Christopher Tolkien, guardian of Middle-earth, dies at 95

Most notable contribution is his illustration of original map of Middle-earth

tolkien-twitter Christopher Tolkien | via Twitter/@TolkienSociety

Christopher Tolkien, literary legend J.R.R Tolkien’s third son, has died aged 95. Tolkien Society, a fan club and society dedicated to the life and works of the author, announced the death of J.R.R Tolkien’s 'literary executor' on their official website and Twitter handle.

Tolkien Society tweeted: “Christopher Tolkien has died at the age of 95. The Tolkien Society sends its deepest condolences to Baillie, Simon, Adam, Rachel and the whole Tolkien family.”

Christopher Tolkien may have been the first audience to J.R.R Tolkien’s fantastical narratives, as he spent his childhood hearing bedtime stories from his father about Bilbo Baggins, whose adventures and exploits later became The Hobbit. Christopher Tolkien’s most notable contribution to the Tolkien canon is his illustration of the original map of Middle-earth, published along with the Lord of the Rings series of books. The maps that Christopher drew corrected some of the discrepancies and contradictions made by his father’s interpretation of Middle-earth.

Christopher Tolkien had garnered the admiration of the Tolkien fandom with his efforts to complete the unfinished works of his father after his death that culminated in beloved works such as The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth. The History of Middle-earth, compiled and edited by Christopher Tolkien, was a voluminous work which collected and analysed material penned by J.R.R Tolkien. It was a loving son’s attempt to narrate his father’s creative process, out of which came The Lord of the Rings, still considered the author’s magnum opus.

The Silmarillion was J.R.R Tolkien’s attempt to take his narratives outside of the Middle-earth, the background for his The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. While it encapsulated a wider and complex universe, the work couldn’t find its conclusion due to Tolkien’s death. Christopher Tolkien took the burden of sifting through his father’s previous works, however exhausting, and set to complete The Silmarillion. Some of the chapters in the material had to be written from scratch, while, for some chapters, he relied on his father’s previously penned material.

After being named “literary executor” in his father’s will, he took charge of chairing the Tolkien Estate, which handles the business related to J.R.R Tolkien’s literary legacy, publication and copyright.

Christopher Tolkien, despite his pursuit to carry forward his father’s literary legacy, was, however, a staunch critic of the cinematic rendition of the epic The Lord of the Rings, directed by Peter Jackson. The Lord of the Rings, albeit helping the fantasy work garner millions of fans, was seen by Christopher as a commercialisation of his father’s work. Christopher openly criticised the films, which also bagged a record haul of Oscars, saying that “they gutted the book, making an action film for 15-to-25-year-olds.” In his interview to Le Monde, he also commented that the “commercialisation has reduced the aesthetic and philosophical impact of the creation to nothing.”

Shaun Gunner, chairman of Tolkien Society, in his statement, remembered Christopher for “his commitment to his father’s works” and added that “millions would be grateful to Christopher for bringing The Silmarillion, The Children of Húrin, The History of Middle-earth series and many others.” He said, “We have lost a titan and he will be sorely missed.”

Tolkien scholar Dr Dimitra Fimi praised Christopher for “enriching the understanding of Middle-earth,” adding that “Tolkien studies would have never been what it is today without Christopher Tolkien’s contribution.”

Christopher Tolkien was instrumental for his role in trying to further the legacy that his father established with his epic works. Fans will remember him for the painstaking effort he took to finish his father’s unfinished works. The sign ‘C.J.R.T’ that underlines the maps of the imaginary Middle-earth will echo Christopher Tolkien’s valuable contributions.

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