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J.R.R. Tolkien — Cult or Culture? by J.S. Ryan, First Edition Paperback 1969

267630247414

Seller: gideonrhinobooks

(115)

Ended Apr 12, 2026

AU $482.82

[2 Bids]

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TOLKIEN: THE LORD OF THE RINGS Centenary Edition (HC, Alan Lee, Plain Blue Box)

277886684864

Seller: taxman_03

(2201)

Ended Apr 12, 2026

EUR 525.00

[1 Bids]

I'm curious as to what makes the "Cult or Culture" volume so desirable/expensive? I've heard of it, but didn't understand it to be such an important font of scholarship.

I bought the book. It is a early Tolkien-scholarship item, not just another later critical book.
Ryan’s Cult or Culture? is described as one of the earliest book-length studies of Tolkien, which gives it real collector weight among people building a Tolkien-reference. It is extremely scarce, I haven't seen one for sale for years.
It was published only in Australia and only few copies reached UK or America. On top everything the author actually knew Tolkien which is extremely scarce in Tolkien criticism and quite important in my mind.

Regarding Ryan having known Tolkien, some might be interested to read this:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/45296965

(free to access but requires a sign-in)

Lokki wrote:

I bought the book. It is a early Tolkien-scholarship item, not just another later critical book.
Ryan’s Cult or Culture? is described as one of the earliest book-length studies of Tolkien, which gives it real collector weight among people building a Tolkien-reference. It is extremely scarce, I haven't seen one for sale for years.
It was published only in Australia and only few copies reached UK or America. On top everything the author actually knew Tolkien which is extremely scarce in Tolkien criticism and quite important in my mind.

Thank you Matt for an interesting article.

Here is another article regarding this topic:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/48614873

Thank you very much for the summary!

Lokki wrote:

I bought the book. It is a early Tolkien-scholarship item, not just another later critical book.
Ryan’s Cult or Culture? is described as one of the earliest book-length studies of Tolkien, which gives it real collector weight among people building a Tolkien-reference. It is extremely scarce, I haven't seen one for sale for years.
It was published only in Australia and only few copies reached UK or America. On top everything the author actually knew Tolkien which is extremely scarce in Tolkien criticism and quite important in my mind.

You are welcome, always glad to help :)