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JRR Tolkien Denied Nobel Due To Low Quality Prose

Posted by Soulskill on from the not-so-precious dept.

Morty writes "In 1961, C.S. Lewis nominated JRR Tolkien for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Tolkien did not receive the prize. 50 years later, the archives for that year have been made available, so now we know why. Tolkien's prose was viewed as low quality."

2 of 505 comments (clear)

  1. Low quality plot too by vlm · · Score: 1, Troll

    Tolkien's prose was viewed as low quality.

    Low quality plot too. Remember the eagles? Have them grab the ring and drop it into the volcano. Ta Da all done. Shrinks the trilogy down to about three pages.

    I liked the series, but as a ultra loquacious fantasy version of Herodotus Histories or The Odyssey its not really all that great. The originals were better.

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  2. Re:Tolkien's prose by Volante3192 · · Score: 1, Troll

    he didn't really change the literary or social landscape of his day (which is what the Nobel committee usually looks for)

    That's what they SAY they look for...but, really, who gets more critical aplomb today?
    J.R.R. Tolkien or Ivo Andric?