What caused severe disruptions to the publishing process of The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia?

Taylor & Francis acquired Routledge while the encyclopedia was still being produced, which caused severe disruptions to the publishing process. This corporate takeover led to the cancellation of all planned illustrations before publication and resulted in numerous errors throughout the book.

What topics does The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia cover regarding adaptations and theories?

The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia covers adaptations for cinema, stage, and television alongside discussions of art and illustrations. It also delves into theological concepts, philosophical ideas, contemporary history influencing the author, real languages, invented tongues, and literary sources.

J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia

Q: How did reviewers describe the quality of entries in The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia?

Reviewers found that the quality varied wildly between entries within The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia. Kelley Wickham-Crowley stated that some essays were masterful while others felt pedestrian and underdeveloped, and Jennifer Goodfellow observed that some articles provided only short summaries while others offered deep analysis.

Michael D. C. Drout published The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment through Routledge in 2006. He assembled a team of 127 scholars from many countries to fill 720 pages with content about the author's life and works. Co-editors Douglas A. Anderson, Verlyn Flieger, Marjorie Burns, and Tom Shippey joined Drout on this massive project. Their goal was to create a resource appealing to both casual readers and serious academics. Entries explored connections between Tolkien's fiction and real-world literary criticism or theory. Contributors covered topics ranging from his academic writings to his spiritual influences.

Taylor & Francis acquired Routledge while the encyclopedia was still being produced. This corporate takeover caused severe disruptions to the publishing process. All planned illustrations were cancelled before publication, leaving the final volume without any images. Editors also removed redirection entries like "Balrog: see Monsters" that would have helped readers navigate the text. The editing phase was severely curtailed by these changes, resulting in numerous errors throughout the book. Michael D. C. Drout described the proofs as a "hideous mess" after the acquisition occurred. He became seriously ill with pneumonia during the final stages and could not check all corrected text. Reviewers noted that the work suffered from word omissions, grammar mistakes, spelling errors, and bibliographic formatting issues.

Kelley Wickham-Crowley reviewed the encyclopedia and found its quality varied wildly between entries. He stated that some essays were masterful while others felt pedestrian and underdeveloped. Wickham-Crowley argued that character entries often merely listed attributes instead of offering new insights. He suggested merging redundant topics like "Hobbits" and "Shire" which repeated similar content. Entries on "Environmentalism and Eco-Criticism" and "Environmentalist Readings of Tolkien" appeared unnecessary to him. Jennifer Goodfellow observed that some articles provided only short summaries while others offered deep analysis. David Bratman noted that Elvish linguistics received one very long section by Carl Hostetter compared to many tiny entries elsewhere. John Garth wrote in the Times Literary Supplement that the volume seethes with insight despite its flaws.

The encyclopedia covers adaptations for cinema, stage, and television alongside discussions of art and illustrations. It examines characters, monsters, peoples, objects, and places within Middle-earth. Essays explore real languages and invented tongues used by Tolkien's creations. The text delves into theological concepts, philosophical ideas, and contemporary history influencing the author. Topics include literary sources, stylistic elements, and reception of his works. Drout included surprising entries such as Thomas Aquinas and Law focusing on theology rather than civil examples. The volume engages more with real-world theories than simply describing the fictional world created by Tolkien. This breadth makes it suitable for budding scholars seeking a starting point for research.

Tracy Carr concluded the work was intended more for scholars than general fans of the books. She described it as a suitable starting place for those beginning their study of Tolkien. Despite production imperfections, the project remains an excellent resource for serious students of English literature. Michael D. C. Drout acknowledged the errors on his website while defending the ambition of the original plan. The final volume serves as a foundation for future academic inquiry even though execution was marred by publishing decisions. Contributors like Tom Shippey and Verlyn Flieger provided major scholarship that elevates the collection. The encyclopedia stands as a testament to collaborative effort despite corporate interference during its creation.

J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia.

Publishing Disruption And Production Flaws

Critical Reception And Quality Variance

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Scope Of Scholarly Themes Covered

Legacy For Academic Research

Publishing Disruption And Production Flaws

Critical Reception And Quality Variance

Scope Of Scholarly Themes Covered

Legacy For Academic Research