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Chargement... The Plants of Middle-Earth: Botany and Sub-Creationpar Dinah Hazell
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Inscrivez-vous à LibraryThing pour découvrir si vous aimerez ce livre Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre. The text is easy to read and the pictures are beautiful, but with the title "The Plants of Middle-earth" one feels some disappointment indeed when realizing that Hazell quite intentionally passes by all the imaginary plants Tolkien invented: from elanor and niphredil to mallorn and lebethron. They are mentioned here and there, but not dealt with. These are described by Tolkien, even compared to real flowers (and other real-worldly inspirations could be searched for), so the author's given explanation that their otherworldliness could not be caught in pictures etc. feels somewhat like a cop-out. To a person who has read quite a many books about Tolkien's fiction, Hazell's style and conclusions also are sometimes a little simplistic or far-fetched. For example there is really no need to think that Filibert Bolger is named after filbert plant (with one "i" conveniently dropped), when the name in itself is an old German name meaning "much brightness" or something along the lines. (http://www.behindthename.com/name/filibert) The book IS a beautiful object and cute read (though dragging and rambling at times). Sometimes it is even insightful, but all in all not to be taken very seriously. I think Tolkien's plants could be covered with more gravity. Hazell does a wonderful job with plant lore, and the early chapter on the Shire is a delight. But past that, the book is largely padding. For one thing, she recapitulates the plot of The Lord of the Rings to an entirely unnecessary degree. How many people would pick up this book without being familiar with Middle-Earth? For another, she goes beyond plants to analyses of Tolkien's thought and intentions that not only seem unconnected to her theme of "botany and sub-creation" but offer only rare moments of insight beyond her many sources. However, her writing is enjoyable and the illustrations are wonderful. (originally posted at amazon) aucune critique | ajouter une critique
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A new path for exploring the culture and values of Tolkiens Middle-earthRather than inventing an alien world into which human and familiar characters are introduced, as in science fiction, Tolkien created a natural environment that is also home to supernatural beings and elements, as in medieval works like Beowulf. The Shire is always the touchstone to which the hobbits return mentally and against which they (and we) measure the rest of Middle-earth. By creating a sense of familiarity and belonging early and then in each of the cultures encountered, we can meet others without feeling estranged.from the IntroductionBeautifully illustrated with dozens of original full-color and black-and-white drawings, The Plants of Middle-earth connects readers visually to the world of Middle-earth, its cultures and characters and the scenes of their adventures. Tolkiens use of flowers, herbs, trees, and other flora creates verisimilitude in Middle-earth, with the flora serving important narrative functions. This botanical tour through Middle-earth increases appreciation of Tolkiens contribution as preserver and transmitter of English cultural expression, provides a refreshing and enlivening perspective for approaching and experiencing Tolkiens text, and allows readers to observe his artistry as sub-creator and his imaginative life as medievalist, philologist, scholar, and gardener.The Plants of Middle-earth draws on biography, literary sources, and cultural history and is unique in using botany as the focal point for examining the complex network of elements that comprise Tolkiens creation. Each chapter includes the plants description, uses, history, and lore, which frequently lead to their thematic and interpretive implications. The book will appeal to general readers, students, and teachers of Tolkien as well as to those with an interest in plant lore and botanical illustration. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)823.912Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1901-1945Classification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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Reading this book is like setting out on a journey through various lands and being reminded over and over how detailed descriptions of the flora are, especially in The Lord of the Rings. The meanings of different flowers are discussed, how they may have been familiar to Tolkien himself, with some commentary about medicinal properties in the concluding sections. This will certainly enhance my next journey into Middle-earth. ( )