A Question of Time: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Road to Faerie

by Verlyn Flieger

Flieger is one of the most respected Tolkien’s scholars, having written extensively in the field. This particular book concerns how time is perceived in the professor’s works, not just Lord of the Rings, but also the incomplete The Lost Road and The Notion Club Papers, both of which explore time travel, as well as the shorter bits of poetry, including “The Sea-Bell” which is attributed to Frodo’s dark dreams after he returns from the Quest. It’s a very interesting book and has made me want to read the incomplete stories and undoubtedly mourn the fact that so much of his work was left undone when he was called home. It also has separate chapters on Frodo’s dreams, the sense of time not passing in Lothlorien and the remark of Frodo’s that returning home would be like falling asleep instead of waking from a dream. There is much food for thought in this book and recommended for anyone interested in Prof. Tolkien’s works, not just the ones that made him most famous.