Joel, a thousand thanks for your generous words here: You've captured, with rhetorical grace and power, the essence of what I set out to achieve with the book. Bravo!
Joe! It’s a fantastic book. I read it on my recent trip to NYC and finished a few days later. Totally captivating. The contextualization of their work, it seems to me after reading your book, is critical for understanding it. E.g., why Paradise Lost at that moment? The War for Middle Earth suggests a powerful answer. What else from the past speaks today—precisely because it’s not of our time?
Great reviews. "The Gathering Storm" in the title of one of these books is obviously a nod toward Churchill, whose 6-volume first-person history of WWII has that title. I'm nearly through Volume Two (Their Finest Hour) and I see Churchill's work as the other prong in the two-pronged look at what was happening to men's minds and actions during this time. (The other prong, what you are addressing.) Churchill was not an overt Christian, although he repeatedly referred to the importance of what he called Christian civilization. (I guess if you take Tolkein's and Lewis's fiction just on the basis of the words/vocabulary, they're not overtly Christian either.) Highly recommend Churchill's Pulitzer-Prize winning work with its deep insights and majestic language. I also highly recommend the book, God and Churchill, written by his theologian grandson.
The fact that conflict and warfare are regular features of both Middle Earth and Narnia has always suggested to me that Tolkien and Lewis used their writing as a means of escaping the PTSD many of their contemporaries suffered. But they would have very clearly pointed out that conflict has existed in all societies, so why would it not in theirs?
I think that’s especially true of LOTR. The dead marshes are a callback to the dead scattered in fields and trenches in WWI. The horror of the war seared itself in Tolkien’s mind.
I’m looking forward to reading your new book. I love your ability to synthesize history, important authors and thought leaders in the cultural context of their day, and current events. You have a special gift in connecting the dots. 🙂 Keep writing and sharing your ideas. We need your perspectives, insights, and wisdom. Who knew that we today would be experiencing similar feelings like those felt in 1932 - 1939.
Wonderful!-- what giants they were, and how we could use their kind today. Was not aware of either book, definitely putting them on my must-read list. Thanks, Joel.
Dave Schroeder linked to this; I didn't realize I'd find the editor of Joe's WWI book. I edited this one, and it's been the most delightful process working with Joe and getting to interact with such quality content on a favorite topic. I'll be sharing this!
Oh my gosh, you are going to drive me to the poor house. Now I have to buy your book, Loconte's book. When will it end? Never, I hope.
Great review! Reminds me of something Christopher Watkin writes, in his truly great book, "Biblical Critical Theory". Christians have to "outnarrate" the culture. After all, how did the merciless, marauding Danes become Christian? Christianity was and is a better story than even Odin.
I've studied and read Tolkien my entire life. Your fine essay is a tribute to him. I'll have to pick up this book. This quote stays with me, "is one of the great achievements of The Lord of the Rings: to make the qualities of courage and fortitude deeply attractive to an otherwise skeptical generation.” Will share this essay. Thanks!
Thank you for another fine review. I don’t know that I’ll read this book, but now I have some appreciation of it and have learned more about Tolkien and Lewis. Already learned something new and worth learning and the day is just getting going.
Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front was my perspective on the cultural shift effected by the Great War.
George Steiner was another university man pushing back against the wrong solutions being offered. He spoke of communism and psychoanalysis as alternative religions. His Real Presences was a fitting punctuation mark for his lifelong war.
Joel, a thousand thanks for your generous words here: You've captured, with rhetorical grace and power, the essence of what I set out to achieve with the book. Bravo!
Joe! It’s a fantastic book. I read it on my recent trip to NYC and finished a few days later. Totally captivating. The contextualization of their work, it seems to me after reading your book, is critical for understanding it. E.g., why Paradise Lost at that moment? The War for Middle Earth suggests a powerful answer. What else from the past speaks today—precisely because it’s not of our time?
Great reviews. "The Gathering Storm" in the title of one of these books is obviously a nod toward Churchill, whose 6-volume first-person history of WWII has that title. I'm nearly through Volume Two (Their Finest Hour) and I see Churchill's work as the other prong in the two-pronged look at what was happening to men's minds and actions during this time. (The other prong, what you are addressing.) Churchill was not an overt Christian, although he repeatedly referred to the importance of what he called Christian civilization. (I guess if you take Tolkein's and Lewis's fiction just on the basis of the words/vocabulary, they're not overtly Christian either.) Highly recommend Churchill's Pulitzer-Prize winning work with its deep insights and majestic language. I also highly recommend the book, God and Churchill, written by his theologian grandson.
The fact that conflict and warfare are regular features of both Middle Earth and Narnia has always suggested to me that Tolkien and Lewis used their writing as a means of escaping the PTSD many of their contemporaries suffered. But they would have very clearly pointed out that conflict has existed in all societies, so why would it not in theirs?
I think that’s especially true of LOTR. The dead marshes are a callback to the dead scattered in fields and trenches in WWI. The horror of the war seared itself in Tolkien’s mind.
But, like I said, he found a positive way to employ what he had experienced.
Yes, absolutely.
I’m looking forward to reading your new book. I love your ability to synthesize history, important authors and thought leaders in the cultural context of their day, and current events. You have a special gift in connecting the dots. 🙂 Keep writing and sharing your ideas. We need your perspectives, insights, and wisdom. Who knew that we today would be experiencing similar feelings like those felt in 1932 - 1939.
Wonderful!-- what giants they were, and how we could use their kind today. Was not aware of either book, definitely putting them on my must-read list. Thanks, Joel.
Dave Schroeder linked to this; I didn't realize I'd find the editor of Joe's WWI book. I edited this one, and it's been the most delightful process working with Joe and getting to interact with such quality content on a favorite topic. I'll be sharing this!
Yes! I just put together a list of the best books to read during winter and of course Tolkien and Lewis made the cut!
https://open.substack.com/pub/phase2academy/p/6-must-read-classics-for-winter?r=4tas8k&utm_medium=ios
Oh my gosh, you are going to drive me to the poor house. Now I have to buy your book, Loconte's book. When will it end? Never, I hope.
Great review! Reminds me of something Christopher Watkin writes, in his truly great book, "Biblical Critical Theory". Christians have to "outnarrate" the culture. After all, how did the merciless, marauding Danes become Christian? Christianity was and is a better story than even Odin.
Haha! What a great term, btw. Thanks for sharing it!
I've studied and read Tolkien my entire life. Your fine essay is a tribute to him. I'll have to pick up this book. This quote stays with me, "is one of the great achievements of The Lord of the Rings: to make the qualities of courage and fortitude deeply attractive to an otherwise skeptical generation.” Will share this essay. Thanks!
Excellent! Thanks, Ricky!
Thank you for another fine review. I don’t know that I’ll read this book, but now I have some appreciation of it and have learned more about Tolkien and Lewis. Already learned something new and worth learning and the day is just getting going.
That’s the best kind of day!
Thanks, Joel. I really loved this book as well.
I could say a thousand things about it. I underlined and scribbled my way through!
Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front was my perspective on the cultural shift effected by the Great War.
George Steiner was another university man pushing back against the wrong solutions being offered. He spoke of communism and psychoanalysis as alternative religions. His Real Presences was a fitting punctuation mark for his lifelong war.
I’ve never read Remarque, a deficit I’ll have to remedy some day. Thanks for the tip on Steiner.
I read it alongside Red Badge of Courage. Different war, same dehumanizing. I hope I don't have to read all of them.