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It's an indication of how good a book is, when it can be reviewed over and over and something new brought out every time.
Wood analyzes Tolkien in the light of Tolkien's Christianity, and how that informs the story and the characters themselves. And while you can certainly read LotR without ever referencing religion - his or that implicit in Middle Earth - it makes for a good read. There are things in LotR, places where the story punches you in the gut rather than handing you what you feel that you want, that make a lot of sense when taken in the light of Christian morality; the scouring of the Shire, the fading of the elves, the death of Saruman - spared by Frodo, but then murdered by his own servant - the passing of Frodo into the West, the sparing of Gollum and his saving of the quest - Aragorn's humility, the loyalty and indeed humility of every member of the party. Gandalf, who serves and toils and is eventually raised up.
I don't know, I could go on and on. I love reading Tolkien's writing, and I equally love reading about it. There are all kinds of studies and elaborations on Middle Earth; this is one more.
Wood analyzes Tolkien in the light of Tolkien's Christianity, and how that informs the story and the characters themselves. And while you can certainly read LotR without ever referencing religion - his or that implicit in Middle Earth - it makes for a good read. There are things in LotR, places where the story punches you in the gut rather than handing you what you feel that you want, that make a lot of sense when taken in the light of Christian morality; the scouring of the Shire, the fading of the elves, the death of Saruman - spared by Frodo, but then murdered by his own servant - the passing of Frodo into the West, the sparing of Gollum and his saving of the quest - Aragorn's humility, the loyalty and indeed humility of every member of the party. Gandalf, who serves and toils and is eventually raised up.
I don't know, I could go on and on. I love reading Tolkien's writing, and I equally love reading about it. There are all kinds of studies and elaborations on Middle Earth; this is one more.
