The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism: Exploring the Christian Roots of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

by Madeleine Dobrowski

This book explores the Catholic themes that can be found in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is written for all lovers of Tolkien, Catholic or not, who are intrigued by the richness of his writings and want to learn more about the incredible mind of the author behind them. By understanding the rich background of the faith that gave color to his ideas, we will come to have a deeper appreciation for the trilogy itself and the man who wrote it. Through this exploration, all readers will come to an even deeper understanding of why J.R.R. Tolkien can be said to be one of the great artists of history.

Paperback: $19.95 | Hardback: $24.95 | Kindle: $9.99


TESTIMONIALS

“Madeleine Dobrowski offers a compelling case for the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Catholic faith on his development of Middle Earth in which his epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings is set. She demonstrates over the course of her analysis how Tolkien “infuses the presence of Christ into the values and roles of a multitude of characters throughout the story” while using no formal allegory indicating that it was written against a Catholic landscape. In short, Tolkien’s Catholic faith is the source of the hope his characters find in their fellowship with one another in response to the despair imposed upon them by Sauron and his minions. A must read for any serious student of Tolkien’s work!” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy

Madeline Dobrowski has written a gem. Her book paves a delightful path for Catholics interested in discovering the riches of the trilogy. This book will enkindle a hunger to feast on Tolkien’s broader corpus as well. For Tolkien aficionados, Dobrowski’s book convincingly shows just how deeply Tolkien’s imagination was suffused by his faith. In particular, I was impressed at Dobrowski‘s rich analysis of the themes of eucatastrophe, Eucharist, and Our Lady. Rest assured, she does not simply point out the well-worn, obvious connections you’ve heard in other Tolkien scholars. In finishing the book, one can feel a sense of gratitude and awe not merely for Middle Earth but for the world in which you sit.” – 5 star review from Tyler on Goodreads
“Nowhere in JRR Tolkien’s LOTR does he mention Christianity, but every page is infused with the themes of the Catholic faith. The book isn’t just about LOTR. It’s also a study of how a creator’s worldview finds a way to shine through his work. We don’t need to stand on soapboxes cajoling passersby to repent. That works for some, but, in my experience, it’s the people who often don’t need to say a word about Jesus who proclaim the Christian way of life the loudest through their humility, friendship, and mercy. These themes are pondered in Maddie’s book. As a novelist, I was inspired and encouraged because I’m interested in telling stories about life-saving mercy and hard journeys but hate how heavy-handed “Christian” fiction can feel. Reading this book made me realize how without really having to try, your faith (if you are being true to it) seeps into your work. That’s at once comforting and freeing.” – 5 star review from Adrienne Morris on Amazon

Madeleine Dobrowski

Madeleine Dobrowski is originally from the great Midwest but currently resides in Spokane, WA, where she spends her time studying philosophy, reading, writing, teaching literature, and enjoying the Pacific Northwest with her husband. She obtained her BA in Philosophy from Boise State University and is currently pursuing her MA in Philosophy – Christian Wisdom at Holy Apostles College and Seminary.

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