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

Some facts not correct

I am a huge fan of both Lewis and Tolkien’s work. However a lot of facts were incorrect for instance Shasta was quoted when it should’ve been Bree, and Legolas had the wrong title of king rather than Prince. All in all I loved hearing the connections, and if you read this book you will never read these books the same way again.

Opens up the Inkling mindset

For those of us very familiar with Lewis’ and Tolkien’s writings as well as the history of the Great Wars this commentary brings the worlds together. My only critique is pronunciations by the reader. Magdalene College, Christendom, and Tolkien are consistently pronounced incorrectly. Great read!

One of the best books I have ever read!!

Great book. I will definitely read this book again. I recommend it very highly.

An Amazing Analysis

I have been a fan of both C.S.Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and their works for many, many years. But there was so much I didn't know about their lives, particularly their military service during World War I and how it affected the fantasy worlds they both created.

I enjoyed filling in the gaps with the help of this informative, and clearly well researched, book.

Eloquent and informative

I love the comparison of the Tolkien and Lewis stories  and the great war. Very poetic in his style. 

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.

Brings WWI in context in a way I never knew

What an amazing story with insights to WWI and with the lives of people who lived it. That alone is worth listening.... the introspection of the journey of Tolkien and Lewis is literally beyond incredible. Such magnificent story telling and surfacing of their experiences as soldiers and how it related to their lives, faith and the stories they would write. Wow!

Extremely interesting

I loved both the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. I had no idea the influence these two authors had on each other. I also learned so much about WW I and it's aftermath. Very interesting listen.

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day...

It is only fitting that I am finishing this amazing book on Veterans Day, or Remembrance Day in Europe, 102 years after the Great War. The Great War, a war so terrible that none should be able to follow it, but follow they have. This book gives a new appreciation for literature, criticism, and for all Veterans. Which include my father a combat engineer, who due to a twist of history never saw combat, and my dear husband. who for over twenty years with the 101st and the 82nd has seen nothing but, yet he would easily be able to sit with Lewis or Tolkien and have their stories match...minus the rats.

Wonderful book, especially now. Thank you for your service to all Veterans. Kristin

The JRRTolkien and C.S.Lewis you didn’t know

I learned much about their lives and how it affected their key literary works. This is a very interesting and very moving book.