Return of the Shadow | 
To my #FellowshipOfTolkien companions and all #Tolkien fans!
Fellow Tolkien enthusiast Ads has launched his very own podcast devoted to The History of the Lord of the Rings.
Ads started reading The Return of the Shadow more or less at the same time we did. I invited him to come along, but in the end he fell so behind he decided against it.
But now he's doing this!
Come along. It'll be a grand adventure!
https://t.co/5No2dhoBn6?amp=1
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#TeamTolkien2ndAnniversary
#ThereAndBackAgain
The character that eventually morphed into Aragorn was initially the Hobbit Trotter. He too was a ranger and he too had an interesting past.
I became surprisingly attached to him.
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#ThereAndBackAgain
The first character to bear the name 'Frodo' was Frodo Took, one of Bingo's cousins and one of his compenions.
Christopher Tolkien points out that Frodo Took isn't the predecessor of Frodo Baggings, still there is some kind of melancholy in Frodo Took that somehow transferred to Frodo Baggings.
I became very attached to him.
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Tolkien wasn't particularly enthusiastic about writing a sequel to The Hobbit. He wrote four beginning before being reasonably happy and go on with the story.
In the first two, Bilbo was going to be the main character. In other two, his adopted nephew Bingo was the main character.
Tonight is a night of catching up! I'll be reading this book for #LOTRHistory & also catching up on #LitsyLove 😊 Thank you to everyone who has written to me & thank you so much for being patient!
pickI really enjoyed reading Tolkien started writing the Lord of the Rings. I still can't imagine cheering on a Bingo Baggins, which was Frodo's original name. I did enjoy Peregrin "Trotter" Boffin the ranger hobbit. The picture above is of Trotter from The Notion Club Archives found on Google. Unfortunately he isn't wearing his wooden shoes in the picture ?
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pickI know there are some who feel publishing these History of Middle Earth books is excessive, but I am so incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to read this creative process. I love seeing the development of the characters and the story. I love the unexpected twists, the thoughtful confusion, and the anticipation of watching integral and beloved pieces of the story emerge through that process.
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It‘s a chilly, rainy evening, so I curled up with a hot cup of tea and the pets for another chapter of Tolkien. I enjoyed seeing the the first developments of the fellowship in this chapter.
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pickOnce again it's incredible how the structure is already in place although so many things are different. I didn't expect Moria to be already there, as l know her.
I really really loved this book. True, all of the HoME is fantastic, but these volumes about the Lord of the Rings is particularly involving. I'm loving it.
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I finished the Third Phase today, and there were some incredibly interesting ideas there! I thought the possible backstory of Peregrin and Trotter was intriguing, but the initial emergence of Treebeard as an evil giant was what really caught my attention. Also, this was a really great example of one of Tolkien‘s original manuscripts.
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pickIt‘s amazing how a story you know so well can be so different and inthralling! I still want to know what happened to Odo during his disappearance! And Trotter, I love how that character is changing and merging before our eyes, but as always with Christopher Tolkien‘s histories I find myself deeply touched by the care he took to share his father‘s writing process with the world, it is both inspiring and insightful.
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Certainly, the Caradhras chapter had a long way to go.
I enjoyed Christopher's commentary on Trotter here, the fact that his personality seemed to merge with that of the other hobbits, which may have been one reason why Tolkien finally decided to make him a Man (it would go with his early comment 'too many hobbits') l also really like his considerations about the complex relation between Trotter and Aragorn.
I‘m almost to the end... but I don‘t want it to end! It‘s amazing how a story you know so well can be so different and inthralling! I still want to know what happened to Odo during his disappearance! And Trotter, I love how that character is changing and merging before our eyes , but I want to know more about this version of what would later become Pippin and Aragorn.
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Well, this is where we really see that Tolkien didn't have a clues where his story would end up 😆
While the rest of the chapters so far had already reached the final form (we're talking the first half of Fellowship), the Council of Elrond doesn't come near to even the idea of it, though here are introduced a couple a favourite characters: Gimli (who might die in Moria) and Boromir the Man of Ond.
I should really be grading finals, but it was a pretty long day at school so I‘m enjoying a chapter of Tolkien instead. I‘m still several days behind the schedule, but I‘m appreciating the discussion of the Third Phase. At the moment, I think I‘m still most intrigued by the curiosity about and development of Trotter as a character.
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I love Treebeard! #YearofTolkien
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l love me a chapter about notes! 😆
So fascinating that at such an early stage and considering all the tranformation the book would go through, Tolkien already had envisioned the structure of the entire story, more or less as it is now.
Loved the character arc of the original Pippin. And surprised that once again Tolkien hesitated, undecided, at this point, though Christopher notes that this is when WWII broker out.
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I can't wait to read what this story is about, it sounds so different from the one l know. The Giant Treebeard who keep Gandalf captive, Odo who disappears and then reappears. Trotter so mysterious.
I'm loving it.
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I so enjoyed this chapter and l'm so excited to read this phase of revision. Christopher says Tolkien took a completely different path at this point of the writing of Lord of the Rings and l can see it here. I'm expecting to read a 'new story'.
It was so strange, but also so lively to see Aragorn's name first proposed as The name of Gandalf's horse. I'm loving seeing all these tidbits appear in the text 💙
Scanned over a lot because I was really behind! Catching up now and hoping to keep up with everyone.
All caught up and onto the Third Phase!
You know, this is really just making me want to reread the completed version again too, and soon!
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After reaching the part of story with Tom Bombadil, Tolkien once again started from the beginning... and now our Frodo appears.
Although the story didn't change a lot (apparently, Tolkien was Mary created a clean manuscript in place of the message he had at that point) he added some remarkable new ideas: concerning hobbits and the tempation of Gandalf.
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OH, wow! This is quite a different version from that in the book.
On one hand, l'm sorry Tolkien had to renounce the joke Bingo played on Maggots. But on the other, l really like the version in the book.
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Firgot to post last night. It was an easy read since the chapter moved so close to the text in that Christopher only presented a few passages.
It surprises me a lot that Tolkien achieved almost the final text at such an early stage. But it is actually quite characteristic.
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Have you noticed?
TolkienGandalf 😆
@Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @eanderson @wordslinger42 @tdrosebud @BookwormAHN
Slowly but surely continuing on with Gandalf for company, although probably only another page or two from this point tonight.
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I love! I love! I love!
I adore! I adore! I adore!!!
So many awesome elements entered this this chapter. First of all SAM!!!!!! 💚
I would have loved to know more about why Tolkien decided to stray from the 'family' theme of the group of Hobbits and insert Sam, but well... it's already great to see Sam finally appearing.
And then the One Ring! Here's where the rimes of the Rings g first appeared.
I finished The First Phase tonight, and I‘m continuing to thoroughly enjoy all the discussion of the early drafts. The last chapter really shows the combination of confusion and thoughtfulness involved in trying to work out the details of the story.
* To be honest, I took this photo of my delicious home cooked supper over the weekend and never got around to posting, but I had leftovers tonight so it works.
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#YearOfTolkien #LOTRHistory
Christopher says that "The textual situation is in fact of fearful complexity in this part, the manuscript being constituted from two 'layers', and the earlier of the two being constituted partly from new manuscript and partly from the typescript of the fourth version."
I'd so love to see that manuscript ?
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I'm. Totally. LOVING IT!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, yes, the notes have always been my favourite parts, but these about the LotR are so emotional, l'm not sure why.
Reading Sam's name for the first time was so great. It's such a strange experience to see the story so slowly come into its self.
It was fantastic also seeing The One Ring emerge. That's really something happening right under our eyes 😍
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Here's the schedule for the second half of the book.
How are you getting along, gals? I'm all caught up 😆
@Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @eanderson @wordslinger42 @tdrosebud @BookwormAHN
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Great chapter and clearly a pivoting one - no wonder Tolkien wrote it three times.
It is clear that the story was moving. Elements of the Silmarillion are profusely intriduced. Clearly something is changing in Tolkien's vision of the story.
Tolkien wonders twice who is Trotter. Christopher said in one of tge last chapter we are going to discover it. Can't wait!
Can't say l'm off to a good start for #24B4Monday #25inFive Yesterday l was away all day and had no chance to read. Today l caught up on my #YearOfTolkien read with Apache's help.
Let's see whether l can log in some more time before going to bed.
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Fragmented chapters are harder to follow. This one is mostly summarised, because it has changed very little in subsequent revisions.
It's still quite weird to see Strider in Trotter. Here the wild hobbit shows his knowledge of ancient lore, just like Aragorn will do... though in a completely different context.
“Their statement, as terse as you might expect, says simply that they did not “approve of, authorize or participate in the making of this film,” and that “they do not endorse it or its content in any way.”
Article here: https://news.avclub.com/upcoming-j-r-r-tolkien-biopic-disavowed-by-the-authors-1...
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So here it is were The Silmarillion started to infiltrate itself in The Lord of the Rings.
I really liked the passage about Beren and Luthien. I didn't think it would be there, given how much l see it intertwined with Aragorn's story and character, but l loved to see how it might be one of the elements which prompted Trotter's tranformation.
I thought the version of this poem in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and The Fellowship of the Ring was fun, and I think this version is fun as well. It‘s so interesting to see the earlier drafts of Tolkien‘s writing.
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The atmosphere of this part of story is so reminescent of the published version, there are even passages l recognise. And still the Hobbits are so different (in a strangely familiar way) from the ones l know.
l'm fascinated with Trotter. He acts a lot like Stider, but also he's definitely a Hobbit.
Christopher anticipate that he has a story that will be revealed before disappearing from the narration. Can't wait!
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I read the first half of this chapter last night, but was so tired l didn't manage to post about it.
I'm totally, totally loving this first draft of LotR. It's so strange to see the story l know so well, which is not at all the story l love so well 😆
There are so many things that are already the once l know, but also so many others that are totally different. It's fascinating.
I'm feeling behind on this readalong, and I'm really enjoying this chapter. The hobbits of Bree and Trotter are fascinating to me. Additionally, it's been a frustrating day and I want to hide from the world with a book. I read for a few minutes with my students, but I wish I could just keep reading through my plan time.
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Wow!!! I couldn't wait to get to this part, after l read about Trotter in the History of the Hobbit.
I love Bree, l love the mixing of recessione and people. This hobbit Bree is very different, but that's why is so interesting.
And l suppose that in Trotter we'll have the first mysterious hobbit ever!
I read the Tom Bombadil chapter last night, but it was late and I wanted to think about it a bit more before posting. Sometimes I enjoy Tom Bombadil more than others, but I found the notes here about him having been in Middle-Earth for so long really fascinating. I don‘t think there‘s ever a clear explanation of who or what he is and this mystery makes him even more intriguing to me.
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I'm coming down with a cold, & it's rainy & freezing, so seems like as good a time as any to snuggle up with a good book & a cozy blanket ☔
Up next for tonight will be "Serafina & the Black Cloak"!
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Another summarised chapter, since the final version is very similar to the first draft.
But l loved to read the plan for the chapters up to Rivendell, where Bree is only mentioned and there's no Weathertop.
Can't wait to read on.
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I did read this chapter yesterday night, but l was so tired l didn't post about it.
Fascinating chapter! It is actually only pieces of it, because the chapter about Tom Bombadil is very similar to the one that was eventually published. Christopher only published the few differences.
But there is a passage where Tom defines himself as an 'Aborigene'. I'm telling you, this has opened a new world to me!
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As always, l enjoyed reading the preparation work for the story.
i didn't know Tom Bombadil was already an independent character before enter ingresso Lord of the Rings.
I loved this passage....
“If you go looking for Adventure, you usually find as much of it as you can manage. And it often happens that when you think it is ahead. It comes on you unexpected from behind”.
“It is not your Shire alone, nor for ever,” (...) “The Wide World is all about it. You can fence yourselves in, but you have no means of fencing it out.”
^True That! And boy that seems prescient to our current political wall discussions. 🧐
All caught-up again! Phew!! But yes you were right, quick reading.😉
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In his letters Tolkien says more than once that he doesn't know what to do with Hobbits. He love watching them doing their plane things, but he thinks he has already told the story that most speaks about them.
In this chapter l could really feel it. Reading the Hobbits's dialogue is delightful, but the story went in circles, without a directions.
And still, l'm loving reading about it.
