Tolkien and Wales

Dr Phelpstead is a Reader in English literature at Cardiff University. His areas of research include Old Norse and medieval English literature. Dr Phelpstead has published widely on Norse saga and other medieval literature and has contributed to The J.R.R.Tolkien Encyclopaedia and Tolkien Studies.

"[T]his is a book that offers much to both the serious student of Tolkien, as well as those who are simply interested in discovering more about the various influences on Tolkien's writing."-Sara Brown "Mythlore " * Sara Brown, Mythprint vol. 30, no. 3/4 (2012), 173 - 182: 'both interesting and accessible, deserving of a place on the bookshelf of anyone who is interested in learning more about [Tolkien]' (p. 182). * David Doughan, Amon Hen 234 (March 2012), p. 21: 'required reading for anyone who has a serious interest in Tolkien's work'. * Damien Bador, Mythprint 48:7 (#348) (July 2011) and at http://www.mythsoc.org/reviews/tolkien-and-wales/ 'With this work, Carl Phelpstead corrects a flagrant injustice'; 'In the end, this book will surely interest Tolkien's fans who would like to learn more about his Welsh sources of inspiration. The mutual influence of literature and linguistics in Tolkien's works is particularly well described, and this confirms the usefulness of such an approach. The study of Tolkien's academic works is interesting, and their impact on his literary inventions well documented.' * Troels Forchhammer, Mallorn: The Journal of the Tolkien Society 52 (2011), 13 - 14: 'an excellent book that I recommend warmly' (13); 'all in all this is an excellent book that I happily give my warm recommendation' (14).