Jun 08 2007
Tree and Leaf
Full title: Tree and Leaf (Introductory Note, On Fairy-Stories, Leaf by Niggle) ; Smith of Wootten Major ; The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son (Beorhtnoth’s Death, The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son, Ofermod)
Author: JRR Tolkien
ISBN: 0048200158 DDC: 828.91208
See also: LibraryThing ; JespersUnivers ; Rosa-Sinenis ; Once Upon A Time review site
I propose to speak about fairy-stories, though I am aware that this is a rash adventure.
This, in many ways, is the perfect book for the Once Upon a Time Reading Challenge as it contains fairy tales and myth and fantasy. It is a collection of shorter works by Tolkien, and begins, not with a story but, with an essay, On Fairy-Stories and surprisingly, I found this the most interesting aspect of the book. Tolkien writes about the origins of fairy stories, why he believes them necessary. He also defines what he means by a fairy story. A very different thing from the tale relegated to the children’s nursery, although somewhat related. Possibly the first defence of the fantasy genre.
Tags: faerie, J.R.R. Tolkien, Leaf by Niggle, myth, non-fiction, Old English, Once Upon A Time Challenge, sff, Smith of Wootten Major, The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son, Tree and Leaf