...And, even after the two men had grown apart, [C.S Lewis] happily fulfilled a promise to the publisher of The Lord of the Rings to "do all in my power to secure for Tolkien's great book the recognition it deserves." That included providing a back-cover blurb, two (unsigned) rave reviews in newspapers, and urgent recommendations to all of his correspondents and friends.
- Laura Miller, The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia.
Not trying to criticise Lewis or Tolkien here (it is generally obvious when I am criticising either of them), just a wide eyed comment at how different things were "in the old days". A reviewer who wrote unsigned rave reviews of their friends' (or former friends') books now would presumably receive plenty of criticism.
3 comments:
He did genuinely think it was a 'great book' I assume.
Was it Hugo Dyson or CS Lewis who said, upon attending a reading of LOTR : "Not another fucking elf"?
Celine - From all I've read, he definitely did.
Jonathan - Pretty sure it was Dyson, though it would make a much better story if it was Lewis.
Post a Comment