J. R. R. Tolkien, Vita e Opere

Gli ottantun anni che J. R. R. Tolkien trascorse sulla terra non furono né avventurosi né particolarmente drammatici. Certo, la sua infanzia e la sua adolescenza furono segnate dalla morte prematura del padre e della madre e, intorno a lui, in inghilterra e nel mondo, accadde una quantità di eventi, cui egli non rimase del tutto indifferente, e che non lo toccarono solo da lontano. Eppure, la sua opera sembra riflettere la realtà di una vita tanto lunga solo attraverso il filtro personalissimo del suo mondo interiore, e in essa si coglie soltanto a tratti il baluginare di un'esperienza vissuta, di una riflessione sugli avvenimenti, di un giudizio etico sulla storia.

John Ronald Reul Tolkien nacque nel 1892 in Sudafrica da genitori inglesi, ma la sua famiglia tornò nel 1896 in Inghilterra; compì gli studi all'Exeter College di Oxford (con una interruzione dovuta alla prima guerra mondiale, durante la quale combatté in prima linea). Dal 1925 fino al suo ritiro dall¹attività didattica insegnò lingua e letteratura sia anglosassone che inglese.



Mentre correggeva le prove d'esame dei suoi studenti, in una calda giornata estiva alla fine degli anni Venti, gli capitò un foglio lasciato in bianco su cui scrisse, quasi per caso, "In una buca del terreno viveva un Hobbit". Quel nome colpì a tal punto la sua sensibilità di filologo che scrisse una storia avente come protagonista un Hobbit, per spiegare meglio cosa fossero queste strane creature. Nel 1937 tale opera vide le stampe con il titolo "The Hobbit" (Lo Hobbit) e riscosse un immediato successo; il libro era stata pensato per i più piccoli, ma vi si poteva intravedere uno sfondo ben più vasto e complesso. Tolkien infatti aveva già cominciato fin dal 1917 a "costruire" la Terra di Mezzo, ovvero il mondo incantato in cui si svolgono tutte le avventure che questo bardo moderno ci ha narrato.

In seguito al grande successo incontrato da quest'opera fu convinto a scriverne il seguito: nel 1954 venne finalmente pubblicato "The Lord of the Rings" (Il Signore degli Anelli). Da quel giorno ne sono state vendute milioni di copie in decine di lingue! Ma cos'è che rende tanto affascinanti le sue opere? Tolkien ha fatto tornare agli antichi splendori il Mito narrando vicende nuove, eppure vecchie di millenni, il tutto ambientato nella Terra di Mezzo, così profondamente vera e tangibile che, conclusa la lettura del Signore degli Anelli, sembra di conoscerla da sempre. Ogni dettaglio, dalla flora alla fauna (chi potrebbe mai dimenticare i dorati boschi di Lothlórien?) fino al più minuto particolare è ben definito. La stessa storia di questo mondo, Arda, è delineata fin dalla sua creazione da parte di Iluvatar, il dio supremo, il quale ha originato i Valar (chiamati dei dai mortali) ed i suoi Figli: gli Elfi immortali e gli Uomini. Le altre creature razionali (principalmente Nani ed Ent) sono stati invece ideati, con il beneplacito dell'Uno, dai Valar. Un caso a parte è invece costituito dagli Orchi, la cui origine non è ben nota, anche se sono considerati a buon diritto la progenie maledetta di Morgoth, il Vala malvagio; come potete ben intuire lo scontro tra il Bene ed il Male è uno degli aspetti centrali.
L'immane, insensato massacro della battaglia della Somme fu uno dei pochi avvenimenti della biografia di Tolkien a trovare riscontro nei suoi libri. Per quanto lo scrittore lo negasse, sostenendo che nessuna delle sue esperienze belliche aveva ispirato direttamente alcuni degli episodi più drammatici de"Il signore degli anelli", è difficile non avvertire nelle sue pagine la loro influenza. Forse non fu intenzionale, ma è certo che la vita di trincea, le carneficine, l'orrore degli attacchi e delle attese lungo la linea del fronte, germinarono nell'animo di Tolkien per poi riversarsi nelle sue pagine. Lo scrittore si solvò dai proiettili e dal gas, a differenza degli oltre 600.000 tra morti e feriti nelle file inglesi e i circa altrettanti in quelle tedesche, ma non dalla "febbre delle trincee", una malattia grave e debilitante che gli fruttò il rimpatrio, una lunghissima degenza in ospedale, e varie ricadute nel corso di molti mesi.



Rimasto solo, nel 1972 si istallò in un piccolo alloggio universitario a Oxford dove ricevette il dottorato Honoris Causa e l'ordine dell'Impero Britannico, un'importante decorazione conferitagli dalla regina Elisabetta. Morirà a Bournemouth, dove si era recato a trovare degli amici, il 2 settembre del 1973.

La Bibliografia
(per ora in inglese)

The Hobbit
Tolkien's first tale mentioning hobbits, this is the story of Bilbo Baggins' adventure to the Lonely Mountain and his finding of the One Ring. It has a very much lighter mood than the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and is intended for children.

The Fellowship of the Ring
The first part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Gandalf discovers that Bilbo's old ring is truly the One Ring, and Frodo sets off on a mission to destroy it.

The Two Towers
The second part of the trilogy. Gollum guides Frodo and Sam along the path of Mordor, while Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli journey to Rohan to help King Théoden battle Saruman's armies.

The Return of the King
The third part of the trilogy. Frodo and Sam journey closer every day to Mount Doom, Aragorn begins to reclaim the kingship, and Sauron launches his last massive assaults upon Middle-earth.


The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.
Hobbit-like stories set in verse, complete with charming illustrations.

The Silmarillion
The early history of Middle-earth, including stories such as "The Tale of Beren and Luthien" that are briefly mentioned in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Quite a different tone from the trilogy as well--much more serious and old-fashioned.

Unfinished Tales
More stories from the early history of Middle-earth. Lots of info about topics such as the five Istari, the cats of Queen Beruthiel, the kings and queens of Numenor, and others that were never fully described in LotR or The Silmarillion. The title comes from the fact that Tolkien never completely finished any of the included tales.

The Book of Lost Tales Part I
Part I of the History of Middle-earth, this could be called the first half of a very early Silmarillion. It's the story of a human mariner named Eriol who listens to tales of the ancient days of Middle-earth from Elves of Eressëa. Includes detailed histories of the Valar and the creation of Arda and its peoples. Note: these tales may confuse readers of books such as The Silmarillion, since, because Tolkien wrote the tales many years before The Silmarillion took complete shape, many names and stories are completely changed.

The Book of Lost Tales Part II
Part II of the History of Middle-earth, and the second half of the very early Silmarillion. Eriol listens to tales about Beren and Luthien, the Nauglafring (Nauglamir), Turin Turambar, Gondolin, Tuor and Idril, Eärendil, and more. The book also includes Tolkien's early conception of how Middle-earth and English mythology are linked. See note on Part I.

The Lays of Beleriand
Part III of the History of Middle-earth. Mainly the tales of Beren and Luthien and Turin Turambar set in verse, although the book includes several shorter unfinished poems. Also includes C.S. Lewis' commentary of the Lay of Leithian.

The Shaping of Middle-earth: The Quenta, the Ambarkanta, and the Annals
Part IV of the History of Middle-earth. This is the very earliest version of The Silmarillion. It also includes a
chronological presentation of Tolkien's mythology, as well as the earliest map of Middle-earth.

The Lost Road and Other Writings
Part V of the History of Middle-earth. Includes revisions to The Silmarillion, an etymological dictionary of the Elvish languages, and a discussion of The Lost Road's relation to The Fall of Numenor.

The Return of the Shadow
Part VI of the History of Middle-earth. This is an early version of The Fellowship of the Ring, complete with outline plans and narrative drafts, up to the point at which the Fellowship stood at Balin's tomb in the Mines of Moria. In this version, Treebeard and Farmer Maggot are malevolent, Strider is called Trotter, and the Fellowship does not include Legolas or Gimli.

The Treason of Isengard
Part VII of the History of Middle-earth. This book continues where The Return of the Shadow left off, and explores parts of the LotR story such as Lothlorien, the Riders of Rohan, Ents, and Saruman the White. Also includes the original first meeting of Aragorn and Éowyn, an appendix on the Runes in the Book of Mazarbul, and an original map of Middle-earth.

The War of the Ring
Part VIII of the History of Middle-earth. More of the early version of the Lord of the Rings, beginning with the Battle of Helm's Deep and ending with the parley between Gandalf and the Mouth of Sauron before the Gates of Mordor. Faramir is first introduced in this book.

Sauron Defeated
Part IX of the History of Middle-earth. Completes the History of the Lord of the Rings series, and contains a very different account of the Scouring of the Shire, along with a previously unpublished Epilogue in which Sam tries to answer his children's questions years after Bilbo and Frodo passed over the Sea. Also includes fragments of Numenorean script, and an account of the linguistic structures of Adunaic.

Morgoth's Ring
Part X of the History of Middle-earth. Just as the Book of Lost Tales is an early Silmarillion, Morgoth's Ring is a later one. This book includes the full Annals of Aman, discussions of the destiny of Elves and the origins of the Orcs, meditations on mortality and immortality, and much more.

The War of the Jewels
Part XI of the History of Middle-earth. Mostly about the evolution of Tolkien's work on The Silmarillion, including a continuation of the story of Turin Turambar, and more information about the Valar.

The Peoples of Middle-earth
Part XII of the History of Middle-earth. Contains hobbit genealogies, a chronology of the later ages of Middle-earth, the story of "The New Shadow" in Gondor of the Fourth Age, and the tale of the coming of the Numenorean ships.

Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien's drawings of Middle-earth and Arda. Incredibly detailed and amazing!

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo
Translated by Tolkien and edited by his son, Christopher, this includes the classic tale of the quest of one of the knights of King Arthur's round table.

The Monsters and the Critics & Other Essays
Tolkien's lecture on the epic "Beowulf".

On Fairy-Stories
One of Tolkien's lectures, this one given at the University of Leeds on March 8th, 1939. In it, he discusses Primary and Secondary worlds, sub-creation, and mythology.

Finn and Hengest
The story of Finn and Hengest (two fifth-century heroes) is told in two Old English poems, "Beowulf" and "The Fights at Finnesburg", but told so obscurely that its interpretation was a matter of controversy for over 100 years. This text covers J.R.R. Tolkien's lectures on the subject.

The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth
Tolkien's sequel to Anglo-Saxon poem The Battle of Maldon. In it, two servants of duke Beorhtnoth retrieve their master's corpse from the battlefield.

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien's letters to family, friends, and admirers. The collection includes some fantastic philosophical discussions, insights into Middle-earth, and early plans for the LotR trilogy.

The Father Christmas Letters
A collection of letters Tolkien wrote to his children every year from Father Christmas, filled with tales about life at the North Pole and illustrated with Tolkien's drawings.

Mr. Bliss
A picture book that Tolkien wrote and illustrated for his children's (as well as his own) enjoyment. Mr. Bliss goes into town to buy a motor-car, but has all sorts of unexpected adventures with it (characters such as Gaffer Gamgee and a man with the last name of Boffin make appearances).

Farmer Giles of Ham
Another of Tolkien's charming children's tales, this time about a man who accidentally defeats a dragon and then is considered by the townsfolk the most logical person to fight another monster.

Smith of Wootton Major
In this book, Tolkien explores the gift of fantasy, and what it means to the life and character of the man who receives it.

Leaf by Niggle
The tale of a painter named Niggle who 'niggles' over little details, and fears that he will never be able to complete his unfinished work.

Roverandom
This is the story of Rover, a real dog magically transformed into a toy, who, after many fantastic adventures in search of the wizard who wronged him, at last wins back his life. Tolkien wrote it to console his son, Michael, who lost a favorite toy, which was in the shape of a dog.

The Road Goes Ever On
Includes sheet music by Donald Swann for many of the poems in Tolkien's books