Tolkien's Secret Hidden Code

[Balfrog]

From Amazon.com : a new book is available that exposes the answers to his greatest mysteries - "Breaking The Tolkien Code". Quoted verbatim from the web-site:

Nigh on sixty years have passed since the publication of The Lord of the Rings. Finally the answers to its greatest mysteries can be revealed. This is probably the most controversial book ever published on Tolkien's 'Great Work' and possibly one of the most important. For revealed within is Tolkien's Master Plan and his Secret Code.

Learn how Tolkien played a riddle-game with the reader leaving no less than seven – yes seven encoded puzzles purposely hidden within the text. Follow a carefully laid out cryptic path, and discover how the Professor used a veritable arsenal of literary devices to test his most avid fans. Yes, a riddle-game with the reader that would end up revealing solutions to the most argued over matters from all his works:

(a) The origin of the enigmatic Tom Bombadil and,
(b) The physical make-up of his monster – the Balrog.

Though it may sound far-fetched, and though one might feel entitled to yawn at 'yet another' secret code – this time the revelations will surprise even the most skeptical critic. Even the most dedicated scholar is likely to be startled at the strength of the evidence. For if ever anyone had a reason to insert a secret code – it was Professor Tolkien. Learn how, where, why and when; and learn how there is so much more to the masterpiece than initially meets the eye.

[Inziladun]

If I saw this in the library I might give it a read, but paying money? Not planning on it.
I can't see Tolkien being the sort to use "codes" in his works. Nothing I know of the man suggests he had any desire to hide anything from his readers.

[Tar-Jêx]

So, it's 'answering' the age old discussions of Balrogs having wings and Tom Bombadil?

Lies. We're not going to have enough evidence to prove anything.

[Nerwen]

The *really* fascinating thing here is that if one combines the thread title with the screenname Balfrog, the letters can be rearranged as "Detects a shill referencing odd book". Coincidence? Or a clever coded message?

Seriously, Balfrog- you have made two posts, both of which consist entirely of heavy promotion for this particular book. You're not by any chance... oh, maybe the author, are you? If you're *not* in any way connected with this publication, then I apologise for the above. However, I do feel it's reasonable of me to raise the question.

[Mithalwen]

Quite, Nerwen. Don't recall anything in the relevant volumes of HoME or any of the letters referring to anything that might support this and since the foundations of Middle Earth were created for personalpleasure more than public consumption it seems unlikely in the extreme. Tolkien wasn't a Kit Williams. Why set a puzzle and not tell anyone? It would be insane. And either he didn't tell Christopher or Christopher has supressed it. Neither scenario seems probable to me given that CRT has been editing his father's works since he kept track of the colours of dwarven hoods in the nursery. And for all the bad press he gets, I don't think anyone has accused CRT of being a d8shonorable scholar.

[jallanite]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

And for all the bad press he gets, I don't think anyone has accused CRT of being a d8shonorable scholar.

Well, I suspect someone, somewhere has made that accusation, though I can’t at the moment find a case on the web. I had a very critical review of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Fall of Arthur published in Amon Hen and Beyond Bree, mostly covering Arthurian matters missed by Christopher Tolkien. But Christopher Tolkien has never claimed to be an Arthurian scholar and it was not surprising to find him here at the limits of his scholarship. Arthurian studies is a morass.

I still very much respect Christopher Tolkien, in part for his readiness to admit that he has made errors in other matters.

So if I had written Breaking The Tolkien Code, I think I would go with the theory that Christopher Tolkien did not know of these anagrams buried in The Lord of the Rings. But the real problem is how unlikely the supposed anagrams are. That is the killer.

[Mithalwen]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply. I was aware of every piece of criticism rather that despite having read a lot of criticism, I couldn't recall an instance of an attack of that nature. Nor do I have any issue with critical reviews which are part of the cut and thrust of the academic world. As long as not fraudulently concealed limitations as a scholar are not dishonourable, more inevitable...even if capacity for understanding were unlimited, time is not and there are so many things in the world to be interested in... hey ho.

I was thinking more of the "Gaudy Night" scenario (ironically Tolkien père disliked the book), where the supression of a thesis shattering document and its consequences are the catalyst for the drama. The scholar has enough integrity not to destroy the document and is thus incriminated.

Christopher's openess about errors is one of the factors that convince me he didn't know of a code, scheme and if he didn't know then it seems to me that claims of secret messages are delusional. But I agree that the anagrams are inherently unlikely even without the editorial context. Yet knowing that made it seem hardly worth investigating the substance.