Michael Elam

Tolkien’s Mythic Meaning

Arts & Literature

“Quinn Gervel addresses a question every Tolkien scholar must ask: ‘Why have Tolkien’s Middle-earth writings significantly changed the lives of so many people?’ Gervel painstakingly examines the phenomena that drive the undeniable conversion-like experience so many have reading The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and other works and presents grounds for embracing a religious explanation that can profit religious and irreligious alike. If more thorough consideration can be offered, I’d like to see it.”