Tolkien's Modern Reading

Tolkien's Modern Reading challenges the common perception that J.R.R. Tolkien rejected modern literature in favor of medieval texts. Through extensive research and documentation, Holly Ordway examines Tolkien's engagement with contemporary works published during his lifetime. The book catalogues and analyzes Tolkien's reading habits across multiple genres including science fiction, fantasy, adventure stories, and children's literature. Ordway draws from letters, marginalia, and other primary sources to establish Tolkien's interactions with modern authors and texts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This scholarly work reconstructs Tolkien's intellectual life beyond his academic specialties in philology and medieval literature. The examination covers his responses to authors like William Morris, E.A. Wyke-Smith, and other writers who influenced his creative development. The book offers new perspectives on how modern literature shaped Tolkien's imagination and artistic creation, expanding our understanding of the cultural context that produced The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Readers emphasize that the book debunks the myth that Tolkien only read old texts, with many noting how it reveals his engagement with contemporary authors like E.R. Eddison and Kenneth Grahame. Readers appreciated: - Detailed research and extensive citations - Clear organization by literary genre - Documentation of Tolkien's personal library - Connections shown between modern works and Tolkien's writing Common criticisms: - Writing style can be repetitive - Too much focus on defending against Shippey's claims - Some sections feel padded with unnecessary detail Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.25/5 (172 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (116 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Finally puts to rest the image of Tolkien as an isolated medievalist" - Goodreads "Sometimes belabors obvious points" - Amazon "Would have benefited from tighter editing but the research is invaluable" - LibraryThing

Finding Narnia: The Story Behind How Lewis Became a Writer by Jonathan Rogers. Documents C.S. Lewis's literary influences and development as a writer through a close study of his reading habits and source materials.

The Making of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Sharon Ruston. Examines the scientific, political, and literary works that influenced Shelley's creation of Frankenstein through archival research and historical context.

Virginia Woolf's Reading Notebook by Brenda Silver. Presents Woolf's personal reading notes and marginalia to reveal the connections between her reading choices and literary development.

The Road to Middle-earth by Tom Shippey. Traces Tolkien's philological and literary influences through analysis of his academic work and source texts.

Writers Reading Writers: Intertextual Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Literature by Janet Hadley Williams. Maps the reading relationships between medieval and Renaissance authors to show how literary influence shaped their works.

🌟 Holly Ordway spent seven years researching this book, examining Tolkien's personal library records, letters, and academic papers to challenge the popular notion that he only read medieval literature. 📚 The book documents over 200 modern authors and works that influenced Tolkien, disproving C.S. Lewis's claim that his friend "had read very little recent literature." 🎭 Tolkien enjoyed science fiction author H.G. Wells and kept a copy of "The First Men in the Moon" in his personal library, which may have influenced his own lunar creation myths in "The Silmarillion." 📖 The author discovered that Tolkien was familiar with children's literature beyond George MacDonald, including E. Nesbit's works, which likely influenced his portrayal of hobbits. 🗺️ William Morris's fantasy novels, particularly "The House of the Wolfings," significantly influenced Tolkien's world-building and his approach to combining prose and verse in storytelling.