spoltz
10/16/2015
How do you review an unfinished poem in Old English style alliterative verse that's about 45 pages long with 180 pages of commentary? Carefully? This is one of a group of books of alliterative verse that Tolkien never finished which his son published posthumously. It's about the last tragic scenes from King Arthur's life, with Mordred usurping the crown and pursuing Guinevere, the exile of Lancelot, and the death of Arthur. It's told in alliterative verse, so it's a tough read. I chose this book because I thought it would be a break from Middle-Earth and an introduction to the alliterative verse style I will encountering in the next book in the History of Middle Earth series. I'm glad I chose this over his longer poems. It was just the right amount to be overwhelmed.
Come visit my blog for the full review...
http://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-fall-of-arthur.html