A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and a Great War

How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-1918

By: Joseph Loconte

Narrated by: Dave Hoffman

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

The untold story of how the First World War shaped the lives, faith, and writings of J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. 

Had there been no Great War, there would have been no Hobbit, no Lord of the Rings, no Narnia, and perhaps no conversion to Christianity by C. S. Lewis.

The First World War laid waste to a continent and brought about the end of innocence — and the end of faith. Unlike a generation of young writers who lost faith in the God of the Bible, however, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis found that the Great War deepened their spiritual quest. Both men served as soldiers on the Western Front, survived the trenches, and used the experience of that conflict to ignite their Christian imagination.

Tolkien and Lewis produced epic stories infused with the themes of guilt and grace, sorrow and consolation. Giving an unabashedly Christian vision of hope in a world tortured by doubt and disillusionment, the two writers created works that changed the course of literature and shaped the faith of millions. This is the first book to explore their work in light of the spiritual crisis sparked by the conflict. 

©2015 Joseph Loconte (P)2015 Thomas Nelson Publishers

My Tolkien-Lewis students will read this book

Any additional comments?

I have taught a course in the fiction of Tolkien and Lewis for many years now, and while I encourage my students to read in the critical, historical, and biographical literature for class presentations and papers, it is only in reading A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and a Great War that I found a book that merits requiring ALL my students to read it in order to have a shared understanding of what the Inklings - indeed, friendship in general - meant to Tolkien and Lewis, and how they helped shape each other's lives and works.

Delivers what the title says.

This book was exactly what I wanted. It gives the reader both a broad overview and deep understanding of social and psychological thinking pre and post WWI and helps modern readers understand how radical Tolkien and Lewis were in their thinking when they created their most famed fantasy works. I highly recommend this book to Lewis and Tolkien fans who want to understand how WWI colored Narnia and Middle-Earth. Happy reading.

Such a disappointment

I have made a lifelong study of the Inklings, and have developed an interest in the Great War. Having read John Garth's superb work on Tolkien's experience with that conflict, and very much enjoyed Janet Brennan Croft's War and the Works of JRR Tolkien, I looked forward eagerly to listening to this title.

The text and the narrative flow are good. What almost made me want to throw my phone against the wall was the narrator. This guy was obviously not given any guidance in pronunciation of French names, or even some English ones. His version of the name Somme came out either as Some-may or as Som-muh. The correct "summ" never crossed his lips. And when he read of Lewis' training at Keble it came out "kebble." I've been there, and it ain't KEBBLE.

It probably will never happen, but if I was Joseph Loconte, I'd ask for a do-over with another narrator.

Such a disappointment...

Reader's pronunciation is a major distraction

What didn’t you like about Dave Hoffman’s performance?

The reader mispronounces so many words, so many times, and it grates every time. I'll guess that somewhere around 98% of readers know how to pronounce Somme. David Hoffman doesn't, and you'll hear him read "Somma" multiple times a page.

All my favorites

If you love C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and understanding how history, biography, and art intersect--this one is for you. Just enough sociological & psychological context to put the war and its impact on these two men into the proper context, but not so academic add to be dreary. What stuck with me were the pervasive, unexamined assumptions associated with liberalism & how WWI destroyed & devastated Western culture's love affair with the Myth of Progress. Lots of examples from their work demonstrate their intimate acquaintance with the terror of war, their suspicion of technology, and their unabashed awe with which they regarded the stolid courage & unpolished stubbornness of the working-class men with whom they served in the all-volunteer British Expeditionary Force. Their friendship mirrored the best part of that culture and the "stern & tender" relationships between men which made the accomplishments of the BEF possible. a wonderful book!

The First Fellowship

This book offers a fascinating look into the spiritual lives and developing theologies of J.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis both during and after WWI. Loconte makes a few logical leaps and assumptions about the authors, but the overall research is pretty solid. Who knew C.S. Lewis started off as an atheist? If you're interested in learning more about these two wonderful men and their world, I'd recommend you pick this up now.

There some good tidbits and observations but...

I should say that there are some worthwhile bits in this book. The author is at his best when speculating on he impact Tolkien and Lewis' wartime experience might have had on their imagination when writing of struggle in their own books. Unfortunately the author seems far too invested in building a background narrative of Lewis and Tolkien as some sort of prophetic culture warriors to whom contemporary conservativism should look. The result is that he paints a half picture of both authors.
The narration was generally well done except that the narrator had some serious problems with his pronounciation.

Fantastic

This book is a great listen. I thoroughly enjoyed the material presented and the narration. The in depth study of two of my favorite authors and the impact of WW1 on them, on their generation, on their faith, and on their writing was absolutely riveting. If you like the works of both these authors, I encourage you to listen to this book. I am going to re-read the books just to savor the added depth of insight this book has given me into what both authors experienced in WW1.

Fascinating!!

Usually don't care for historical nonfiction about war. But when it portrays so well the effect it had on 2 of my favorite authors, I was riveted!! Excellent narrator and fantastic book!! I will revisit it again, along with Tolkein's and Lewis' work.

Quite suprising perspectives

If you could sum up A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and a Great War in three words, what would they be?

A book trying to do to much on to few pages.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The subject is very interessting, thoug I don`t agree with the author on all of it`s implications.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The fought in the bloodiest war in modern time untill now. Now they want more.

Any additional comments?

As an academic, I`m dissapointed in the authors missing reasoning and easy-made conclutions. My critique is as follows:1. I have read several books on both Tolkien and Lewi`s, and my imression is that they can not be made into one coherent unit on their thougts on war. The author seems to have a different opinion.2. The other books I have red on Tolkien gives an impression that he uses his books to show us how dreadfull wars can be, and that the heros are unlucky parcipitans in a story they do not want. To a certaint extent this author agrees. He is clearly describing the horror of war and the suffering that it brings. At the same time the author ecplains that war is a great arena for heroism and great deeds. As far as I can see, most Tolkien scolars agree so far. But only this far. The way I understand this author, he argues that Tolkien sees war as a way for men to show moral and virtue. War should be embraced and sought as this; an opportinity to renewed middelage litterature values. War is not only a neccesary evil, it is a natural and important part of our moral worldview. He leaves this implication unchallenged, and to me, due to it`s radical implications, it serves as the bottom line and conclusion of the narrative. I wonder if Tolkien would agree that war . To me it seems that most Tolkien scolars find in his litterature a warning against all war; it`s nor something to be sught for valor or moral. It must be avoided unless in the worst of perills. If you are so unfortunate as to be in a war, then you ought to act morally. Even thoug I personally disagree on the authors implied conclusion as stated abowe, I would have enjoyed a clearer and better argued case.

Very inspiring!

Loved it. I've read the series several times. Now I want to read it again,but with a whole different understanding!!

Life events which shaped powerful literature

An easy listenable history of the life events that profoundly affected Tolkien and Lewis. A good depth of research which details the human perspective of the Great War. An all round vision of how myths and fairy tales helped to express the horrors and loss endured and how faith helped redeem the losses encountered. We are lucky that the authors survived to share their experiences in such a creative way. Well read with a soft American accent.

The W W 1 battle is never pronounced as SohMa

This interesting story was marred by careless and peculiar errors in pronunciation. The worst howler was the First World War battle here called Soh-ma

ok

just could not stand the way the narrator pronounced somme (its som not som me)

A gem 💎

A superb book - I can forgive the narrator the odd failure of pronunciation - otherwise excellent. The background is superb and the narrative griping and informative - really enjoyed this listen 👂