Tales from the Perilous Realm is actually a compilation of several shorter works by Tolkien, which is nice because you only need to purchase and carry around one book. If you’re considering which compilation book to purchase, I’d go with this one because “On Fairy-Stories” and “Mythopoeia” are quite important and good starting points when studying Tolkien. Perhaps the handiest of all Tolkien compilations, Tree and Leaf includes: “On Fairy-Stories”, “Leaf by Niggle”, “Mythopoeia”, and “The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth”. Lewis had argued that myths were “lies breathed through silver”, which inspired Tolkien to write this poem in defense of the truths reflected in mythology. Lewis in which the two discussed truth and myth. “Mythopoeia” is a poem written by Tolkien after a conversation with C.S. This delightful story was published in its own hardcover edition in 2001, but it can also be found in Tales from the Perilous Realm. “Farmer Giles of Ham” is set in a fantastical Britain of long ago and tells the story of Farmer Giles and a dragon named Chrysophylax. “Leaf by Niggle” is included in two compilations: Tree and Leaf, and On the Monsters and the Critics. On episode 22 of the Tea with Tolkien podcast, we were joined by Father Dan Bedel to discuss “Leaf by Niggle” - you can listen to it here. Perhaps one of the most allegorical of Tolkien’s works, “Leaf by Niggle” reflects Tolkien’s thoughts on purgatory and heaven.
“Leaf by Niggle” tells of the life and passing of an artist named Niggle. This story was published as its own book, but it can also be found within Tales from the Perilous Realm. Fun fact: Tolkien originally submitted Roverandom for publication in 1937, but unfortunately it was not published until 1998. The story follows the dog on his quest to find the wizard again and be returned to his original size. Roverandom is a children’s tale originally written by Tolkien for his son Michael about a dog who is turned into a toy by a wizard. This is one of the most important works to read when studying Tolkien if you’re unsure of which on this list to read first, choose this one! Roverandom
“On Fairy- Stories” can be read online for free here, or in print in The Monsters and the Critics or Tree and Leaf.
In it, Tolkien addresses three questions primarily: What are fairy stories? What are their origins? And what is the use of them? It is also in “On Fairy-Stories” that we first see the word Eucatastrophe, a term coined by Tolkien himself, which refers to the ‘happy turn’ of events. Tolkien presented this essay in the spring of 1939 at the University of St. The story is short and simple, and yet it is quite deep! In 2015, a hardcover edition of “Smith of Wootton Major” was published which includes a letter written by Tolkien himself concerning the meaning behind the story.
“Smith of Wootton Major” fits all the requirements of a fairy-story as laid out in his essay, “On Fairy-Stories”, which makes it an absolute delight. Published in 1967, “Smith” is the last work Tolkien published before his death. On Tolkien’s Shorter Works Smith of Wootton Major If you’re interested in reading more by Tolkien, but don’t have the time to settle into The Lord of the Rings - consider picking up one of these. Many of these can be read over the course of an afternoon, and all are thoroughly delightful. While The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings stand out as his most influential works, there is so much more to Tolkien than hobbits, dwarves, and elves! His lesser-known shorter works, including letters, essays, poetry, and short stories, offer a unique glimpse into the way he understood myth, faith, literature, and life.