Book Review: TOLKIEN'S FAITH - A Spiritual Biography by Holly Ordway

 I was privileged to hear the author, Dr. Ordway, offer a lecture on Tolkien at Nashotah House Seminary, in April of this year. At the lecture I purchased her book, Tolkien's Faith, and have been working on it off and on now for at least four months.  It took a while, in part, because I have a tendency to read more than one book at a time. 

 Tolkien's Faith: A Spiritual Biography [Book]

I have been interested in J.R.R. Tolkien for a number of years and was already working my way through his magnum opus, the Lord of the Rings for the second time twenty years later. Thus, I was was pleased to learn more about his faith, something not readily covered in summaries of his life and work and not always obvious in his popular writing.  Although baptized within the Anglican Church in South America, he was subsequently raised in the Roman Catholic Church in England following his father's death.  His mother also passed away relatively early, and so his upbringing fell to Fr. Francis Morgan of the Birmingham Oratory, whose influence on Tolkien would be life-long.  Ordway not only chronicles the details of Tolkien's faith journey, but allows us an insight into the influence of his faith on such works as the Lord of the Rings.  

Unlike C.S. Lewis, who wrote more allegorically of the faith and whose characters readily represented biblical figures and themes, Tolkien was more subtle. He claimed that the LOTR was essentially a Christian work, but not a direct way.  Actually, it represented a period before Christianity; a time that anticipated it. Ordway helps the reader appreciate those subtle hints at the faith and the scriptures that influence many things in the LOTR.  

As the title indicates, this book represents a biography of his faith journey from baptism to death, covering significant chapters of his life such as his service in WWI.  That said, she is clear to remind us that it is not a hagiography.  Tolkien was in many ways a very devout Catholic, yet he was also very human with the sinful flaws common to all.  His faith was also a bit of a contention with his fellow Inkling and friend C.S. Lewis, for whom he was partially influential in leading his back to faith.  Lewis returned to the Anglican church of his youth, and Tolkien, naturally had hoped that he would come over to the Catholic church.  Nevertheless, they retained a strong Christian friendship right up to Lewis's death.  

While the book technically ends on page 365, there are several pages following with rich addendum material, such as a timeline of Tolkien's life, prayers and liturgical extracts, along with litanies, both in English and Latin that would have been important to Tolkien, as well as a helpful glossary to terms that might not be immediately familiar to the non-Catholic reader.  

In reading this book you not only learn much about the great author, but you also learn a lot about the Roman Catholic faith, both before and after the Second Vatican Council.  This is made even more significant when you learn that Ordway was once an avowed atheist who later became a devout Roman Catholic.  You can learn more about that journey here: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/from-atheist-professor-to-catholic-an-interview-with-dr-holly-ordway/

I would heartily recommend this book for anyone who is a Tolkien fan.  Thorough, honest and very informative, you will learn much about this famous author not often discussed elsewhere. 


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