The Gospel According to Tolkien

Visions of the Kingdom in Middle Earth

By: Ralph Wood

Narrated by: Nadia May

Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

In this accessible and engaging book, Ralph Wood shows us that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece is a deeply Christian work because it does not blink back the horrors of our terrible times but confronts them with startling honesty.

Readers keep turning to this work because here they are immersed in significance and meaning - perceiving the Hope than can be found amidst despair, the Charity that overcomes vengeance, and the Faith that springs from the strange power of weakness. The Gospel According to Tolkien will be loved by both longtime Tolkien fans and those recently drawn to his books through the popular feature films.

©2003 Ralph C. Wood (P)2008 christianaudio.com

Really dense but super interesting

Some dense or vague language that may require you to rewind so you know what is going on, but it’s very insightful and interesting. Loved this analysis on Tolkien’s literature!

NICE BOOK!!!

Quite simply this is a great treatment of Tolkiens moral and world view as seen in his works.nicely read to boot....all Christians can trust this treatment and all non Christians will still love its mellow wisdom...enjoy

Thoroughly Worthwhile and Insightful!

Enjoyed this audible book immensely. From the content to the narrator, it was pleasant to hear and incredibly insightful on many levels. The author acknowledges that Tolkien did not intend the LOTR to be an allegory but because Tolkien was a devoted Christian and Catholic the influence of his faith permeates his writings. The author also brings out the influences of the world and time period Tolkien lives in. Overall, I highly recommend this book whether one reads it or listens to it. I will be purchasing a hard copy to re-read this again and even take notes for future reference. Tolkien fans should add this book to their library collection.

Good narrator.

I liked the narrator. Her tone and expressions made it easy to stay attentive. As for the book itself, I would argue that the arguments the book makes that Tolkien was expressing the gospel might not be the reason why he wrote the book, but only manifested themselves because of his faith. He was just a good storyteller.

Demystifying Tolkien

Tolkien has always asserted that there was never a 1:1 corollary with between the real world and Middle-Earth, but rather that the themes presented in his books were allegories for both the events of the real world in his lifetime as well as for the religious ideas that he held dear. A staunch Catholic and medievalist who relished his studies of the pagan world, Tolkien often combined the two in such a way as to present his higher ideals without beating his readers over the head with it as his friend C.S. Lewis might have done in his Narnia books. As a result, he spent a lot of years fighting off the critics who denied his Christianity and his contributions to the faith.

This book is quite possibly one of the best defenses I've ever seen compiled in the name of Tolkien's faith. Unlike Tolkien, I am not myself a Christian, however, I've come to learn that to study anything medieval or anything Tolkien requires a familiarity with Christianity and its evolution. Even then, knowing such things doesn't allow you to connect the dots because Tolkien is often subtle, hiding his intent behind older meanings and linguistic veils. This book demystifies a good chunk of it. For those who have only read The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings, this book will go a long way towards creating a new appreciation and understanding. For those like myself who are constantly trying to decode The Silmarillion, this book is of immense value. The only negative I could point to in this book is that there are a handful of moments where the Christian reinterpretation of Old Testament texts are a bit overboard, but at the same time, this is likely how Tolkien himself would have interpreted such things. It's all perception.

Nadia May continues to be one of the best of the best when it comes to narration, regardless of what name she chooses to use. Her pronunciations are at times a bit different than what Tolkien fans might expect (especially those who got used to the films), but on the whole, she delivers with enthusiasm and authority.

A pleasant listen

A bit light but Tolkien fans will love this reaffirmation of the Christian roots to his epic. At just over 6 hrs this is a bit short compared to most audiobooks, but worth the time for sure.

Insight into the stories that really mattered

Tolkien’s work is rightly regarded as a masterpiece, and the interwoven Christian themes account for much of the depth and staying power of his books.

The perfect companion for all things Tolkien

Yes, it is possible to love Tolkien's books even more than you thought possible. Ralph Wood makes this rather academic topic supremely readable. Some of the analyses are obvious and some are surprising, but all ring true.

Extremely insightful commentary, mostly good narrator

Wood insightfully illuminates the extensive biblical roots of the Lord of the Rings. Narrator was generally good but pronounced some of the LOTR-specific words incorrectly.