Discovering the Enchantment of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
November 1, 2012
Expanding on his previous work, Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings, Dickerson (computer science & environmental studies, Middlebury Coll.) explores the philosophical and moral messages in Tolkien's writing. Citing The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and letters, essays, and other texts, Dickerson discusses Tolkien's ideas about morality, society, and justice as reflected in his writing about Middle-earth. The author identifies Tolkien's Christian inspiration as revealed in his fiction, from the ways prisoners are treated during war, to the values of peace and friendship among protagonists, as well as notions of free choice, absolute morality, moral responsibility, and more. Throughout, Dickerson uses numerous examples from Tolkien's works as well as references to Peter Jackson's movie adaptations and real-world parallels between torture in Middle-earth and water-boarding at Guantanamo Bay. VERDICT Dickerson's comparisons between Christian morals and the moral laws of Middle-earth are not entirely new, but he writes in a manner both scholarly and accessible that many Tolkien readers will like.--Jennifer Harris, Mercyhurst Coll. Lib., Erie, PA
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