Jan 21, 2022
Carl Hostetter, editor of a new volume of J.R.R. Tolkien's unpublished notes, The Nature of Middle-earth, joins the show.
Carl discusses:
- His collaboration with Christopher Tolkien leading to this new volume
- What other Tolkien writings we might expect to see published
- Why it may be good that Tolkien never finished the Silmarillion in his lifetime
- Tolkien's Thomistic reflections on elvish hylomorphism, and other revelations contained in the new book
- How Tolkien's obsession with consistency nearly destroyed his legendarium
- Potential problems with the theology of Middle-earth
- Anti-Catholic bias in contemporary Tolkien fandom and scholarship
Links
Carl Hostetter, The Nature of Middle-earth https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-nature-of-middle-earth-jrr-tolkien
Interview with Jonathan McIntosh about The Flame Imperishable https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-40-tolkien-and-aquinas-jonathan-s-mcintosh/
Other resources recommended:
J.R.R. Tolkien, Morgoth’s Ring, vol. 10 of The History of Middle-earth, ed. Christopher Tolkien
Jonathan McIntosh, The Flame Imperishable: Tolkien, St. Thomas, and the Metaphysics of Faërie
Tom Shippey, The Road to Middle-Earth: How J.R.R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology
Verlyn Flieger, Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien's World
Corey Olsen's seminars on The Nature of Middle-earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duNayhMrrJ8&list=PLasMbZ4s5vIXZtwVbmyh6sTE56uiI_t0C
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