The Catholic Imagination of JRR Tolkien

Selected Articles on J.R.R. Tolkien

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Introduction to J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien's Faith | An Interview with Paul E. Kerry, editor of The Ring and the Cross: Christianity and The Lord of the Rings | by Sean McGuire | Ignatius Insight | May 23, 2011.
Meeting Professor Tolkien, by Clyde S. Kilby. An American professor spent a summer with Tolkien. He remembers the man, his faith, and his writings. Christian History April 1, 2003.
Tolkien: Man Behind the Myth At odds with his age, he created another. Christian History April 1, 2003.

Selected Articles on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings

The Generosity of Tolkien, by John Zmirak. InsideCatholic.com. January 27, 20010.
Why Fantasy? - From the Introduction to Lord of the Elves and Eldils: Fantasy and Philosophy in C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, by Richard Purtill (Ignatius Press, 2007).
The Presence of Christ in The Lord of the Rings, by Peter Kreeft. Excerpted from his new book The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview behind The Lord of the Rings (Ignatius Press, 2005).
"Truth and Myth: Unlocking the Lord of the Rings" Gheens Lectures. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Oct. 19, 2005.
"Creator, Creation and Creativity: Understanding Tolkien's and Lewis' Philosophy of Myth" [.MP3 audio format]. Gheens Lectures. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Oct. 20, 2005
Forum with Joseph Pearce, Russell D. Moore, James Parker, and Jim Orrick--Part 1. Oct. 21, 2005. [MP3]
Forum with Joseph Pearce, Russell D. Moore, James Parker, and Jim Orrick--Part 2 Oct. 21, 2005. [MP3]
Joseph Pearce RESURRECTING MYTH: A Response to Dr Murphy's "Response", by Joseph Pearce. Saint Austin Review, Jan/Feb 2003. Written in response to an article published in the Nicaraguan Academic Journal attacking Joseph Pearce's Christian reading of The Lord of the Rings. . . . Mr Pearce's riposte is published here as an exposition of the Christian response to the agnostic "dumbing down" of Tolkien's Catholic mysticism.
The Passion According to Tolkien, by Sean McGrath. Originally appeared in the magazine Desert Call: Contemplative Christianity and Vital Culture, published by the Spiritual Life Institute.
Sacramental Imagination: Catholicism anchored Tolkien's life and suffused his writings, by Thomas Howard. Christian History Sept. 29, 2003.
J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth. Bradley Birzer on the Religious Symbolism Behind "Lord of the Rings". Zenit.org. August 29, 2003.
The Universe According to Tolkien, by Sandra Miesel. CRISIS Magazine Feb. 1, 2003.
A Catholic Poem in Time of War: The Lord of the Rings, by Ken Craven.
The Fellowship Of The Ring: J.R.R. Tolkien, Catholicism, and the Use of Allegory, by David Lord Alton. Text of a lecture given by David (Lord) Alton at the Catholic Society of Bath University and Bath Spa University College on Thursday 20th of February 2003.
Scandal in the Church: Tolkien’s Response, by Nicole Stallworth. J.R.R. Tolkien addressed the problems of scandal, faith and despair in both his letters and his fiction. Catholic Exchange January 24, 2003.
Why Tolkien Says The Lord of the Rings Is Catholic, by Joseph Pearce. National Catholic Register (January 12-19, 2003).
The 'Ring' and the remnants of the West, by Spengler. Asia Times January 11, 2003.
The Truth Beyond Memory: What lies behind the Fellowship, John J. Miller. National Review Online, Dec. 18, 2002.
The Heroes of Middle-Earth: J. R. R. Tolkien & the Marks of Christian Heroism, by Leon J. Podles. Touchstone January/February 2002.
The Distant Mirror of Middle-Earth: The Sacramental Vision of J. R. R. Tolkien, by C. N. Sue Abromaitis. Touchstone January/February 2002.
The Writer of Our Story: Divine Providence in The Lord of the Rings, by David Mills. Touchstone January/February 2002.
Rings of Love: J. R. R. Tolkien & the Four Loves, by Dale Nelson. Touchstone January/February 2002.
The Lord & Lady of the Rings: The Hidden Presence of Tolkien’s Catholicism in The Lord of the Rings, by Stratford Caldecott.
The Lord & Lady of the Rings: The Hidden Presence of Tolkien's Catholicism in The Lord of the Rings, by Stratford Caldecott. Touchstone magazine, January-February 2002.
In Middle Earth, interview with the American professor & scholar Thomas Howard. Edited by Michael Waldstein & Fabrizio Begossi. Traces, February, 2002.
The Truth Beyond Memory, by John J. Miller. National Review Dec. 31, 2001.
"J.R.R. Tolkien¥s Take on the Truth" Interview with Joseph Pierce. Zenit News Service. Nov. 15, 2001.
Tolkien's Catholic Imagination, by Jason Boffetti. CRISIS Magazine, Nov. 2001.
The Christian Gifts of J.R.R. Tolkien, by Bradley J. Birzer. New Oxford Review, Nov. 2001.
Tolkien: Truth & Myth, by Joseph Pearce. Lay Witness (September 2001).
Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: A Trilogy of Total Consecration, by Helen Valois. Immaculata Magazine, Mar/Apr 2000.
Remembering J.R.R. Tolkien, by Theresa Carson. Catholic Heritage September/October 1998.
J.R.R. Tolkien: Lord of the Imagination and The Fairy-Tale Maker, taken from the December 9, 1994 and December 16, 1994 issue of The Irish Family.
J.R.R. Tolkein: Lover of the Logos, by Mark Sebanc. Communio: International Catholic Review Spring 1993.
Tolkien the Catholic, The Lord of the Rings, and Peter Jackson's film trilogy, by Steven D. Greydanus. Tolkien: Archetype & Word, by Patrick Grant. CrossCurrents Winter 1973.
Gazing upon Everlasting Day: Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: A Christian Classic Revisited, by Ralph C. Wood.

An Evangelical Christian discussion of Tolkien by Brad Birzer (author of Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues) and Mark Eddy Smith (author of J. R. R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth)

Why The Lord of the Rings Is Dangerous. The Christian life in Faerie. Christianity Today posted 12/18/2002.
Does The Lord of the Rings Teach Salvation By Works?. On whether Tolkien was too ignorant of evil and other subjects.
Hobbits Aren't Fence-Sitters. Why Tolkien hated modernity and thinking about evil -- and whether he was right to do so. Christianity Today posted 12/20/2002.

Selected Tolkien Websites

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Other Websites

Christianity and Middle Earth
Mythic Truth: A Catholic Perspective on The Lord of the Rings. A very rich and detailed examination of Catholic elements of Tolkien's work.
Encyclopedia Arda, An Interactive Guide to the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Recommended!
ThereAndBackAgain.Net, celebrating the imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien. [Requires Flash 5].
J.R.R. Tolkien, Official Author's Website by Harper Collins Publishers. [Requieres Flash 5]. Included are a short biography of the famous author, some of his artwork, interview, video and audio files (discussing how he came to write The Hobbit)
Live Excerpts from "The Lord of the Rings", read by J.R.R. Tolkien himself.
One Ring - "The complete guide to Tolkien online"
Tolkien Languages, a list of linguistic resources, mailing lists, and fonts compiled by the Yamada Language Center, U. of Oregon.
LordOfTheRings.Net, Official movie site with trailers, pictures, videos, and interviews with cast and crew.
The Tolkien Sarcasm Page, chock full of humor "here to help Middle-earth historians everywhere take a break from those heated arguments about Glorfindel's bloodline and whether or not Thingol was a wise King."
The Tolkien Society, founded in 1969, the Tolkien Society exists to further interest in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and contains a wealth of information, including and excellent page of recommended links.

Recommended Books on J.R.R. Tolkien

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	The Ring and the Cross: Christianity in the Writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, by Paul E. Kerry. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press (March 16, 2011) The conversation, sometimes heated, about the influence of Christianity on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien has a long history. What has been lacking is a forum for a civilized discussion about the topic, as well as a chronological overview of the major arguments and themes that have engaged scholars about the impact of Christianity on Tolkien's oeuvre, with particular reference to The Lord of the Rings. The Ring and the Cross addresses these two needs through an articulate and authoritative analyses of Tolkien's Roman Catholicism and the role it plays in understanding his writings. The volume's contributors deftly explain the kinds of interpretations put forward and evidence marshaled when arguing for or against religious influence. The Ring and the Cross invites readers to draw their own conclusions about a subject that has fascinated Tolkien enthusiasts since the publication of his masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings.
	Tolkien: A Celebration - Collected Writings on a Literary Legacy, edited by Joseph Pierce. Ignatius Press, November 2001. Anticipating the great amount of interest in Tolkien's writings due in part to the major theatrical movie release of The Lord of the Rings, this highly readable collection of writings celebrates J.R.R.Tolkien's great literary legacy and the spiritual values that undergird his imaginary Middle-earth. Tolkien: A Celebration includes personal recollections by George Sayer and Walter Hooper, and many fascinating pieces by authors such as James Schall, S.J., Stratford Caldecott and Stephen Lawhead, exploring the threads of inspiration and purpose in his major works. These dip into subjects such as The Sense of Time in Lord of the Rings, Tolkien: Master of Middle-earth, and Tolkien, Lewis and Christian Myth. Fourteen writers contributed to this insightful work on Tolkien, and it will be much-treasured by those who regard him as a literary hero. Review, by David Mills. Touchstone Magazine, Jan-Feb 2002. "Tolkien needs to be celebrated, because he and his writings were celebrations of the human spirit, imagination and spiritual genius. Joseph Pearce has given us a fine compilation of wit and wisdom about the great man, one that should be read by everyone concerned with the permanent things." - Michael Coren, Author, Tolkien: The Man Who Created Middle-Earth
	Tolkien: Man and Myth, by Joseph Pierce. Ignatius Press, December 2001. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings took first place in a recent nationwide British poll to find the greatest book of the century. He may be the most popular writer of our age, but Tolkien is often misunderstood. This major new study of his life, his character and his work reveals the facts and confronts the myths. It explores the background to the man and the culture in which he wrote. Tolkien: Man and Myth observes the relationships that the master writer had with his closest literary colleagues. It reveals his unique relationship with C.S. Lewis, the writer of the Narnia books, and the roots of their estrangement. In this original book about a leading literary life, Joseph Pearce enters the world created by Tolkien in the seven books published during his lifetime. He explores the significance of Middle Earth and what it represented in Tolkien's thinking. Myth, to him, was not a leap from reality but a leap into reality. "Pearce writes beautifully and with great depth, and the Tolkien who emerges is an impressive being - a man of literary strength and respectability." - The Tablet Review by Daniel Kenelly. Crisis 17, no. 6 (June 1999): 41-43. About the Author/Editor: Joseph Pearce is a full-time writer living in Norfolk, England. He is the author of a recent major biography of G.K. Chester ton, Wisdom and Innocence. He writes for Catholic and literary journals, and is working on a study of 20th century literary converts to be published by Ignatius Press in the next year.
	J. R. R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle-Earth, by Bradley J. Birzer. Birzer explains the surprisingly specific religious symbolism that permeates Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He also explores the social and political views that motivated the Oxford don, ultimately situating Tolkien within the Christian humanist tradition represented by Thomas More and T. S. Eliot, Dante and C. S. Lewis. Birzer argues that through the genre of myth Tolkien created a world that is essentially truer than the one we think we see around us everyday, a world that transcends the colorless disenchantment of our postmodern age. - From the Publisher Forward by Joseph Pierce. Review by Bonita Chad. Religion & Popular Culture Volume II: Fall 2002.
	J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth, Morality, and Religion, by Richard L. Purtill. An in-depth look at the role myth, morality, and religion play in J.R.R. Tolkien¼s works such as The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillionãincluding Tolkien¼s private letters and revealing opinions of his own work.
	The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The History of the Lord of the Rings, by Christopher Tolkien.