J.R.R. Tolkien: A Life Inspired by Wyatt North
JD's rating: 4 of 5 bookmarks

Wyatt North's biography of Tolkien is a short read and is, therefore, a very high-level view of Tolkien's life. The author hits only major highlights and does not go into much detail on any events. Beginning with Tolkien's parents, the timeline of the narrative then moves to Tolkien's birth and early childhood and continues all the way to his death. North seems to pay particular attention to events and circumstances which had an impact on Tolkien's creativity and resulted in characters or plot elements in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, or another of his tales of Middle-earth.

The book is well-written and is not a difficult read. Its tone is not overly academic or analytical but is an easy narrative. The author glosses over lots of Tolkien's early years but he takes much more time on his later life, including his academic years, his relationship with C.S. Lewis, his time with The Inklings, and more.

If you are looking for a quick introduction to Tolkien's life and work this volume is a great place to start.



J.D. Sutter is the producer and host of the Bookworm Banquet podcast and editor of the blog. He is the founder of Porchlight Family Media.










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