Tolkien's new work!

Miranda · 01-08-2003, 06:43 PM

Hey guys. Don't know if any of you Brits out there get the Times- or have read it in any other papers but did you see the article about Tolkien's last great work. Someone found this old manuscript of his in an Oxford library. Its a translation and appraisal of Beowulf and is the basis (they say) for his elven language! Don't know if this has been posted about before but its so amazing. They say they're going to publish it. Just wondered if anyone else had heard about it and if so, who's going to buy it? I'm down for a copy as soon as it touches the shelves! Mx

claudia silver · 01-08-2003, 07:18 PM

Sorry they have removed the page

Not from the times but info from 'The Australian' can be viewed at

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...E13780,00.html

sounds exciting

Elfhelm · 01-08-2003, 07:38 PM

The Prof's translation of Beowulf is going to be published!?!?! That is wonderful!!! His commentary has been around for a while, if it is the same one.

One correction for that article. Old English is the source for Rovanian (sp?), not for Sindarin or Quenya.

Shadowfax · 01-08-2003, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elfhelm
One correction for that article. Old English is the source for Rovanian (sp?), not for Sindarin or Quenya.

I thought Old English was the source of the language of Rohan, which is Rohirric (sp?).

markedel · 01-08-2003, 11:19 PM

Well Old English is a translation of Rohirric...

***azalea*** · 01-08-2003, 11:20 PM

I'm going to move this to the ME forum.

Eruviel Greenleaf · 01-09-2003, 02:02 AM

This is exciting! yay! I'm definitely buying it soon as it's publsihed (budget allowing.) When I first read Beowulf I didn't like it very much but I've been meaning to come back to it for about a year now and I think this is a perfect way to do so, neh?

Elfhelm · 01-09-2003, 02:15 AM

Ah, right. Rhovanion was a region. Thx.

Language of Rohan = Old English, Peoples, p. 70&71.

Gwaimir Windgem · 01-09-2003, 11:16 AM

New Tolkien book discovered
December 30, 2002

A YELLOWING manuscript by J.R.R.Tolkien discovered in an Oxford library could become one of the publishing sensations of 2003.

The 2000 handwritten pages include Tolkien's translation and appraisal of Beowulf, the epic 8th century Anglo-Saxon poem of bravery, friendship and monster-slaying that is thought to have inspired The Lord of the Rings.

He borrowed from early English verse to concoct the imaginary language spoken by Arwen, played by Liv Tyler, and other elves in the second film made from the Rings books, The Two Towers.

A US academic, Michael Drout, found the Tolkien material by accident in a box of papers at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

An assistant professor of English at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, Dr Drout was researching Anglo- Saxon scholarship at the Bodleian, and asked to see a copy of a lecture on Beowulf given by Tolkien in 1936.

It was brought to him in a reading room in a large box. Professor Drout, who reads Anglo-Saxon prose to his two-year-old daughter at bedtime, said: "I was sitting there going through the transcripts when I saw these four bound volumes at the bottom of the box.

"I started looking through, and realised I had found an entire book of material that had never seen the light of day. As I turned the page, there was Tolkien's fingerprint in a smudge of ink."

After obtaining permission from the Tolkien estate, Professor Drout published Beowulf and the Critics, a version of Tolkien's 1936 lecture, in the US earlier this month.

Even more exciting will be Tolkien's translation of the poem and his line-by-line interpretation of its meaning, which will be published next summer.

Tolkien's name on the cover is likely to make the translation a bestseller.

Professor Drout says Tolkien found inspiration for many of his storylines and characters in Beowulf. The Anglo-Saxon hero's friendship with Wiglaf is mirrored in the relationship between Frodo and Sam in The Lord of the Rings.

Elves, orcs and ents, the latter a type of giant that becomes a walking and talking tree in Tolkien's work, are all mentioned in Beowulf.

Merlin Unwin, son of Tolkien's original publisher, said: "Beowulf is a wonderful story, and if you put Tolkien's name to it, it would probably be a great commercial success."

Elf.Freak · 01-09-2003, 02:01 PM

it's getting published? i'm getting one!

***Earniel*** · 01-11-2003, 06:01 PM

Yeah, I read it. This even made the belgium news.

I hope they print it here too.

Falagar · 01-11-2003, 06:37 PM

It was a half-a-page article about it in one Norwegian newspaper. I'm buying it! (The translation, not the newspaper

)

sun-star · 11-19-2004, 02:43 PM

Did this ever come to pass, anyone?

Forkbeard · 11-20-2004, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sun-star

Did this ever come to pass, anyone?

No. Regrettably some stupid net people blackened the good name of the editor and to avoid further furor, the estate pulled its permission for the project to proceed.

***Earniel*** · 11-20-2004, 08:12 AM

Curse them root and branch!

No wonder I never came across it, not even when I was keeping my eyes peeled for it. *sigh* I was so much looking forward to it....

sun-star · 11-20-2004, 08:21 AM

That's a pity

Thanks for the info, Forkbeard.

Forkbeard · 11-20-2004, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Curse them root and branch!

No wonder I never came across it, not even when I was keeping my eyes peeled for it. *sigh* I was so much looking forward to it....

Me too, it would be a great service not only to Tolkien fans but to Beowulf scholars and teachers. I've been thinking of writing the editor and asking if he thinks a letter/email writing campaign might move the mountain into the sea--so to speak.

Attalus · 11-20-2004, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forkbeard

Me too, it would be a great service not only to Tolkien fans but to Beowulf scholars and teachers. I've been thinking of writing the editor and asking if he thinks a letter/email writing campaign might move the mountain into the sea--so to speak.

Put me down for that! I'll e-mail them all day long. Christopher is sure getting cranky in his old age.

Haradrim · 11-22-2004, 12:09 AM

My dad has one. He got it from his grandfather who went to Oxford and talked with tolkien. Its huge and awesome. Im not allowed to touch it. Its worth more than me. Its really cool to look at though. Its in terrible condition but I get it when my dad dies and my son gets it when he dies and so on and so forth.

**Nurvingiel** · 11-22-2004, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forkbeard

No. Regrettably some stupid net people blackened the good name of the editor and to avoid further furor, the estate pulled its permission for the project to proceed.

You mean Christopher Tolkien!? Who is blackening his name!!

Don't listen to these silly gits Christopher, you RULE! You brought us the Silmarillion and HoME (IIRC)! You are a genius!!

And if it's not Christopher, well I still hope that person ignore the net people. I didn't even think people in Real Life listened to the rantings of net people.

01-08-2003, 06:43 PM	#1
Miranda 'Bohemian princess of Covent Garden Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Mill Posts: 544	Tolkien's new work! Hey guys. Don't know if any of you Brits out there get the Times- or have read it in any other papers but did you see the article about Tolkien's last great work. Someone found this old manuscript of his in an Oxford library. Its a translation and appraisal of Beowulf and is the basis (they say) for his elven language! Don't know if this has been posted about before but its so amazing. They say they're going to publish it. Just wondered if anyone else had heard about it and if so, who's going to buy it? I'm down for a copy as soon as it touches the shelves! Mx __________________ There's only us, there's only this, forget regret or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way, no day but today.

01-08-2003, 07:18 PM	#2
claudia silver Enting Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North West England Posts: 58	Sorry they have removed the page Not from the times but info from 'The Australian' can be viewed at http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...E13780,00.html sounds exciting __________________ "The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears." Boromir Last edited by claudia silver : 01-11-2003 at 08:28 PM.

01-08-2003, 07:38 PM	#3
Elfhelm Marshal of the Eastmark Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,412	The Prof's translation of Beowulf is going to be published!?!?! That is wonderful!!! His commentary has been around for a while, if it is the same one. One correction for that article. Old English is the source for Rovanian (sp?), not for Sindarin or Quenya. __________________ cya

01-08-2003, 11:19 PM	#5
markedel 'Sober' Mullet Frosh Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Queen's Posts: 1,245	Well Old English is a translation of Rohirric... __________________ "Earnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom"

01-09-2003, 02:02 AM	#7
Eruviel Greenleaf Alcoholic Villain-Fancying Elf Pirate Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lyonesse Posts: 4,547	This is exciting! yay! I'm definitely buying it soon as it's publsihed (budget allowing.) When I first read Beowulf I didn't like it very much but I've been meaning to come back to it for about a year now and I think this is a perfect way to do so, neh? __________________ Eruviel Greenleaf in a past life. "Whoever has come to understand the world has found only a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world." -The Gospel of Thomas SQUAWK!

01-08-2003, 11:20 PM	#6
*azalea* Long lost mooter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 3,342	I'm going to move this to the ME forum.

01-09-2003, 02:15 AM	#8
Elfhelm Marshal of the Eastmark Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,412	Ah, right. Rhovanion was a region. Thx. Language of Rohan = Old English, Peoples, p. 70&71. __________________ cya Last edited by Elfhelm : 01-09-2003 at 02:18 AM.

01-09-2003, 11:16 AM	#9
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	New Tolkien book discovered December 30, 2002 A YELLOWING manuscript by J.R.R.Tolkien discovered in an Oxford library could become one of the publishing sensations of 2003. The 2000 handwritten pages include Tolkien's translation and appraisal of Beowulf, the epic 8th century Anglo-Saxon poem of bravery, friendship and monster-slaying that is thought to have inspired The Lord of the Rings. He borrowed from early English verse to concoct the imaginary language spoken by Arwen, played by Liv Tyler, and other elves in the second film made from the Rings books, The Two Towers. A US academic, Michael Drout, found the Tolkien material by accident in a box of papers at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. An assistant professor of English at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, Dr Drout was researching Anglo- Saxon scholarship at the Bodleian, and asked to see a copy of a lecture on Beowulf given by Tolkien in 1936. It was brought to him in a reading room in a large box. Professor Drout, who reads Anglo-Saxon prose to his two-year-old daughter at bedtime, said: "I was sitting there going through the transcripts when I saw these four bound volumes at the bottom of the box. "I started looking through, and realised I had found an entire book of material that had never seen the light of day. As I turned the page, there was Tolkien's fingerprint in a smudge of ink." After obtaining permission from the Tolkien estate, Professor Drout published Beowulf and the Critics, a version of Tolkien's 1936 lecture, in the US earlier this month. Even more exciting will be Tolkien's translation of the poem and his line-by-line interpretation of its meaning, which will be published next summer. Tolkien's name on the cover is likely to make the translation a bestseller. Professor Drout says Tolkien found inspiration for many of his storylines and characters in Beowulf. The Anglo-Saxon hero's friendship with Wiglaf is mirrored in the relationship between Frodo and Sam in The Lord of the Rings. Elves, orcs and ents, the latter a type of giant that becomes a walking and talking tree in Tolkien's work, are all mentioned in Beowulf. Merlin Unwin, son of Tolkien's original publisher, said: "Beowulf is a wonderful story, and if you put Tolkien's name to it, it would probably be a great commercial success." __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

01-09-2003, 02:01 PM	#10
Elf.Freak Orli's lil fan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sugar World/Orlando Bloom Cloud Posts: 464	it's getting published? i'm getting one! __________________ >>--elven arrow--> ~ Give a man a fish and he'll feed for a day, give me a fish and you'll only get it back! ~ I've gotta new avatar! looks kinda like me...anime style! ~ LOST: Orlando Bloom. If found, please send him straight to Elf.Freak

01-11-2003, 06:01 PM	#11
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Yeah, I read it. This even made the belgium news. I hope they print it here too. __________________ We are not things.

01-11-2003, 06:37 PM	#12
Falagar Death of Mooters and [Entmoot] Internal Affairs Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 2,870	It was a half-a-page article about it in one Norwegian newspaper. I'm buying it! (The translation, not the newspaper ) __________________ Fëanor - Innocence incarnated Still, Aikanáro 'till the Last battle.

11-19-2004, 02:43 PM	#13
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	Did this ever come to pass, anyone? __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

11-20-2004, 08:12 AM	#15
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Curse them root and branch! No wonder I never came across it, not even when I was keeping my eyes peeled for it. sigh I was so much looking forward to it.... __________________ We are not things.

11-20-2004, 08:21 AM	#16
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	That's a pity Thanks for the info, Forkbeard. __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

11-22-2004, 12:09 AM	#19
Haradrim The Official Court Jester of the Entmoot Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Far Harad Posts: 1,006	Ive got one My dad has one. He got it from his grandfather who went to Oxford and talked with tolkien. Its huge and awesome. Im not allowed to touch it. Its worth more than me. Its really cool to look at though. Its in terrible condition but I get it when my dad dies and my son gets it when he dies and so on and so forth. __________________ A Bit More Grown Up This Time...

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