One of my new brothers here sited Tolkien as having given him the imagery for when he arrived at the end of the line. Tolkien did the same for me when the LSD had torn my insides apart. He still does, through Peter Jackson's films, the musical score, etc. Art heals.
I write novels, you see, and give away free downloads online. "We only keep what we have by giving it away." I've done it for many years; it's what I do best; and I try to give others what Tolkien gave to me.
If you go to my profile, then my homepage, you'll find my free site, with links to the multi-University Project Gutenberg, which makes free downloads available worldwide. It's what I've got to give, and if it helps with recovery, blessed be.
Thanks Chris; I just downloaded the Highland Ballad. Have you ever heard "The Silmarillion of Beren and Luthien" read by Christopher Tolkien? I had a copy 25 years ago. loaned it to someone never saw it again. Recently I got a copy off e-bay. I had to borrow a turntable from a friend as mine had died being stored in the closet. I bought a cable download a trial version of some software and recorded it to my HD then burned a CD. Man I love Tolkien, I thought Jackson did a great job except he made a few changes that made no sense. You don't rewrite Tolkien like you don't rewrite Shakespear. Take care. Bob.
Thanks, Bob. No, I never heard that recording, though I have read The Silmarillion, and love the story of Beren and Luthien. Great stuff.
Amazingly enough, when I most needed it, I came across a single cassette of Tolkien himself reading The Battle of the Pellenor Fields. I was completely gutted by the acid I had done, and ready to quit. But to hear him read the charge of Rohan..... I don't know how he did it, but he always seemed to know what hell on earth felt like, and how to overcome it.
My favorite writer, my favorite person, was buried with his wife in a single grave with Beren under his own name, and Luthien under his wife's.
The Battle of the Pellenor Fields. I always get a tear in my eye when Aragorn standard is unfurled from the black ship and Eomers dispair is turned to joy. E-mail me your address and I'll burn and send you a CD of Beren and Luthien. Tolkien knew first hand what hell on earth was like. He served at the Battle of the Somme in WWI where the British army lost 50,000 men in a single day and a whole generation overall. Take care Bob.
