Tales from the Perilous Realm

by J.R.R. Tolkien

Book Overview

The definitive collection of Tolkien's classic "fairie" tales, in the vein of The Hobbit, illustrated by Oscar winner Alan Lee Never before published in a single volume, Tolkien's four novellas... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0261103423
• ISBN13: 9780261103429
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Tolkien Beyond Middle earth

In Tales From the Perilous Realm we have five short stories or novellas by J.R.R. Tolkien, plus his very famous lecture "On Fairy Stories". Only one of the selections has a direct connection with Middle earth: the poems which make up "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil". The other four are "Leaf By Niggle", a short tale with deeply moving theological connotations which originally accompanied the Fairy Stories lecture; "Roverandom", a story written by Tolkien to comfort one of his sons who had lost a toy dog while at the seashore and not published until 25 years after the author died; "Farmer Giles of Ham," a rollicking tale set in early Britain featuring a bumbling farmer, a near sighted giant, and a dragon which was originally published in the late 1940s; "Smith of Wooton Major", a beautiful story published in the 1960s which is usually interpreted as being Tolkien's acknowledgment that his life was coming to a close and his gifts must be returned or passed on to others. All of these stories have been published before in different formats, and I have loved them all for many years. I purchased Tales From the Perilous Realm in the interests of completing my collection but with some trepidation, because I knew the illustrations would be different. The late Pauline Baynes illustrated Farmer Giles, Smith, and Tom Bombadil, and her vivid interpretations are so marvelous that I dreaded seeing any depictions by any other artist. But as soon as I opened Tales From a Perilous Realm my fears were allayed. Alan Lee's pencil illustrations are enchanting in their own right, allowing the reader to experience the stories anew with additional pleasure and delight. I will always love Pauline Baynes' illustrations, but Alan Lee's efforts evoke Tolkien's worlds just as vividly. This will be a book to be treasured.

A Mixed Bunch

Except in very broad terms, I am not going to comment on the plot lines of the stories themselves. I rank the following areas: Stories ............... 4.5 stars Audio ................. 5 stars Voice Acting ........ 5 stars Overall...........5 stars THE STORIES: They were written by Tolkien after all; that alone probably starts them off with a one-star advantage. Additionally, there are talking dogs, and fairies, and magical things, and hobbits - a smorgasbord of fantasy. My favourite was Smith of Wootten Major (so called because it was larger than Wootten Minor). I thought that acting and story came together best in this story. That said each of the stories was worth the listen. The AUDIO was clear and the actors enunciated well. There was only one spot in which I had to replay for one word that I did not catch. On the second play, I understood it clearly so the error could have been my own moment of inattention. The really lovely part though was that in usual fine BBC fashion, the VOICE ACTING was excellent! Each story was brought to fascinating life; and in a manner that makes it clear why in times past families gathered as a unit around the radio to listen to serials. The actors managed to capture the nuances of each of the stories; the dog especially in the very first story grabbed my attention. I also confess that after a while his 'dog voice' began to grate on my ears. So much so that I considered giving 4 stars because of that. I decided however that there was nothing in the other stories to cause the deduction of an entire star and many things to recommend 5 stars. So here we are. The peripherals - the slam of a door, crunch of footsteps - all added to the experience. I predict that the CDs will be played over and over again in any home in which they reside.

Story time at its best.

One of the greatest joys of childhood is snuggling in your blanket while a parent reads a favorite tale. Sadly, as an adult you are the one who must do the reading. Since I have previously enjoyed the BBC full cast version of the Lord of the Rings, I hoped I would enjoy this as well. I was not disappointed. There are four stories on three disks, each containing elements of fantasy and faerie. "Farmer Giles of Ham" has almost everything you could hope for in a fantasy story: knights, dragons, enchanted swords, treasure, and of course, a talking dog. The tale includes many lessons such as what happens when gossip gets out of control, why one should not push his responsibilities off on others, and how greed does not pay. "Smith of Wooton Major" allows us a peek into the perilous realm (the world of faerie). One of the lessons here is not to judge people by appearance and to respect everyone you meet because you never know who they may be. There is also a strong message about the importance of sharing. Sharing is what gets Smith his wife, his success in life, and eventually, the opportunity to give another deserving person the chance for such success. "Leaf by Niggle" is a warning about what can come from literally not seeing the forest for the trees (or even not seeing the tree for the leaves). Sometimes people are so wrapped up in the details of their own lives they forget the greater world. In this case, there is a chance for redemption because Niggle was basically a good person. There is a lesson there as well. "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" is not really a stand-alone story; it is more of a side story from the Lord of the Rings saga. The hobbits manage to get into a little trouble (as hobbits often do) and Tom Bombadil rescues them and offers them shelter for a couple of days. The story is interesting, if a little eccentric. The cast is wonderful and with the sound effects and music included, it makes for a magical story time. I found myself reminded of story day at the library where, as a child, I was fascinated by the puppets the librarian used to act out stories. She often enlisted the help of library assistants to provide voices and sound effects. This brought back the joy of those days, not to mention letting tired eyes rest while still enjoying a good book. The only thing I really found to be missing was a cast listing. There were several voices I thought were familiar, but I did not find a listing in the package to confirm my suspicions. Other than that, I have no complains and have already recommended this set to several friends and family members.

What more could you ask?

Tolkien's four greatest short stories (well, three acutally, plus the poetry) together in one volume."The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" involves two long poems with Tom as the main character, a number of poems from "The Lord of the Rings" as well as other assorted poetry concerning Middle Earth."Farmer Giles of Ham" is an extraordinary tale about a wise farmer who outwits a wicked (but not overbold) dragon. A wonderful story for children -- and full of delightful (and deliberate) anachronisms for the alert adult."Leaf by Niggle" is a profound and powerful story about death, life, Purgatory and eternity. It should be read in conjunction with Tolkien's non-fiction essay "On Fairy Stories"."Smith of Wooten Major", one of the last works by the Master, tells the story of a very ordinary person who is given a very extraordinary gift. (The story also suggests the presence of the sacramental in the act of feasting).Altogether, a wonderful collection, and one that is sure to delight. Only those far gone in the desubstantialization of the human race could fail to appreciate these stories.