New Tolkien Books:updates

[davem]

Thought it might be useful to have a thread running where we can keep up to date with new publications by or about Tolkien. This doesn't have to be limited to scholarly works, just anything Tolkien related that looks interesting. I've lifted publisher's details from Blackwells & Amazon.

Just to start off, I've found these current & forthcoming books that look interesting:

Tolkien Studies (volume 2). (Verlyn Flieger/Michael Drout eds) Currently available. Publisher's details:

Tolkien Studies is an annual journal of scholarship on J.R.R. Tolkien and his works. Since the publication of The Hobbit in 1937, the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien have been admired throughout the world. With the publication in the 1950s of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's fantasy writing began to attract academic attention in both the classroom and the world of scholarship. Most recently, Peter Jackson's three-part movie adaptation has added film-study scholars to those fascinated by Tolkien's work. Tolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review is the first scholarly journal published by an academic press for the purpose of presenting and reviewing the growing body of critical commentary and scholarship about Tolkien's writings. The founding editors--Douglas A. Anderson, Michael D. C. Drout, and Verlyn Flieger-- and the members of the editorial board--David Bratman, Carl F. Hostetter, Tom Shippey, Richard C. West, and Marjorie Burns--are all distinguished Tolkien scholars.

Perilous Realms:Celtic and Norse in Tolkien's Middle-Earth (Marjorie Burns)Forthcoming. Publisher's details:

.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) is increasingly recognized as the most influential writer of the twentieth century. Sales of his books remain exceptionally high, and Middle-earth fan clubs flourish around the world. The film versions made of The Lord of the Rings, released between 2001 and 2003, have only added to his popularity. Throughout his life, Tolkien was acutely aware of the power of myth in shaping society; so much so, that one of his earliest ambitions as a writer was to create a mythology for England. The Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was to serve as a stand-in for Britain and northwestern Europe and is strongly based on a variety of influential literatures and beliefs, particularly the Celtic and Norse. Perilous Realms is the first book to focus consistently on the ways in which Tolkien balances these two ancient cultures and unites them in a single literature. Renowned Tolkien scholar Marjorie Burns also investigates the ways Tolkien reconciled other oppositions, including paganism and Christianity, good and evil, home and wayside, war and peace, embellishment and simplicity, hierarchy and the common man.
Even those who do not know Beowulf, the Arthurian tales, or northern European mythology come away from The Lord of the Rings with a feeling for Britain's historical and literary past. Those who recognize the sources behind Tolkien - and the skill with which he combines these sources - gain far more. Perilous Realms gives this advantage to all readers and provides new discoveries, including material from obscure, little-known Celtic texts and a likely new source for the name 'hobbit.' It is truly essential reading for Tolkien fans.

Smith of Wooton Major (ed Verlyn Flieger). Pub. September?. Publisher's details:

A new, expanded edition of one of Tolkien's major pieces of short fiction, and his only finished work dating from after publication of The Lord of the Rings; it contains many previously unpublished texts. In 1964 J.R.R. Tolkien was invited to write the preface to a new edition of "The Golden Key" by George MacDonald. Accepting the invitation, Tolkien proposed the preface would explain the meaning of Fairy through a brief story about a cook and a cake. But the story grew, and took on a life of its own, and the preface was abandoned. Tolkien eventually gave it the title, "Smith of Wootton Major", to suggest an early work by P.G. Wodehouse or a story in the Boy's Own paper. It was published in 1967 as a small hardback, complete with charming black and white illustrations by Pauline Baynes.
Now, almost 40 years on, a facsimile of this early illustrated edition is being republished, but in addition to this enchanting story the new edition includes: / Tolkien's own account of the genesis of the story / Tolkien's Time-Scheme and Characters / Tolkien's discussion of the shadowy but important figure of "Grandfather Rider" and a lengthy, 10,000-word essay on the nature of Faery / Early draft versions and alternative endings / Foreword by the editor, containing a brief history of the story's composition and publication, and its connection to Tolkien's other published stories Contained within "Smith of Wootton Major" are many intriguing links to the world of Middle-earth, as well as Tolkien's other tales, and in this 'extended edition' the reader will finally discover the full story behind this major piece of short fiction.

The JRR Tolkien Companion & Guide: A two volume work due out ? Don't know - its been promised for a couple of years. Latest publication date is October. Publishers details are:

Stunning slipcase containing the most comprehensive in-depth companion to Tolkien's life and works ever published, including synopses of all his writings, and a Tolkien gazetteer, who's who and chronology. Created to be the central reference work for readers and students of Tolkien, the two volumes contained in this slipcase approach his life from two different angles and give the most thorough analysis of Tolkien's work within the context of his life. The first volume includes brief but comprehensive introductions and notes on a wide range of topics, and points the way, through discussion and bibliographies, to further reading. It includes a Chronology and a Tolkien Who's Who, plus information about: * Tolkien's sources * political and social events through which Tolkien lived * the importance of poetry in Tolkien's work * his special interests such as astronomy, botany and calligraphy * the breadth of his reading * the importance of clubs and groups in his social life * his religion * his service in the 1914-18 war * his tendency to rewrite * his interest in every aspect of his books (covers, illustrations, lettering) * elements frequently found in his works: dragons, trees, etc.
* the 'Tolkien cult' and fan mail The second volume is the ultimate 'one-stop' reference text detailing the parallel chronologies of Tolkien's personal and academic life, and of his writings. The book draws it's information from a wide variety of reliable contemporary sources including biographies, Tolkien's letters, The Tolkien Family Album, correspondence with Allen & Unwin, C. S Lewis letters and the diaries of W.H. Lewis. Using these materials the book details, with tremendous accuracy, every aspect of Tolkien's life from births and deaths and moves of house to matters associated with Oxford University: Tolkien's visit to Rotterdam, his BBC broadcasts and significant Inkling meetings are all recorded and examined.

The Lord of the Rings Readers Companion: Single volume companion to LotR. Again promised October. Publishers details:

A unique companion to The Lord of the Rings which relates the textual history of the Nation's Favourite Read; with a previously unpublished Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings, written by Tolkien himself. In The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion internationally acclaimed scholars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull examine Tolkien's masterpiece chapter by chapter, offering expert insights into its evolution, structure, and meaning. They discuss in close detail important literary and historical influences on the development of The Lord of the Rings, connections between that work and other writings by Tolkien, errors and inconsistencies, significant changes to the text during its fifty years of publication, archaic and unusual words used by Tolkien, and words and passages in his invented languages of Middle-earth. Thousands of notes, keyed to standard editions of The Lord of the Rings but universally accessible, reveal the richness and complexity of one of the most popular works of fiction in our time.
In addition to their own expertise and that of other scholars and critics, Hammond and Scull frequently draw upon comments by Tolkien himself, made in letters to family, friends, and enthusiasts, in draft texts of The Lord of the Rings, and in works written in later years which amplify or illuminate characters and events in the story. Extensive reference is made also to writings by Tolkien not previously or widely published, including elaborate time-schemes, an unfinished manuscript index to The Lord of the Rings, and most notably, the important Nomenclature or guide to names in The Lord of the Rings prepared for the use of translators, long out of print and now newly transcribed and printed in its entirety. With these resources at hand, even the most seasoned reader of The Lord of the Rings will come to a greater enjoyment and appreciation of Tolkien's magnificent achievement.

(Note: this is also included in a four volume boxed set with the three vols of LotR in the fiftieth anniversary version.

Re-reading the Lord of the Rings. Again, Probably October. Publisher's details:

J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy have become among of the most popular books of the twentieth century while the recent film adaptations have made box office records. This book provides a comprehensive, informed, critical and theoretical analysis of both the book and film trilogies. The book is organised in four thematic sections. Beginning with an analysis of the critical history of Tolkien, the first section, 'Context and Criticism', examines and contrasts the historical and intellectual context of the books, films and their criticism. The second, 'Space, Place and Communities', turns to the philosophical and post-colonial concerns which structure contemporary understandings of the book and film. The third section, 'Gender, Sexuality and Class', shows how these issues are depicted in the novels and films. The final section, 'Tolkien's Futures', looks at the continuing influence of his work in both more traditional literary forms and in contemporary game and electronic narratives.

Table of Contents
Criticism - Michael D. C. Drout, Wheaton College, Norton, MA
2. Time and Narrative Space - Barry Langford, Royal Holloway, University of London
3. Modernity - Michael Moses, Duke University
4. Gothic Echoes - Sue Zlosnik, Manchester Metropolitan University
5. Religion - Adam Roberts, Royal Holloway, University of London

Part II: Space, Place and Communities
6. Invisibility and Community - Robert Eaglestone, Royal Holloway, University of London
7. Dark Globalisation - Olivia Jennings, Royal Holloway, University of London
8. Home - Simon Malpas, Manchester Metropolitan University

Part III: Gender, Sexuality and Class
9. Anglo-Saxon Women, Tolkien's Women - Jennifer Neville, Royal Holloway, University of London
10. Masculinity - Holly A Crocker, University of Cincinnati
11. Homoeroticism - Dan Griffiths and Esther Saxey, both at University of Sussex
12. Service - Scott Kleinman, California State University, Northridge
Tolkein's Futures
13. Games - Barry Atkins, Manchester Metropolitan University
14. After Tolkien - Roz Kaveney.

[mark12_30]

Oooooooooo!!!!! Will littlemanpoet take the bait and purchase The History Of Smith Of Wooton major? Or will he resist to the last, desperately defending the mystery and thus the enchantment?

Ooooo!!!!!!!!!

...Iwonder if he'd leave the Downs altogether rather than risk losing Smith.

Ummmm.... Davem, ya wanna delete that section?

[Parmawen]

I know another new book out by Tolkien is Roverandom (I think I might have misspelled/butchered the name of it) It was a bed-time story for his son Christopher that's now being published. I read a bit of it...it's quite cute actually!!!

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Some of you may remember a now somewhat hoary thread in which Dininziliel and I discussed the intended publication of Tolkien's two translations of Beowulf. According to their editor, Professor Michael Drout, the prose translation was due to be published last year and the verse version, which I'm sure will be of interest to fans of Tolkien, should be released this year. The prose translation never appeared and the release of the verse translation seems ever more doubtful. I may have found out why.

Not long ago, my M.A. supervisor ran into Professor Drout at a conference. Apparently his permission to print the work has been withdrawn by the Tolkien estate. I don't know why that is, but it was suggested to me that the estate's executor might be hoping for a more lucrative offer from another source. Hopefully that's just a rumour and Professor Drout, who is himself a respected Old English scholar, will be allowed to publish eventually. I would hope that the estate can be persuaded that a philological work such as this should be edited by an established philologist, and that in this case the potential scholarly kudos should outweigh any hypothetical cash. I would also hope that however matters transpire we shall see the Tolkien Beowulf on the shelves very soon.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by The Squatter of Amon Rûdh

I would also hope that however matters transpire we shall see the Tolkien Beowulf on the shelves very soon.

Here, here.

[Lalwendë]

I saw The Lord of the Rings - A Reader's Companion in Waterstone's on Friday. Did I buy it? Of course... It's surprisingly out in paperback already, and is cheap too. It matches a new trilogy paperback set in white covers. There is also a new one volume in a nice 'gold' cover.

It would have been the perfect book for accompanying the CbC discussions, as it runs through each chapter, including appendices; though I must admit I've actually preferred not having a scholarly tome around sometimes. It may be very useful for going back to older discussions though, and will also be a help in any general threads which might come up. The book basically details all the changes in the new edition so you can pinpoint where the differences lie; but not only does it do this, it also considers any interesting points in each chapter, whether with notes from Tolkien's papers and other writings, or with excerpts from critical works.

It also has the 'Nomenclature' or translators' guide to names in LotR - this was written by Tolkien for translators to help them in their work and was available in an old edition of Tolkien Compass (much sought after on e-bay), but not in the most recent edition. Another extra in the book is the missing part of the letter to Milton Waldman which was left out of Letters.

Well worth buying.

I've also just got the More People's Guide To JRR Tolkien by TheOneRing.net - this looks interesting. It has Q&As with Verlyn Flieger and Karen Wynn Fonstad among others and the usual mix of articles.