Tree and Leaf: Including Mythopoeia

I enjoyed this collection immensely. The highlight for me is "Leaf by Niggle." I purchased this book primarily for that story. It is a short little Fairy tale of sorts that packs a punch regarding how we think about our lives and how we probably will think about our lives as we age and after we've "graduated.""On Fairy-Stories" was very good as well. Some excellent points and passages. Tolkien discusses the "eucatastrophe" in this essay.Mythopoeia is a nice poem, I suppose. And the final section - "Homecoming of..." - was fascinating esp including Tolkien's comments on it. Others may not be as interested in this but I have always enjoyed Middle and Old English era tales and such - including, for example "Beowulf" and "Gawain..." (which incidentally Tolkien has translated) among others.My edition of this was a new paperback. It was sturdy with good paper, font and layout.My only complaint is that, outside "Leaf By Niggle," I don't know how much this book would appeal to general audiences. "On Fairy Stories" is excellent and probably would be widely appreciated as well, but it is already available in "The Monsters and the Critics." That leaves "Mythopoeia" and "Homecoming..." which seem to be more curios for Tolkien fanatics than anything. There is probably a less expensive way to read just the one little fairy story - probably a free pdf online.I don't however regret this purchase at all. I've already read "Leaf" 3x, "Myth" 2x and repeated passages from "On Fairy Stories" and I plan to return to these again and again.

I loved all the entries in this collection. Because they're thematically linked, it was helpful to have them all in one volume.

I'm a lover of Tolkien's masterpiece "Lord of the Rings", but I cannot recommend "The Silmarillion" or "Tree and Leaf" no matter how big a fan you are. "Tree and Leaf" opens with an extensive discussion by him on the writing of "fairy" tales, which is academic and to be honest, I didn't finish because it's boring. Then come two short stories which would never be published if they weren't his work. You can buy it if you just want a complete collection of his published works, but I'm donating mine to the local library.

Essential reading for real Tolkien nerds

To me the best overall writing to help understand what is merely consequential and passing and what is eternal and therefore real is the Bible. For a technical understanding of what we can see of ultimate reality from our current perspective here on earth and within the stream of time, C. Michael Langan's CTMU is the best thing i have ever read. For a head&heart understanding of who we are and what we can do to participate in this Creation which "counts" both here among us and toward the next new Creation, this book (along with the extended example of JRRT's personal parabolic efforts in Lord-obedient sub-creation in The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and LOTR, etc.) is the best thing of which i have partaken. If you have hiraeth for Heaven, here you go. Filled with moments of wonder and quotations which impart thoughtfulness and kindness along the way, the overall messages come clear. Inspired."But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

I didn't know this Tolkien existed, to my embarrassment. It has been a delightful respite from the darkness of our age, and a meaningful testament to the restorative power of the realm of fairie to the Spirit.

I bought this for my dad for his birthday and he really likes it! It is great for some evening reading to wind down for the night.

This is an odd collection of short pieces by Tolkien, none of them long enough to stand alone. They have little in common except their authorship. The first half of the book, from which it gets its title, is a long essay on the history and the nature of fairy tales. Tolkien broadens the category to include much of mythology. The essay is followed by a poem written in Anglo-Saxon meter, then a fantasy about a man named Niggle, and finally an account of an English battle during the reign of Aethelred.

If you are a fan of J.R.R Tolkien or just a jan of fantasy writing or fairy stories then this is a must read.This book is split into two parts. The first part is Tolkien talking about fairy tales/stories. It is an extremely insightful read and shows the depth of his knowledge of writing and the fantasy genre.The second part of this book 'Leaf By Niggle is a beautifully written short story by Tolkien. Niggle a man who enjoys painting, mainly leafs, he never gets to complete his picture but ends up on a journey. A very enjoyable read.

`Tree and Leaf' (2001 edition) also contains Mythopoeia, the Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, on fairy stories and Leaf by Niggle. *Note: some of which you can find in the book titled "Tales from the Perilous Realm" *In Tolkien's world fairy stories are not just for children and the magic of the fantasy genre is exquisitely captured, in such a way as to delight and dazzle many a reader (who may have cause to call it juvenile). This beautifully illustrated, elegant volume gives fantasy `the inner consistence of reality'. This edition also contains a preface by Christopher Tolkien (regarding the poem Mythopoeia) and additional information on other books by JRR Tolkien, including the extensive history of Middle Earth.Leaf by Niggle ~ recounts the story of the artist, Niggle, who has `a long journey to make' and is seen interestingly as an allegory of Tolkien's life. Written concurrently as `the Lord of the Rings' was taking shape, it shows Tolkien's mastery and understanding of the art of sub-creation.Mythopoeia ~ the author Philomythus (lover of myth), confounds the opinion of misomythus (hater of myth).The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth ~ Professor Tolkien's dramatic poem which takes up the story following the disastrous battle of Maldon in 991, where the English Commander Beorhtnoth was killed. This indisputably exceptional book is a must-read for all devoted Tolkien fans and ardent admirers of this intriguing Professor's life, for it goes as far as to explain the nature of his art and to justify his success. Tolkien's love for the common fairytale is expressed through his fantasy works, and it is fascinating to read in this book how they have inspired his work to such an extent. Full of significant meaning, thought-provoking connotation and interesting facts `Tree and Leaf' is an unmissable read which delves a little deeper into the mind of a literary genius and extraordinary myth-maker, whose life work and creation remains today simply astonishing.

Although the other texts included in "Tree and leaf" (Mythopoeia, Leaf by Niggle and the Homecoming of...) are interesting and valuable, the reason to purchase this slim volume lies in the essay "On fairy-stories": in this terse piece of writing, originally meant for a lecture, Tolkien defends the right of writers to create beautiful stories with little or no apparent connection to "The real world", and the right of readers to find consolation in the healing power of beauty. This way he doesn't only justify the work of his entire life, the creation of Middle Earth and the stories of men, hobbits and magical rings, but he claims its connection to ancient mythology and especially to the world of heroes such as Beowulf.

Firstly. the quality of the second hand book. It was in very good condition and was a good format. I don't think Unwin maintained this size for long or it may have been lost in the multiple mergers. This is (I think) the only source of the "Homecoming of Beorhtnorth" which I wanted to read. It is worth the effort of reading and sdds to my respect of Tolkien. The other stories in the book, I had read before, but reread. "Smith of Wootton Major" is a fascinating faerie tale, but "Leaf by Niggle" is a bit twee and annoying. It was almost an allegory, a type of story Tolkien despised. The essay "On Fairy Stories" is well worth reading as a clear account of Tolkien as a writer of great faerie tales.

The essay on fairy tales and Leaf by Niggle I've known for years but I was delighted at last to read The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son - the Battle of Maldon has fascinated me for years but I'd never read Tolkien on it. Great stuff.