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No Jewish 'Lord Of The Rings' Ever?

First Posted: 07/03/10 06:12 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 05:20 PM ET

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Jewish Review of Books:

Although it might seem unlikely that anyone would wonder whether the author of The Lord of the Rings was Jewish, the Nazis took no chances. When the publishing firm of Ruetten & Loening was negotiating with J. R. R. Tolkien over a German translation of The Hobbit in 1938, they demanded that Tolkien provide written assurance that he was an Aryan.

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Although it might seem unlikely that anyone would wonder whether the author of The Lord of the Rings was Jewish, the Nazis took no chances. When the publishing firm of Ruetten & Loening was negotiatin...
Although it might seem unlikely that anyone would wonder whether the author of The Lord of the Rings was Jewish, the Nazis took no chances. When the publishing firm of Ruetten & Loening was negotiatin...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Steamboater
Forget hope. Agitate.
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05:57 PM on 05/04/2010
I dont know if Tiolein was a Jew and I haven't read his The Lord of the Rings", however the film version had a not so subtle, for me at least, anti-semit slant with Chirstopher Lee as the evil one dressed up like a Jew with a tallis etc. I found that very disturbing and surprised critics didn't pick up on it.
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ZoharLaor
6 Fans
12:58 PM on 05/04/2010
Granted there aren't many Jewish fantasy writers but how can you write a whole article (plus a reply) without mentioning two Jews who redefined a whole genre and that their impact is felt to this day?

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
cyranorox
I dare do all that may become a man
102 Fans
07:27 PM on 05/03/2010
What about the marvelous works of Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn and The Innkeeper's Song?
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ZoharLaor
6 Fans
12:59 PM on 05/04/2010
The Last Unicorn is an absolute masterpiece (the movie is fantastic as well).
Thanks for the reminder.
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