“This was a fantastic biography!”
— Jessica Storoschuk, NetGalley
Reviews
Front cover of The Real J.R.R. Tolkien, showing a young Tolkien on a sepia background of trees, the Western Front and maps of Middle-Earth.
What People Are Saying
A review selection
“I am a big fan of The Lord of the Rings and have read most of Tolkien's works. I always thought I knew a lot about him, but I learned so much about his personal life and childhood in ways that I am utterly delighted by. his was obviously written by a fan of Tolkien's works, which is key. I really appreciated how unbias the author explores Tolkien - his relationship with his wife, Edith, and his friendships but also his possible antisemitic and racist views.
A must-read for all true Tolkien fans!”
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
— Marialuisa Monda, NetGalley
“This made me extremely happy to read. I really enjoyed Jesse Xander’s unfiltered take on Tolkien and their ability to be unbiased when it came to discussing Tolkien’s more problematic views. I really enjoyed the writing style and the “plot” or the way the story of Tolkien’s life was pieced together. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book!”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
— Helen (pagesandpeaches), NetGalley
“If you read a really good biography, you realise how little you knew about the person concerned. "The Real J.R.R. Tolkien" by Jesse Xander packs in a whole heap of information that was new to me - a surprising amount considering the length of the book. Part story, part essay, this is a fascinating and really easy to read. I'll be reading Tolkien's work with a new perspective in the future.”
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars