3.5 ( )

I found the (brief) exposition about the religious and philosophical position prior to the war interesting. And I hadn't realized how close Tolkien and Lewis were or that they'd both served in France. ( )

This book is definitely worth reading, for anyone who has enjoyed either of the books, or any books, by the authors referenced in the title. Loconte has many insights into the Great War of 1914-18 and how surviving it was a formative experience for Tolkien and Lewis. Just one example: I've read many books that (possibly cribbing from each other) assert that Mordor was influenced, primarily, by the industrialization of England in the early 20th century, which never seemed an adequate explanation. Loconte draws the parallel, which one immediately sees as true, with the wasteland of France and Flanders during the War. Of course. The Shire in its new-and-improved Sarumaniac glory was the place influenced by industrialization. There are many, many other ways in which the War and the experience of battle are expressed in many of Lewis's and Tolkien's books. A hobbit, a wardrobe and a Great War is a book to reread. ( )

I did not know how great an impact the war had on Tolkien and Lewis. Very interesting. There's also a great deal about The Great War itself - and an account of the spiritual and philosophical climate before and after the war. In the last part of the book, Joseph Loconte sums up some major themes from LOTR and the Narnia Chronicles. ( )

A nice documentary-style book, but comes across as thematically repetitive and stretched thin over the same few points, and perhaps could have benefitted from tighter editing. Quite informative all the same. ( )