I must admit that I usually do not read many biographies. But for some reason I decided to pick up this book to read. I also should admit that I am not sure I have read any of Tolkien’s books in total. Having arrived a few years too late for the initial Lord of the Rings run in print, I ended up becoming familiar with Tolkien through the movie renditions of his seminal work.
That being said, I truly enjoyed this book. It was an easy read both in style and length. It quickly introduced you to the timeline of Tolkien’s life and the events and characters that shaped it. Occasionally the author seems distracted from his primary biographical task because he has a story to tell or personal insight he wants to share. But on the whole it was a good read. If you know Tolkien from his books or the movies created from them and yet to do know much about him, this brief autobiography is well worth your time as an introduction. It will deliver to you enough information that your mind will start looking for connection between his life and his writing.
After reading this book one is certainly not a Tolkien expert, but then again I never aspired to be one. It gave to me what I wanted, a quick and easily digestible framework to understand the man and therefore his work. I would suggest it to anyone looking for the same.
