Roverandom
J. R. R. Tolkien wrote the novella Roverandom in 1925 for his son Michael. The story began after a small leaden toy dog disappeared from a beach of grey shingle stones. The lost toy matched the size and colour of the actual object that had been taken by the sea. This real-world event sparked a tale designed to amuse a grieving child. The author crafted the narrative as a direct response to personal loss within his own family.
An irritable wizard named Artaxerxes turns the young puppy into a toy during a holiday encounter. The transformed Rover must travel to the Moon to find the wizard again. He journeys under the Deep Blue Sea where Uin the Right Whale waits. The boy who owns the toy is called Two, an allusion to Michael Tolkien himself. A cat named Tinker lives with Rover before the transformation occurs.
Tolkien submitted the manuscript for publication in 1937 following the success of The Hobbit. Editors rejected the work and it remained unpublished for over sixty years. The text finally appeared in print in 1998 after decades of obscurity. It was included in the collection Tales from the Perilous Realm starting from its 2009 reprinting. HarperCollins published the first edition in London that same year.
The story features the Cove of the sand-sorcerer on the north-east coast of England. Psamathos hides under the surface of the cove's sands like a warm blanket. Days and nights he sleeps until the sky looks like teatime or amusement begins. The Isle of Lost Dogs holds bone trees growing everywhere for lucky lost dogs. The Deep Blue Sea serves as the mer-king's realm beneath the waves.
Roverandom acts rather rude and excitable when first introduced to Artaxerxes Pam. The wizard wears a green hat with a blue feather in it while living in Pershore. He comes from Persia but got lost during his travels. A large dog-sized creature named Psamathos has long ears that stick up. Uin the Right Whale takes Roverandom under the sea to protect him from danger.
Tolkien embedded allusions to Lewis Carroll within the fantastical settings of the Moon. Trees on the Moon foreshadow the mallorn trees found in Lothlórien. The narrative style mirrors Farmer Giles of Ham through its playful tone. References to Faery link the tale briefly to Shadowy Seas and Elvenhome. These elements connect the story to Tolkien's broader Middle-earth legendarium.
Common questions
Who wrote the novella Roverandom and for whom was it written?
J. R. R. Tolkien wrote the novella Roverandom in 1925 for his son Michael. The story began after a small leaden toy dog disappeared from a beach of grey shingle stones.
When did the text finally appear in print after being rejected by editors?
The text finally appeared in print in 1998 after decades of obscurity. HarperCollins published the first edition in London that same year.
Where does the wizard Artaxerxes live and what hat does he wear?
The wizard wears a green hat with a blue feather in it while living in Pershore. He comes from Persia but got lost during his travels.
What is the name of the boy who owns the toy in the story?
The boy who owns the toy is called Two, an allusion to Michael Tolkien himself. A cat named Tinker lives with Rover before the transformation occurs.
How many years passed between the submission of the manuscript and its publication?
Editors rejected the work and it remained unpublished for over sixty years following the success of The Hobbit in 1937. It was included in the collection Tales from the Perilous Realm starting from its 2009 reprinting.