The Song of MiddleEarth. David Harvey.pdf

The Song of Middle-earth takes a fresh look at the historical background to The Lord of the Rings. David Harvey digs deep into the foundations of Tolkien's world, to reveal the complex web of history and myth that lies behind the stories.
The author dismisses the charge that Tolkien's work was merely derivative - that he had extracted tales, elements and themes from other mythologies and incorporated them into his own fiction.
The Song of Middle-earth explores the myth of both Tolkien's work and other mythologies. The manner of the telling of the Tales in The Book of Lost Tales: I is significant and in the mythic tradition. Many of them are recounted orally and have a lyrical and rhythmic quality when read aloud. Apart from this method of story-telling, major themes, as one would expect in a mythology, run throughout a number of books.
The reader will perhaps only recognise myth as a far-off echo in the narrative. There will, however, be a recognition of the significance of the created world of Tolkien to his or her own experience. In achieving that recognition, Tolkien will have fulfilled, in David Harvey's view, his desire to create a mythology for England.
David Harvey has spent twenty years studying the books of J. R. R. Tolkien. His enthusiasm culminated in his winning the 1981 International Mastermind title. He is the author of a children's book that reflects his interest in myth and fantasy, Dragon Smoke and Magic Song, also published by Allen & Unwin.