J.R.R Tolkien: A Biography - Humphrey Carpenter

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⭐ 9.0/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

Wow, Tolkien was a NEEEERD! Which is not surprising. This was, I believe, the first biography I've ever read, so I can't say much about how it holds up compared to other biographies. But I can say that although it wasn't a page-turner, I did find it extremely interesting, even though Tolkien's life was just teaching and writing. It was a really fascinating look into the ordinary life of a person with an extraordinary imagination. It gave me a lot of insight into his books, and knowing the way he approached his work really added to my appreciation of it.

This book gives a really clear portrayal of Tolkien's strengths and faults. I thought I was interested in languages, but this man took it to a whole other level, and I like that in a person. Also, he must have been a NIGHTMARE for his publishers due to his perfectionism and constant revisions. Reading about his writing process, with all of his different transcripts and changes, made me want to go back in time, grab all of his papers, and organize them for him. A lot of his personality traits made me frustrated to read about, and I'm not totally sure we would have been friends in real life (mostly due to the fact that he didn't seem to like women very much), but he was a fascinating person. Highly recommend for fans.

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