Death of Christopher Tolkien - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 01-16-2020, 12:21 PM

The Tolkienist, Marcel Aubron-Bülles, has posted news from a French newspaper announcing the death of Christopher Tolkien. He is a very reliable source, alas, so this is definitely not just a rumour. All of us know how much we owe to JRRT's youngest son, who was his literary heir and published numerous works posthumously. He was also involved in preparations for the tapestries currently being created in France, and for the Tolkien exhibition in Paris. We honour his memory and wish his family all the best for a future without him.

Inziladun · 01-16-2020, 02:48 PM

Alas!

I was thinking just the other day that his time left couldn't be that ample, owing to his age.
We who enjoy and indeed love the works of his father, must recognize our unpayable debt to this man. Instead of exploiting his name and position for his own enrichment, he devoted himself to research and editorial work, bringing to light unfinished and prototype materiel that supplements the original publications in a marvelous way.

Thank you, sir. "Manwe keep you under the One, and send fair wind to your sails".

Pitchwife · 01-16-2020, 04:19 PM

Indeed. My first thought on reading this was of the many stories we would never have been told if not for him, the treasures of his father's imagination that would never have been unearthed, the characters who would never have come to life. Sador and Nellas, Erendis, Eöl and Maeglin, Beleg and Gwindor and Andróg and Mîm. But for him, the Elvish languages would have remained a mystery, most of the First and Second Ages unexplained vistas, both the quirky exuberance of BoLT and the probing of Morgoth's psychology in Myths Transformed unguessed at. He was the literary executor every writer dreams of and very few get. He's more than earned his rest, and yet we'll miss him.

Mithalwen · 01-16-2020, 05:15 PM

Lighting a candle for Christopher Tolkien. I am so very sad to hear the news. Tolkien’s work has been such a huge part of my life that I can scarce imagine how it might have been without it - to misquote a wise Downer’s signature, it would have been different, it could not have been better. I will be ever grateful for him giving us access to so much more of Middle earth.

William Cloud Hicklin · 01-16-2020, 05:49 PM

“Therefore in this world I cannot think of a reason
Why my soul does not blacken when I seriously consider
All the warriors, tested at war,
How they suddenly sank to the floor,
The brave kinsmen. But in this world
Every day falls to dust.
...

“Where now the horse? Where now the rider?
Where now the giver of gifts?
Where now the wine-hall? Where now the sounds of joy?
Ea-la bright beaker! Ea-la byrnied warrior!
Ea-la the chief's majesty! How those moments went,
Grayed in the night as if they never were!"

mhagain · 01-16-2020, 06:07 PM

I'm very upset about this, I'm crying right now. CJRT was the perfect son to his father, and in many ways he was just as important as his father. He was the co-creator, he was the custodian, and he was very humble about it but he was a giant. RIP.

01-16-2020, 12:21 PM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Death of Christopher Tolkien The Tolkienist, Marcel Aubron-Bülles, has posted news from a French newspaper announcing the death of Christopher Tolkien. He is a very reliable source, alas, so this is definitely not just a rumour. All of us know how much we owe to JRRT's youngest son, who was his literary heir and published numerous works posthumously. He was also involved in preparations for the tapestries currently being created in France, and for the Tolkien exhibition in Paris. We honour his memory and wish his family all the best for a future without him. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

01-16-2020, 02:48 PM	#2
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,037	Alas! I was thinking just the other day that his time left couldn't be that ample, owing to his age. We who enjoy and indeed love the works of his father, must recognize our unpayable debt to this man. Instead of exploiting his name and position for his own enrichment, he devoted himself to research and editorial work, bringing to light unfinished and prototype materiel that supplements the original publications in a marvelous way. Thank you, sir. "Manwe keep you under the One, and send fair wind to your sails". __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

01-16-2020, 04:19 PM	#3
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	Indeed. My first thought on reading this was of the many stories we would never have been told if not for him, the treasures of his father's imagination that would never have been unearthed, the characters who would never have come to life. Sador and Nellas, Erendis, Eöl and Maeglin, Beleg and Gwindor and Andróg and Mîm. But for him, the Elvish languages would have remained a mystery, most of the First and Second Ages unexplained vistas, both the quirky exuberance of BoLT and the probing of Morgoth's psychology in Myths Transformed unguessed at. He was the literary executor every writer dreams of and very few get. He's more than earned his rest, and yet we'll miss him. __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI

01-16-2020, 05:15 PM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	Lighting a candle for Christopher Tolkien. I am so very sad to hear the news. Tolkien’s work has been such a huge part of my life that I can scarce imagine how it might have been without it - to misquote a wise Downer’s signature, it would have been different, it could not have been better. I will be ever grateful for him giving us access to so much more of Middle earth. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

01-16-2020, 05:49 PM	#5
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,321	“Therefore in this world I cannot think of a reason Why my soul does not blacken when I seriously consider All the warriors, tested at war, How they suddenly sank to the floor, The brave kinsmen. But in this world Every day falls to dust. ... “Where now the horse? Where now the rider? Where now the giver of gifts? Where now the wine-hall? Where now the sounds of joy? Ea-la bright beaker! Ea-la byrnied warrior! Ea-la the chief's majesty! How those moments went, Grayed in the night as if they never were!" __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

01-16-2020, 06:07 PM	#6
mhagain Wight Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The best seat in the Golden Perch Posts: 219	I'm very upset about this, I'm crying right now. CJRT was the perfect son to his father, and in many ways he was just as important as his father. He was the co-creator, he was the custodian, and he was very humble about it but he was a giant. RIP. __________________ Then one appeared among us, in our own form visible, but greater and more beautiful; and he said that he had come out of pity.