when I first interviewed him for The Varsity (a newspaper at University of Toronto). I interviewed him more than once regarding his own novels (which are great fun) but I knew nothing of his work with Christopher Tolkien) Keep in mind, Kay and I met pre Google so what I knew of him is what he told me and he never mentioned the Silmarillion. Truth is, we would get heavily into medieval and Renaissance history and culture as that was a shared interest.
@Danninorway Жыл бұрын
Great video, I hope to see more like it!
@tomwayling Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@Mushroomhaus00019 ай бұрын
It’s sad that once Christopher passed, the scholarly aspect of LotR died along with him. The IP is now milked by the rest of the family for as much money as possible. He truly was the last person who cared. The Amazon series isn’t even that bad at the end of the day. Sure Christopher would’ve hated it, but look at the rest of the LotR landscape: trinkets, toys, terrible video games, mobile games, corporate tie-ins, etc. it’s all just $$$, quality no longer matters.
@lll91078 ай бұрын
This was happening long before Christopher died. Like decades and decades of LotR merch/movies, tie-ins, bad games the moments "games" were invented, etc.
@AIMLESS-NAMELESS8 ай бұрын
The Amazon series is quite bad there’s not a single redeemable character in it or plot line that makes any sense
@henrythemuthafuckineighth11 ай бұрын
As a Dune fan, Christopher Tolkien was who we wish Brian Herbert could’ve been.
@username.exenotfound294310 ай бұрын
What did brian Herbert do?
@JanneBernards10 ай бұрын
@@username.exenotfound2943 Write more Dune books, continuing on the series where his father Frank Herbert left off. The consensus is that he's not nearly as great an author as his father was.
@heikesiegl26408 ай бұрын
@@JanneBernardsWell maybe its just a bad idea to compare father and son. I Imagine its Not easy to follows such footsteps
@JanneBernards8 ай бұрын
@@heikesiegl2640 It's not a bad idea at all. He did the exact same type of work in the exact same medium. Two people who do that, regardless of their relationship, can and will always be compared.
@Zireael83Ай бұрын
i would have loved a longer video on this topic. thanks! :)
@atuledunamis45792 ай бұрын
I think you will be instrumental in helping me get to the heart of Tolkien's work and world...I enjoy your reels .
@johnkeck Жыл бұрын
Most excellent. Thank you!
@tomwayling Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@Nonzeromist678 ай бұрын
Beautiful video, I don't know if you read these comments but your appreciation for their works are so wholesome. I'm starting my Lord of the Rings journey tomorrow, I'll be sure to read the hobbit and then the silmarilion
@Bersztipflag3 ай бұрын
Thank you for this fine insight in the work of Christopher Tolkien. You could make an interesting vid on his fathers relations with publishers when he was working on the great book in the 40-ies and 50-ies. The Hobbit had been a (minor) success, and now JRR was asked "more of the hobbit". After many years of toil, the masterpiece was on the table, but it was in the after war times, paper shortage and other difficulties, and the old professor accepted an arraignment with the publisher that did not give him immediate paiement. But he did have a much higher royalty than usual. This meant that Tolkien did not become a very poor professor emeritus, as he had feared, but after the book became the world-wide success we know, a very rich retired gentleman. Good for him.
@chrishawkins6461 Жыл бұрын
Excellent insight, thanks very much.
@scottnolan28339 ай бұрын
God bless Christopher Tolkien. The Silmarillion lends even more weight and wonder to The Lord of the Rings.
@HemiChrysler8 ай бұрын
which god ?
@scottnolan28338 ай бұрын
@@HemiChrysler what’s the point of your question? Just trolling, are you?
@mulemuleАй бұрын
*Christopher's half-century of scholarship (wrought with a diligence worthy of Thorin) created an indelible addition to the Middle Earth cannon. I once believed J.R.R. himself would be appalled anyone (even his inestimable son) would presume to assemble and publish--in Tolkien's name--a work he neither prioritized completing nor edited himself. (At worst, a cynical money-grab; at best, a benevolent desecration.) However, upon learning he named Christopher his Literary Executor AND co-author of "The Silmarillion," my fears vanished. What a triumph legacy!*
@kirbymarchbarcena3 ай бұрын
Like father, like son...can't say the same in a positive note about the grandchildren who allowed the Rings of Power to exist.
@gmenezesdea7 ай бұрын
I'm not even a fan of tolkien or the lord of the rings but I do find his dedication and the intricacy and complexity of his work fascinating.
@rjlchristie24 күн бұрын
You are incorrect, When Tolkien died he had also published, Smith of Wootton Major. Farmer Giles of ham and Tree and Leaf. And academic papers and poems. Presumably you are referring only to Middle Earth related material, even then, Smith of Wootton Major had strong thematic connections.
@clairesstitchingcorner8910 Жыл бұрын
I’m curious what’s the book you feature here with all the history of Tolkien and his son please.
@tomwayling Жыл бұрын
It’s called The Great Tales Never End and is a volume of essays published in memory of Christopher by the Bodleian Library!
@clairesstitchingcorner8910 Жыл бұрын
@@tomwayling thank you so much might have to see if I can track down a copy
@hypotheticalsinglewoody10 ай бұрын
Tolkien was truely a madman
@eightywight10 ай бұрын
I believe you mean Mad Lad. Quite the Mad Philologist.
@LordTelperion2 ай бұрын
For Valinor.
@Rizu-kc3ze10 ай бұрын
I was a bit sad when Christopher passed away.
@kapasian9009Ай бұрын
What is the book, snippets of which can be seen during the video?
@mimoke197910 ай бұрын
Dope
@guyr36183 ай бұрын
Christopher's work seems a lot like the work of critical Bible scholars, appropriately enough.
@CristiNeagu10 ай бұрын
More people should smoke a pipe. Maybe then some of us can slow down enough and appreciate life and nature enough to maybe come up with such brilliant stories again.
@unionofsa9 ай бұрын
Now look at what amazon has done to the legacy of J.R.R and Christopher Tolkien after the death of the latter.
@tabularasa06068 ай бұрын
Or rather, better not look. It's blasphemous at best.
@elh30510 ай бұрын
😢🤌🏼
@simon_198710 ай бұрын
Couldn't stop the gravy train
@atuledunamis45792 ай бұрын
I think you will be instrumental in helping me get to the heart of Tolkien's work and world...I enjoy your reels .