'Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.' The prophetic words of Galadriel, addressed to Frodo as he prepared to travel from Lothlorien to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, are just as pertinent to J R R Tolkien's own fiction. For decades, hobbits and the other fantastical creatures of Middle-earth have captured the imaginations of a fiercely loyal tribe of readers, all enhanced by the immense success of Peter Jackson's films: first "The Lord of the Rings", and now his new "The Hobbit". But for all Tolkien's global fame and the familiarity of modern culture with Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo and Sam, the sources of the great mythmaker's own myth-making have been neglected. Mark Atherton here explores the chief influences on Tolkien's work: his boyhood in the West Midlands; the landscapes and seascapes which shaped his mythologies; his experiences in World War I; his interest in Scandinavian myth; his friendships, especially with the other Oxford-based Inklings; and the relevance of his themes, especially ecological themes, to the present-day.
"There and Back Again" offers a unique guide to the varied inspirations behind Tolkien's life and work, and sheds new light on how a legend is born.
‘Generations of readers have responded to the power, precision, and delicacy of J R R Tolkien’s linguistic imagination. This absorbing new study of The Hobbit brings a philologist’s eye to that work’s creation, structure, and expression, positioning it within the broader development of Tolkien’s professional thinking about the evolving mythography of his creative writings.’
– Vincent Gillespie, J R R Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language, University of Oxford
‘Mark Atherton is that ideal combination: a reader and critic deeply appreciative of Tolkien’s literary artistry, his imaginative scope and his linguistic invention, who is also, like Tolkien himself, a distinguished scholar of medieval language and literature. In this highly readable and accessible study, Atherton brings his own scholarship to bear on Tolkien’s sources for The Hobbit, and in the process illuminates the whole of Tolkien’s remarkable oeuvre. Essential reading for all Tolkien fans.’
– Heather O’Donoghue, Vigfusson Rausing Reader in Ancient Icelandic Literature and Antiquities, University of Oxford
‘Mark Atherton’s treatment of one of the most famous books of the twentieth century is timely and welcome. In this detailed exploration, he provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the many origins, influences and inspirations – biographical, historical, geographical and literary – that, combined with a unique imagination, resulted in the crafting of a new mythology.’
– Brian Sibley, author of The Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy and of Peter Jackson: A Film-maker’s Journey
We caught up with Mark Atherton to talk about his new book. Read the interview here.
To read more about Mark Atherton's work on JRR Tolkien, visit his blog.
Publisher: I.B.Tauris & Co LtdHardback
Publication Date: 01 Sep 2012
Number of Pages: 288