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 1914-18 by Joseph Loconte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Myth became Fact
As an avid fan of Tolkien and Lewis, my friends recommended this book and it did not disappoint. Knowing how their Christian faith was extremely integral in their stories, i was blessed to read about their experiences in World War 1 shaped their stories. I see how Samwise Gamgee represented every enlisted soldier, not necessarily college educated, but showing common sense and bravery…hobbit sense.
Good book for all Tolkien and Lewis fans.
I see how Tolkien and Lewis were responding to the growing cynicism plus the hedonism of the 1920s. In the 1920s and 1930s, Christianity was mainly silent against the rise of Marxist socialism/communism, Freudian Psychoanalysis, and a host of other philosophies like fascism/ Nazism. These beliefs tries to describe the world and how to live.
One atheist commentator on Goodreads.com had a lot of problem with this book especially since it seems to blame atheism for all the wrongs in the world. She believed that you can be good without religion. The problem is that atheism creates no heroes. If there is nothing to live for in the next life, why bother living in this life? Why give your life so that others can live? Statistics do not lie: hundreds of millions have died in the name of atheism under Mao, Lenin, Stalin, and Kim compared to those who died under the Inquisition and the Crusades combined.
Tolkien loved the Beowulf narrative. However "pagan" it was, Tolkien saw the hero motif of the medieval world and created it. Or recreated it in the characters of Bilbo, Frodo, and even Aragorn - humble men who rose to the challenge and fulfilled the quest placed on them. Yet, both Lewis and Tolkien understood that their heroes are only human. There are no supermen - the Ubermensch that Nietzsche created and pretty much Marvel and DC followed. At the same time, there are no anti-heroes in Tolkien's worldview - those who embraced the dark like Batman or the Punisher.
Frodo at the end failed in his quest and but for Gollum the Quest would have failed.
Narnians lost the battle in The Last Battle and Narnia was destroyed. Yet, Aslan created a portal to Aslan's Country for all the faithful Narnians.
I love Loconte's last chapter on the "Return of the King": we long for a better world where there will be justice, peace, and mercy. However much we desire to create heaven on earth, it is an impossible dream. Both authors might have experienced that feeling in 1914 - that the world was only going to get better and that World War I would be a short victorious war for Britain. Imperial Germany also thought the same: German Christian pastors preached victory. Obviously, that did not happen.
Lewis said: "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." That would be Aslan's country for all you Narnia lovers.
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