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Summary
Summary
-- Presents the most important 20th-century criticism on major works from The Odyssey through modern literature -- The critical essays reflect a variety of schools of criticism -- Contains critical biographies, notes on the contributing critics, a chronology of the author's life, and an index
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up-Nine critics and scholars give various interpretive evaluations of the classic fantasy trilogy. Bloom honestly admits that he didn't enjoy the books, but many of the writers whose work is excerpted here do not share his views. Each author evaluates the Tolkien novels using different criteria, some discussing their appeal, some their literary merit. Each essay is well defined and laboriously researched, and each opinion is defended within its context. The credentials of the authors are available for perusal. The book is a useful tool for students needing to examine the themes and context of Tolkien's work.-Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Choice Review
Another in Bloom's burgeoning multiple series of Chelsea House anthologies of literary criticism, this has nothing new to offer scholars and aficionados of Tolkien's epic trilogy. Nine essays reprinted from seven works range in date from 1968 to 1988. Although one is gratified to see Tolkien considered in the company of Auden, Morrison, Shakespeare, and the like, Bloom contributes one page of criticism so severe that this reviewer wonders why he bothered to do the anthology in the first place, except to make it clear that he does not consider Tolkien "an author for the coming century." Time will tell. General and academic libraries that do not own Tolkien and the Critics (1968) and Tolkien: New Critical Perspectives (1981), both ed. by Neil Isaacs and Rose Zimbardo; Randall Helms's Tolkien's World (1974); Humphrey Carpenter's biography Tolkien (CH, Oct'77); Jared Lobdell's England and Always (CH, Jul'82); Jane Nitzsche's Tolkien's Art (CH, Feb'80); and Katharyn Crabbe's J.R.R. Tolkien (CH, Dec'81)--all but two of which are admittedly out of print--might consider this volume; the rest need not bother. M. R. Pukkila Colby College