Any idea, especially, what's going on with vol. I, Aelfwine? Is this just a site "blip" at present, or is this genuinely not going to be made available, even digitally?

BH

I have to comment here...

What is the point in the leading academic journal for Tolkien scholarship letting volumes go out of print? Not only are academic publications reasonably expensive to begin with, but on the second-hand market they are even more expensive. I know this is a book collecting forum (& not everyone here may feel this way) but would the authors, who have had their work printed between the boards of TStudies, not be better served by having the volumes in print?

Yes, they are available digitally; but if the physical books are not to be reprinted (their destiny now is only to become collector's items, apparently), then what is the point in making them physically available in the first place? Why not just fully digital? WVUP currently have volumes I to VI out of print. On the WVUP website volume I isn't available at all! What the hell is this all about? (You can't even view the content.) So everything in volume I is literally unavailable to anyone other than those with $200+ to burn. Not really very good.


BH

Seriously, would someone buy the above highlighted auction!

The total, including postage, is £16.98. With current postal rates it wouldn't surprise me if it cost nearly that to post these books, as they are enormous! It's a pretty nice set.

lord of the rings box set off 3 J.R.R. Tolkien paperback books 2002 mint

BH

The Lord of the Rings - Signed by Tony Abbott

I don't personally like the cover either & agree with Elwë in his assessment of its modern design, and perceived appeal. I've always thought it perilous to depict some of the characters in any great detail, particularly facially. Never liked illustrations depicting Hobbits.

That said, if you look at some of her other work (I don't think the calendar cover, for example, looks that appealing; but the black & white stuff she does are of a style I quite like [--see below]) you can see why they might have picked her to illustrate: nothing like Lee or Howe or Nasmith; female; British; etc. I like her depiction/focus on animals; so very apt for The Hobbit. I know not everyone is going to agree with this (& there are probably reasons why this hasn't happened), but I think a H illustrated by Ruth Lacon would have been good; her best work (in the bestiary style) is very, very good. I think it would have suited Tolkien's text well.

BH

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  Catlin H Calendar.jpg (22.57 KB)


  Catlin Example (from J.K. FB pg.).jpg (189.28 KB)