Product Description

In late September 1914, J.R.R. Tolkien, his life in crisis, visited his Aunt Jane's Phoenix Farm in Gedling near Nottingham. The poem he wrote there on September 24th, "The Voyage of Earendel the Evening Star", was the spark that ignited the whole of his later mythology.Focussing on this single event, Andrew Morton and John Hayes set out to discover more about Phoenix Farm, Jane Neave and the poem. "Tolkien's Gedling", which contains over thirty previously unpublished photographs, explores the social changes in Gedling that gave birth to the Phoenix Farm project. It also contains much original material for the Tolkien enthusiast, including the fullest account so far of his influential Aunt Jane, whom many have taken to be the model for his famous wizard, Gandalf.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #258300 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 104 pages

Customer Reviews

Morton's insight
Andrew Morton's book on Tolkien is a breath of fresh air. Tolkien's life has been much raked over and here is a fresh and worthy angle. Morton argues for the importance of a poem coined whilst staying with his Aunt Neave in Gedling, Notts. This he argues is the basis for the later outpouring of Tolkien's major Mythology of Middle Earth. A pleasure to read, not least for its urbane tone and fascinating social context. A Gem.

Fascinating stuff!
Essential reading for all Tolkien fans. An interesting, beautifully written exploration. Highly recommended.

A fascinating dedicated insight of a Legend
This is a fascinating dedicated insight of a Legend that will perfectly compliment other biographies. The respect that Andrew Morton and John Hayes has for Tolkien shines through and helps the reader to also discover how many of our favourite characters and places were conceived. The book was finished all to quickly for me. Wonderful.