New Manuscript

[Anamatar IV]

I heard the other day that a professor in Oxford found a new manuscript written by JRR Tolkien that no one knew about. It is 2000 pages and will be released soon, or so I heard. Absolutely no one has seen it before so I couldnt say if it was about something Middle-earth or not. But could someone tell me if this is actually true or just a hoax?

[Carantalath]

Wow, I hope it's true, though I've never heard anything about it. 2000 new pages of Tolkien...wow!

[Beorn]

...sorry to burst your bubble, but...It's only a translation:

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5764569%5E13780,00.html

[Anamatar IV]

*sigh* thanks, Beorn. I was really hoping for a new book;)

[Eledhwen]

How exciting is this?

From www.booktrade.info

A yellowing manuscript by J.R.R.Tolkien discovered in an Oxford library could become one of the publishing sensations of 2003.
The 2000 handwritten pages include Tolkien's translation and appraisal of Beowulf, the epic 8th century Anglo-Saxon poem of bravery, friendship and monster-slaying that is thought to have inspired The Lord of the Rings.

He borrowed from early English verse to concoct the imaginary language spoken by Arwen, played by Liv Tyler, and other elves in the second film made from the Rings books, The Two Towers.

A US academic, Michael Drout, found the Tolkien material by accident in a box of papers at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

[klugiglugus]

Sounds good...:)

[33Peregrin]

That's Exciting!!! Over 2000 pages from Tolkien, even if only a translation.

[Eledhwen]

2000 pages of Tolkien translation is not the same as 2000 pages of translation by anyone else. In Tolkien's hands, words become alive.