Critique of "Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweler": Difference between revisions
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'''Critique of "Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweler"''' refers to a hand-written manuscript by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], in which he offers a criticism of [[Wikipedia:Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany|Lord Dunsany]]'s story "Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweler". The manuscript was found in Tolkien's copy of the fantasy anthology ''[[ | '''Critique of "Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweler"''' refers to a hand-written manuscript by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], in which he offers a criticism of [[Wikipedia:Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany|Lord Dunsany]]'s story "Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweler". The manuscript was found in Tolkien's copy of the fantasy anthology ''[[Swords & Sorcery]]'' (which included the story), a gift from [[L. Sprague de Camp]] (who wrote the introduction of the book). According to sales of the item, Tolkien's text is "not [a] very complementary critique".<ref>[http://www.tolkienbookshelf.com/si/000971.html# ID:000971] at [http://www.tolkienbookshelf.com TolkienBookshelf.com] (accessed 19 September 2011)</ref><ref>[http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/000333.htm A Signed Book...] at [http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/ TolkienLibrary.com] (accessed 19 September 2011)</ref> | ||
==Excerpts== | |||
<poem> | |||
Jirel of Joiry. Does create an atmosphere | |||
and [?the] sinister 'corrupt' household of Alaric was | |||
eerie and credible. But I never [sic] find phantasmal | |||
struggles such as that of Jirel with 'Undead' Andred | |||
quite unconvincing — especially when the victims escape! | |||
Dunsany at his worst. Trying so hard for | |||
the shudder. But not for a moment making the | |||
tale 'credible' enough to {pro} make a background for | |||
a strong [?e...]. And the ending lamentable — in | |||
fact [?insulting]. In a world in which a Thangobrind | |||
could even begin to be (let alone Hlo-hlo or [?all the rest]) | |||
early 19th century Riviera [?...] is surely utterly | |||
impossible — or vice versa. And what is meant | |||
by selling his daughter's soul. | |||
Cappen Varra. Nomenclature v[ery] bad | |||
Let us have genuine Scandanavian/Norse "bar- | |||
barians" or something invented. | |||
The Athammaus monster wholly unbelievable | |||
[?…] disgusting [?... ... …]. There are lots | |||
of ways of being [?... as] nastily, without all this | |||
[?tooraloo] of nonsense. | |||
Most of these things are overheated & exaggerated | |||
([?...] bigger or [?would be] bigger, [?'...'] is | |||
[?...] than the {ends} purposes warrant) | |||
Also obviously over or ill-written. | |||
Jirel of Joiry 140 - 146 is good but | |||
needs a [?deft] story (and [?explication]) to [?...] | |||
[?valid]. Dunsany's is one of his worst | |||
That final ghastly paragraph!<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=1785&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=5|articlename=Re: Fantastic (magazine) November 1976|dated=31 January 2013|website=Guide|accessed=17 October 2013}}</ref> | |||
</poem> | |||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
[[Category:Unpublished material]] | [[Category:Unpublished material]] | ||
Latest revision as of 00:19, 18 October 2013
Critique of "Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweler" refers to a hand-written manuscript by J.R.R. Tolkien, in which he offers a criticism of Lord Dunsany's story "Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweler". The manuscript was found in Tolkien's copy of the fantasy anthology Swords & Sorcery (which included the story), a gift from L. Sprague de Camp (who wrote the introduction of the book). According to sales of the item, Tolkien's text is "not [a] very complementary critique".[1][2]
Excerpts[edit | edit source]
Jirel of Joiry. Does create an atmosphere
and [?the] sinister 'corrupt' household of Alaric was
eerie and credible. But I never [sic] find phantasmal
struggles such as that of Jirel with 'Undead' Andred
quite unconvincing — especially when the victims escape!
Dunsany at his worst. Trying so hard for
the shudder. But not for a moment making the
tale 'credible' enough to {pro} make a background for
a strong [?e...]. And the ending lamentable — in
fact [?insulting]. In a world in which a Thangobrind
could even begin to be (let alone Hlo-hlo or [?all the rest])
early 19th century Riviera [?...] is surely utterly
impossible — or vice versa. And what is meant
by selling his daughter's soul.
Cappen Varra. Nomenclature v[ery] bad
Let us have genuine Scandanavian/Norse "bar-
barians" or something invented.
The Athammaus monster wholly unbelievable
[?…] disgusting [?... ... …]. There are lots
of ways of being [?... as] nastily, without all this
[?tooraloo] of nonsense.
Most of these things are overheated & exaggerated
([?...] bigger or [?would be] bigger, [?'...'] is
[?...] than the {ends} purposes warrant)
Also obviously over or ill-written.
Jirel of Joiry 140 - 146 is good but
needs a [?deft] story (and [?explication]) to [?...]
[?valid]. Dunsany's is one of his worst
That final ghastly paragraph![3]
References
- ↑ ID:000971 at TolkienBookshelf.com (accessed 19 September 2011)
- ↑ A Signed Book... at TolkienLibrary.com (accessed 19 September 2011)
- ↑ "Re: Fantastic (magazine) November 1976" dated 31 January 2013, Tolkien Collector's Guide (accessed 17 October 2013)
