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> In 1956, the literary critic Edmund Wilson wrote a review entitled "Oo, Those Awful Orcs!", calling Tolkien's work "juvenile trash", and saying "Dr. Tolkien h
by Victerius 4y ago
> In 1956, the literary critic Edmund Wilson wrote a review entitled "Oo, Those Awful Orcs!", calling Tolkien's work "juvenile trash", and saying "Dr. Tolkien has little skill at narrative and no instinct for literary form."
I would love to dismantle this criticism piece by piece, but others would no doubt be delighted to do that in my stead. I'm just going to say that the year is 2022 and absolutely no one remembers who the fuck Edmund Wilson was, while Tolkien is one of the best-selling authors of all time and his books sell millions of copies every month even half a century after his death. For a man with supposedly no skill at narrative, hundreds of millions of people have thoroughly enjoyed his narrative. How many movies have been made based on Wilson's books? That's right...
- hertzrat 4y ago> absolutely no one remembers who the fuck Edmund Wilson was Can’t we strive to be more civilized on this site?
- panick21_ 4y ago> Edmund Wilson Jr. (May 8, 1895 – June 12, 1972) was an American writer and literary critic who explored Freudian and Marxist themes. Wonder why.
- bazoom42 4y agoBy your logic 50 Shades of Grey is also above criticism.
- flimsythoughts 4y agoNo, he's talking about decades later. It remains to be seen if 50 Shades is still popular 50-80 years later. I suspect not.
- Victerius 4y agoFor having sold tens of millions of copies, one must concede that 50 Shades of Grey has some literary qualities.
- troon-lover 4y ago
- dweinus 4y agoI don't think ad hominems or the success of LOTR belittle the critics here at all. As someone who really enjoyed both the books and the movies, I read through this list nodding my head at each flaw. I think it's healthier to just admit that even things that are cherished can have flaws.