The Fellowship of the Ring by J R R Tolkien

The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater. (Haldir, Chapter 6)

What a joy it is to revisit this classic. I was a dreamy teen, who found solace in the pages of Tolkien’s books, where valour and honour are paramount; where friendship and fellowship means always having your companion’s back and where love is worth fighting for. I read it three times by my twenties.

Then Peter Jackson made the films. It’s impossible now to read the books without Jackson’s images filling my brain. Thank god he did a good job! But it was a delight to be re-introduced to Tom Bombadil – a character Jackson chose not to include in the films. I am intrigued by the changes Jackson chose to make – in most cases I can see why, for the sake of a more visual telling, or for dramatic effect. For example, in the book Frodo is riding alone on a white elf-horse, not with Arwen as seen in the film, pursued by the Black Riders across a ford. It is Elrond who commands the flood that swept the Riders away. Arwen, daughter of Elrond, is first introduced later in the following chapter.

First published in 1954, the book stands the test of time. The language is rich; descriptions of landscape are vivid and characters that we now all know are lovingly wrought.

I am taking my time reading this series, resisting the urge to race over Tolkien’s detailed prose, a habit I know I have slipped into in recent years. The whole point of reading is to savour the words, showing respect for the skill the author pours into each and every paragraph.

I highly recommend re-visiting LOTR, and if you haven’t read it, well I envy you the joy of discovering it for the first time.

Reviewed by Gaby Meares
SMSA Member