J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Humphrey Carpenter (Author), Roger May (Narrator), HarperCollins Publishers Limited (Publisher)

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The original authorised biography, and the only one written by an author who actually met J. R. R. Tolkien.

In the 25 years since Tolkien’s death in September 1973, millions have read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and become fascinated about the very private man behind the books.

Born in Bloemfontein in January 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was orphaned in childhood, brought up in near poverty and almost thwarted in adolescent romance. He served in the First World War, surviving the Battle of the Somme, where he lost some of his closest friends, and returned to academic life, achieving high repute as a scholar and university teacher, eventually becoming Merton Professor of English at Oxford.

Then suddenly his life changed dramatically. One day while marking essay papers he found himself writing 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit' - and worldwide renown awaited him.

Humphrey Carpenter was given unrestricted access to all Tolkien’s papers and interviewed his friends and family. From these sources he follows the long and painful process of creation that produced The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and offers a wealth of information about the life and work of the 20th century's most cherished author.

Listening Length

11 hours and 31 minutes
Author

Humphrey Carpenter
Narrator

Roger May
Audible release date

19 July 2018
Language

English
Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ASIN

B07CVFC54Z
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	11 hours and 31 minutes
Author	Humphrey Carpenter
Narrator	Roger May
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	19 July 2018
Publisher	HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07CVFC54Z
Best Sellers Rank	30,551 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 99 in Biographies of Authors (Audible Books & Originals) 164 in Historical Biographies (Audible Books & Originals) 327 in Biographies of Authors (Books)

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Susan Jane

Brilliant Bipgraphy

Reviewed in Australia on 16 January 2019

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Originally published in 1977, this biography on J. R.R. Tolkien has stood the test of time. Provides a clear insight into the writer and the man who gave us The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings,

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Literature Fiend

Insight into a Genius

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 July 2019

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Firstly, I’ve got to say that J.R.R. Tolkien by Humphry Carpenter was a real eye-opening biography. I was completely in the dark going into this book, having never read the Silmarillion, The Hobbit, or Lord of the Rings (I know, I know. Don’t shoot!!!) but left in awe of his achievements both academically and creatively.

It’s great to see that Carpenter doesn’t shy away from the truth and paints Tolkien as a highly intelligent, if not, slightly eccentric man. It was inspiring to see how the creation of Middle Earth and its history/language was basically a lifelong work.

The book takes you quite swiftly through Tolkien’s childhood in Birmingham and South Africa, then touches on his time as a soldier in WW1, Oxford as a student and teacher, his writing struggles, philologist, to his lifelong marriage.

One thing I enjoyed reading about was his life as an English Professor, in which, Tolkien would often meet with his peer group to smoke and read aloud the Bard poems in Old Norse.

I mean, who doesn’t, right?

Among these peers was C.S. Lewis who, most famously, wrote the Narnia Books for children.

I was totally absorbed in this biography, thanks to Carpenter’s simple and engaging writing style. It has just the right amount of detail; some biographies tend to bang on and on for ages.

5 people found this helpful

Camberwick Green is Puppets

A good first biography

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 December 2014

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This biography was the first to appear after Tolkien's death. While it isn't (thankfully) a cut and paste rush job - Carpenter was given a great deal of help by the Tolkien family, who also co-operated with him on an edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's letters - it isn't the most thoughtful or analytical reflection on Tolkien's like and work, either. The author seems hesitant to praise, let alone fully analyse, Tolkien's work, and also reluctant (perhaps because of his closeness to the family) to give a warts and all portrait of Tolkien's family life. There are hints at marital discord and personal unhappiness, but basically the door marked family life is kept shut. So those keen to connect the writing with the man will have to look elsewhere - to John Garth's book on Tolkien and the Great War, for example; those wanting to examine more closely Tolkien's part in the literary and academic traditions he worked in should turn to Tom Shippey's book Author of the Century.

21 people found this helpful

Anne A

Redable and Thorough

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 June 2019

Verified Purchase

I had read this before a long time ago and bought it to re-read after seeing the recent bio-pic of Tolkien. Considering that much of Tolkien's life was uneventfully spent studying and teaching it's an achievement to make it interesting to the reader. There was less about his relationship with his wife and children than I might have liked, but I suppose the counter argument is that people are interested more in his writing, and how that developed in places from his life experience, than anything else. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about Tolkien.

4 people found this helpful

Philip Chadwick

I likess it, I doesss

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2021

Verified Purchase

An authorised biography of a fascinating man and the author actually met and talked to Tolkien
Extremely well written, researched and structured
If you're a middle earth fan, you'll get a lot out of this, if you're not you should be by the end of the book

2 people found this helpful

Oft

Never a dull moment

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2013

Verified Purchase

Have been asked to review this book and am half way through...would love to book a whole weekend away from normal hustle and bustle, so that I could read this in one go! What an amazing life; lost count of how many times JRR Tolkien moved and have only reached his 33rd year! Fascinating and well written so far, am sure the next half of the book is just as good. Have discovered where he got his inspirations from but wouldn't spoil it for anyone...as a teaser, I now know how/where a Smeagle type character and other Hobbit/TLOTR type characters made their debut in JRR Tolkien's writings! Worth every penny for anyone interested in or studying author or his books, as details seem to come from reliable sources (family and diaries/notes).

8 people found this helpful

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J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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