The theme of Death...

[fajrdrako]

I was just listening to a special on The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in which Philippa Boyens said "Professor Tolkien said that the theme of this book was death." When did he say that? I'm not disputing it, but I don't recall having read or heard that. How... surprising.

Comments

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

What special was this? Maybe she just meant to say 'one of his themes', but it came out wrong?

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[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I failed to tape the beginning so I don't know the exact title of this special. It aired a week or two ago (prehaps not for the first time) on the "Action" channel. Lots of good interviews with everyone working on Lord of the Rings, especially writers and designers.

Death is certainly a theme in LOTR and The Silmarillion, but I don't recall ever reading about Tolkien actually stating it so precisely as a theme in The Return of the King.

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[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's strange. I do not get the Action channel, so am clueless to reference.

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[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'll find it somehow! My research of Tolkien lore continues unabated.

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[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Hehe. By the way, I'm reading the Narnia Chronicle and very much enjoying it. It is very child orientated, and doesn't have the same depth or expanse of Lord of the Rings, but I'm liking it for the simplicity. It continually channels Harry Potter for me, in an abridged version.

I am only on the second book though, mind you. Five more to go.

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[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I didn't like the Narnia books much as a child, and haven't tried reading them as an adult. I can't say I don't like C.S. Lewis' writing though, since I very much enjoyed his fantasy novel "Till We Have Faces", about Psyche and Cupid.

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[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I never read the Narnia books as a child. I only saw the animation. So this is my first time, and I wasn't sure what to expect. His writing is very simple and to the point, and works well with fantasy childrens' stories. I haven't read any of his other stuff.

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[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I suppose I should try Narnia again as an adult - but don't really feel inspired to, having less than good memories of it from childhood. I might try more of his adult novels though, and some of his non-fiction is interesting. Did you see the movie (or play) "Shadowlands"?

[kathyh]

I think he said it in a BBC Omnibus programme that was made about him in the 1960s. The BBC has released a CD about his life and times, which I can't of course find at the moment, so I can't give you the exact title. He says something like "of course, it's all about death" with a great deal of donnish glee.

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[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds just like him! I'll have to find this. Thanks for the source.

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[kathyh]

I can't find my own copy of the CD (note to self: must tidy up) but there's some info about it here http://www.bbcshop.com/invt/0563536926

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[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!