Middle-earth Minstrel - by Bradford Lee Eden (Paperback)

About the Book

The twentieth century witnessed a dramatic rise in fantasy writing and few works became as popular or have endured as long as the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien. Surprisingly, little critical attention has been paid to the presence of music in his novels. This collection of essays explores the multitude of musical-literary allusions and themes intertwined throughout Tolkien's body of work. Of particular interest is Tolkien's scholarly work with medieval music and its presentation and performance practice, as well as the musical influences of his Victorian and Edwardian background. Discographies of Tolkien-influenced music of the 20th and 21st centuries are included.

Book Synopsis

The twentieth century witnessed a dramatic rise in fantasy writing and few works became as popular or have endured as long as the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien. Surprisingly, little critical attention has been paid to the presence of music in his novels. This collection of essays explores the multitude of musical-literary allusions and themes intertwined throughout Tolkien's body of work. Of particular interest is Tolkien's scholarly work with medieval music and its presentation and performance practice, as well as the musical influences of his Victorian and Edwardian background. Discographies of Tolkien-influenced music of the 20th and 21st centuries are included.

Review Quotes

"clearly a labor of love...well researched, well written...excellent essays...a strong contribution to the field of Tolkien studies...highly useful...worthwhile reading"-Mythlore; "Bradford Lee Eden has done Tolkien fans a great service by drawing our attention to the substantive presence of music within Tolkien's novels themselves"-Seven.

About the Author

Bradford Lee Eden, a former Dean of Library Services at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.