Tolkien’s Influence

On My Life and Writing

My Road Goes Ever On

Tolkien’s Influence on my life and writing goes beyond measurement. May I today aspire to the same noble faithfulness of a simple Hobbit—and an honest writer.

As my road goes ever on, I realize the depth of Tolkien’s influence on life and writing. In my mind, J. R. R. Tolkien is a heroic figure. He understood that the greatness of humanity lies within each of us through our faithfulness to our daily mission.

He was a Catholic, the son of a Catholic convert, and an ardent believer in God. It was under his influence that C.S. Lewis embraced the reality of Christianity.  While a young man, he formed a club with some close friends, and despite the small size of the group, they had some very big aspirations.  They believed that they had a mission to change the world, to make it a better place.

As for many people during World War I, (and later World War II), this vision was put to test when several of Tolkien’s friends died. They were not able to live out their noble aspirations. But in a letter, Tolkien was reminded of their ardent dreams, and he was encouraged to go forward—to fulfill his own potential. And so he did. An ordinary man in so many ways, yet his faithfulness to his family, his wife and children, his students, and his friends, so his stories speak to us today. J. R. R. Tolkien’s influence on life and writing now spans generations.

After I had read most of his major works and became astonished at his incredible insight and clarity, I decided to read more about him so I could better understand his background and his mindset. In one book (J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter), I read about one of his typical days when his bicycle broke down, and he was late for dinner while a stack of papers waited at home to be corrected. I was nearly pulling my hair out thinking about the fact that he could have been home writing great literature. 

But then, (after I became more reasonable), I realized that it was because he knew how to fix a bicycle, cared about being home for dinner, made it to meetings, and corrected innumerable papers that he embodied the kind of man who could write so faithfully about the human heart and the reality of suffering as well as the idiosyncratic silliness of common human interactions.

Tolkien, like many of his characters, could not predict the future, but he was engaged in humanity’s struggle to overcome evil, nevertheless. May I today aspire to the same noble faithfulness of a simple Hobbit—and an honest writer.

~~~

A. K. Frailey is the author of 17 books, a teacher for 35 years, and a homeschooling mother of 8.

Make the most of life’s journey. 

For books by A. K. Frailey check out her Amazon Author Page

A. K. Frailey’s Amazon Author Page

Tolkien's Influence

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“The author uses the virtues and vices of Tolkien’s creations to remind us that those same virtues and vices are present in modern days.” ~Joan

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“I found myself enchanted by the stories. I laughed and cried. I got some time to think about many things related to the world and to myself as a human being.” ~Edith Fréccia

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“bring fresh inspiration for the day on life, love, and overcoming obstacles with faith” ~CBM

For a complete list of books by A. K. Frailey, book trailers, and reviews, check out

A. K. Frailey’s Books Page

For translated versions of A. K. Frailey’s Books, check out

A. K. Frailey’s Translated Books

Photo https://pixabay.com/photos/house-home-quirky-movie-hobbit-2616607/


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