J.R.R. Tolkien, one of the world's most beloved authors, was a World War I signaling officer who survived the Battle of the Somme, and two of his sons served during World War II.
Such experiences and events led Tolkien to a complex attitude toward war and military leadership, the themes of which find their way into his most important writings. His fiction, criticism, and letters demonstrate a range of attitudes that would change over the course of his life. In the end, his philosophy on human nature and evil, and the inevitability of conflict, would appear to be pragmatic and rational, if regretful and pessimistic. Croft explores the different aspect of Tolkien's relationship with war both in his life and in his work from the early
Book of Lost Tales
to his last story
Smith of Wootten Major
, and concentrating on his greatest and most well-known works
The Hobbit
and
The Lord of the Rings
. This valuable consideration of war in the life of Tolkien is essential reading for all readers interested in deepening their understanding of this great writer.