Tolkien On Fairy-Stories

This expanded edition presents Tolkien's seminal essay, "On Fairy-stories", which not only defined his view of fantasy as a literary genre but also laid the foundation for his masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. Accompanied by an in-depth critical analysis of the text's history and development, this volume offers readers unprecedented insight into Tolkien's creative process.

"On Fairy-stories" stands as Tolkien's most analysed and frequently cited work, offering a compelling personal manifesto on the role of imagination in literature. This essay, approximately 18,000 words in length, is crucial for comprehending Tolkien's literary achievements. What many may not realise is that Tolkien's 1943 expansion of the essay produced a substantial amount of additional material—potentially half again as much as the original—that was either condensed or omitted from the published version. These previously unpublished passages, which elaborate on Tolkien's views of other writers, represent a significant contribution to Tolkien scholarship.

This comprehensive study includes several key components: • An introductory essay contextualising Tolkien's 1939 lecture, from which the essay originated • A detailed account of the essay's evolution, from its initial delivery as a lecture to its first publication in 1947 • The definitive version of the essay, as published in the 1964 Tree and Leaf • Commentary on textual allusions and notes on Tolkien's revisions to the Tree and Leaf version • Significant unpublished material, accompanied by editorial commentary

"On Fairy-stories" contains the seeds of the rich narrative tree that bore fruit in Tolkien's published and unpublished works. Through meticulous literary archaeology, editors Flieger and Anderson unveil the remarkable genesis of this pivotal essay and explore how Tolkien's discoveries during its creation would influence his writing for the remainder of his career.

Product Information:

Book ISBN:	9780007582914
Book Author:	Verlyn Flieger
Book Format:	Paperback / softback
Book Imprint:	HarperCollins
Book Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Book Dimensions:	128 x 200 x 23 cm
Book Publication Date:	2014-08-14
Book Pagination:	320 pages, Index
Book Weight:	230g