Biography's on J.R.R. Tolkien, which one??

[DGoeij]

I noticed recently that several biography's of professor Tolkien are on the market, and I have difficulties to compare them just by the cover.
I allready heard from Walter that the one by H. Carpenter is pretty good, but he never read the other ones, so comparison was out of the question off course.
I really wish to buy one, but I do not want to waste my money on a bad piece of work.

Thoughts anyone?

[Turgon]

I'd like to know of another good biography too DGoeij - Humphrey Carpenter's is excellent. But seems more of a homage to Tolkien than an objective view of his life and work...

[DGoeij]

Well thanks, Turgon.
In that case, where are the 'oldies' to tell us youngsters about the great tales by yet unknow men about the great J.R.R.?

(Rocking-chair and fireplace included)

C'mon people, we've got very interested Tolkien fans waiting for an answer.

[DGoeij]

Hail the much praised, ancient and well-learned Tolkienites!:)

I uttered this question in a thread before, but the replies were as numerous as Ringwraihts in the Fourth Age. A couple of days after that, the Guild of Ost-in-Edhil appeared on this forum.
Being the gathering point of the older and hopefully wiser, I hoped I could get an anwser here.
The question is about the Tolkien biography's that are currently on the market. I have seen several, and most of them just look too much like ones trying to get some money out of the movie's popularity.
So, Oh members born and raised with Tolkien long before world-wide commercial gain laid it's claws on the magic of Middle Earth, which one is of true value? I wish to find out more about the person behind this magnificent creation.

I would be very glad with your suggestions.;)

[Walter]

Like I mentioned before, I own the Tolkien biography written by Humphrey Carpenter who also published Tolkien's Letters and "The Inklings". I think it a good biography, it seems the Tolkien family permitted Carpenter access to a lot of personal information and documents. IMO this is one of the primary sources and I highly recommend it...

[Rangerdave]

Although these are primaraly analytical works rather than biographical. Here is a list of books that I have found helpful in my literary research.

**** denotes a particularly helpful work

Enjoy
RD

****
Tolkien's legendarium : essays on The history of Middle-earth
edited by Verlyn Flieger and Carl F. Hostetter.

****
Don't tell the grown-ups : the subversive power of children's literature
by Alison Lurie.

****
England and always : Tolkien's world of the rings
by Jared Lobdell

The fantasts : studies in J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, Mervyn Peake, Nikolay Gogol and Kenneth Grahame
by Edmund Little

J. R. R. Tolkien : architect of Middle Earth : a biography
by Daniel Grotta-Kurska

J.R.R. Tolkien : myth, morality, and religion
by Richard L. Purtill

J.R.R. Tolkien and his literary resonances : views of Middle-earth
edited by George Clark and Daniel Timmons.

Lightning from a clear sky : Tolkien, the Trilogy, and the Silmarillion
By Richard Mathews

****
The lord of the rings : the mythology of power
by Jane Chance.

Modern heroism; essays on D. H. Lawrence, William Empson, & J. R. R. Tolkien

One ring to bind them all : Tolkien's mythology
by Anne C. Petty

A question of time : J.R.R. Tolkien's road to Faërie
by Verlyn Flieger.

****
Tolkien : a critical assessment
by Brian Rosebury

****
Tolkien and the Silmarils
by Randel Helms

Tolkien and the critics; essays on J. R. R. Tolkien's The lord of the rings
edited by Neil D. Isaacs and Rose A. Zimbardo

[DGoeij]

Thank you Walter for responding yet again. I have written down your suggestion the first time, it was just that I never saw any comment on it. Your judgement I regard as very high, I just had hoped for some more opions.:)

That's quite a list RD, thank you very much.:)

[Walter]

DGoeij you're welcome, I just mentioned it again here for the sake of completeness...


Although these are primaraly analytical works rather than biographical. Here is a list of books that I have found helpful in my literary research.

RD thanks for sharing anyway, an interesting list indeed...

[HLGStrider]

Sorry, D... I've only read the Carpenter one.

[DGoeij]

If it was any good to you I'd like to hear it anyway.:)
Oh, and I opened this thread in the 'older' member forum too:
http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4729&highlight=biography

I'll post there too again, maybe I'll draw attention this time.
:rolleyes:

[DGoeij]

HLGStrider mentioned the Carpenter's one in the older thread too. I'm hoping somebody has an opinion on it. If not, I'll go for that one, as soon as there enough money that is.:D