The whole Forward is too long to fit in the margins of this forum. Here seems to me to be the likely section: The Lord of the Rings has been read by many people since it finally appeared in print; and I should like to say something here with reference to the many opinions or guesses that I have received or have read concerning the motives and meaning of the tale. The prime motive was the desire of a tale-teller to try his hand at a really long story that would hold the attention of readers, amuse them, delight them, and at times maybe excite them or deeply move them. As a guide I had only…
> I can't find the exact quote, but basically he says the book is meant purely for the enjoyment of the reader and shouldn't be interpreted. Not really: > I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history – true or feigned– with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse applicability with allegory, but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author. Really he's saying that…
>Most of my colleagues in my English program went on to law school, which dovetails nicely with that analytical type of mind but as you say, endless dissection robs the work of what attracted me to it in the first place. My favorite introduction to a book is the one Tolkien wrote for The Fellowship of the Ring. I can't find the exact quote, but basically he says the book is meant purely for the enjoyment of the reader and shouldn't be interpreted. A million literature teachers cried out and were suddenly silenced.
You're more optimistic about this stuff than I am, but I think I get your perspective. We have decent sentiment analysis, fluent text generation, and real-sounding TTS, so combining them will yield a pretty good reading. I agree that you're probably right when it comes to newspaper columns and magazine articles, but that's not on the level of a good audiobook. To take an example, here's an iconic line from the Fellowship of the Ring: > The wizard swayed on the bridge, stepped back a pace, and then again stood still. ‘You cannot pass!’ he said. If you think that is a command, you should…
I don't think it was entirely intentional. I think it's the random mix of two narratives: the more childish The Hobbit, which grew out of stories for Tolkien's child, and the more serious and for grownups The Silmarillion. Tolkien wanted to write about the latter but publishers felt the readers wanted "more hobbits".
The actual opening line of Lord of the Rings is so disappointing and unremarkable though: "When Mr Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton."
> "Not all who wander are lost." I'm not really sure that quote means what most think it does. The source seems to be: “All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring The implication is not that wandering aimlessly is OK but kind of the opposite: that one who looks like a wanderer has…
In case anyone was curious: > television adaptation will explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring So it's not going to tell the main story itself, which is probably wise given the film adaptations aren't even that old. Maybe it's just me I'm not super-excited by this news. I wish there were more original universes being created with the insane amount of TV money swirling around these days. This just feels like a very safe "me too Game of Thrones" play.
“But it is said: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. The choice is yours: to go or wait.' 'And it is also said,' answered Frodo: 'Go not to the Elves for counsel for they will answer both no and yes.' 'Is it indeed?' laughed Gildor. 'Elves seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill.”
> Maybe nobody will read it. These comments are now many hours old and HN has a way of walking away once they have had their turn shouting into the void. All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring