After an unintended and unforeseen hiatus, I am back. This is part 6 of a series on Tolkien’s Letter 131, most of which is included in the preface materials of The Silmarillion. Begin reading at Part 1 — or visit the previous post in this series. * * * At this point in his letter,... Continue Reading →
The Secret Life in Creation (Letter 131, pt.5)
This is part 5 of a series on Tolkien’s Letter 131, most of which is included in the preface materials of The Silmarillion. Begin reading at Part 1 — or visit the previous post in this series. * * * After discussing the earliest days of Middle-earth and the Fall of the Elves through Fëanor,... Continue Reading →
All Stories are ultimately about the Fall (Letter 131, pt.4)
This is part 3 of a series on Tolkien’s Letter 131, most of which is included in the preface materials of The Silmarillion. Begin reading at Part 1 — or visit the previous post in this series. * * * In Part 2 of this series, we looked at Tolkien’s claim that all his writing... Continue Reading →
Under the Power of Melian there was Life and Joy
On my About page, I describe my wife as the most Melian-esque woman I know. When she read that, my wife asked what exactly that meant. She looked up Melian, but wasn't entirely sure what I was getting at, which or her characteristics I was suggesting flourished in her. I told her that the first... Continue Reading →
