On The Shoulders Of Hobbits: The Road To Virtue With Tolkien And Lewis (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
In this book Markos sets out to celebrate the traditional virtues of courage, love, self-control, etc. by highlighting how each of them is portrayed in the masterworks of Tolkien and Lewis. Although friendship is not included in common lists of virtues, Markos contends that Tolkien elevated it to new heights with his powerful depiction of the bonds between the members of the Fellowship, especially between Sam and Frodo.Each chapter of the book deals with a specific moral quality as evidenced in Lord of the Rings and in the Narnia Chronicles. Although I loved both of them, I wasn't always able to appreciate the two of them being compared side by side. It was jarring at times to be pulled out Middle Earth and yanked into Narnia. Still, I appreciated Markos' keen observations with regard to these two masterpieces of English literature. Again, Dr. Markos reminds me why I love Lewis and Tolkein. A very accessible book that lead to many family discussions (it helps that the 8th grader is reading the Hobbit in school). Got me thinking about what I read ... I am so often disappointed by the new and popular book. I am very tempted to go back and just re-read those book that I know are good or true or beautiful. Maybe even some that I know are all three. Why not revisit Narnia or Middle-Earth? Why not pick up Nabakov again? How about Dickens and Milton? Worth considering.
What do You think about On The Shoulders Of Hobbits: The Road To Virtue With Tolkien And Lewis (2012)?
I was gripped from the Introduction. Thought-provoking and on-time book!
—DonComo
everything amazing about tolkien and lewis is in this book.
—neha
